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•ELEMENTS In its primary sense, as denoting the first principles or constituents of things, it is used in 2 Peter 3:10: “The elements shall be dissolved.” In a secondary sense it denotes the first principles of any art or science. In this sense it is used in Galatians 4:3, 9; Colossians 2:8, 20, where the expressions, “elements of the world,” “week and beggarly elements,” denote that state of religious knowledge existing among the Jews before the coming of Christ, the rudiments of religious teaching. They are “of the world,” because they are made up of types which appeal to the senses. They are “weak,” because insufficient; and “beggarly,” or “poor,” because they are dry and barren, not being accompanied by an outpouring of spiritual gifts and graces, as the gospel is.
•ELEPHANT not found in Scripture except indirectly in the original Greek word (elephantinos) translated “of ivory” in Revelation 18:12, and in the Hebrew word (shenhabim, meaning “elephant’s tooth”) rendered “ivory” in 1 Kings 10:22 and 2 Chronicles 9:21.
•ELHANAN whom God has graciously bestowed. (1.) A warrior of the time of David famed for his exploits. In the Authorized Version (2 Samuel 21:19) it is recorded that “Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath.” The Revised Version here rightly omits the words “the brother of.” They were introduced in the Authorized Version to bring this passage into agreement with 1 Chronicles 20:5, where it is said that he “slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath.” Goliath the Gittite was killed by David (1 Samuel 17). The exploit of Elhanan took place late in David’s reign.
(2.) The son of Dodo, and one of David’s warriors (2 Samuel 23:24).
•ELI ascent, the high priest when the ark was at Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3, 9). He was the first of the line of Ithamar, Aaron’s fourth son (1 Chronicles 24:3; comp. 2 Samuel 8:17), who held that office. The office remained in
his family till the time of Abiathar (1 Kings 2:26, 27), whom Solomon deposed, and appointed Zadok, of the family of Eleazar, in his stead (35). He acted also as a civil judge in Israel after the death of Samson (1 Samuel 4:18), and judged Israel for forty years.