Eli

Eli was the high priest at Shiloh during the period of the judges, serving also as a judge in Israel for forty years (1 Samuel 4:18). He mentored the young Samuel after his mother Hannah dedicated him to God's service, and it was while serving under Eli that Samuel received his first divine call (1 Samuel 3). Eli's great failure was his inability to restrain his sons Hophni and Phinehas, corrupt priests who abused their positions by taking the best portions of sacrifices for themselves and sleeping with women who served at the Tabernacle. A man of God pronounced judgment on Eli's house (1 Samuel 2:27–36), which was fulfilled when both sons were killed in battle, the Ark was captured by the Philistines, and Eli fell from his seat and broke his neck upon hearing the news (1 Samuel 4:12–18).