- ELECT LADY to whom the Second Epistle of John is addressed (2 John
1:1). Some think that the word rendered “lady” is a proper name, and thus
that the expression should be “elect Kyria.” - EL-ELOHE-ISREAL mighty one; God of Israel, the name which Jacob
gave to the alter which he erected on the piece of land where he pitched his
tent before Shechem, and which he afterwards purchased from the sons of
Hamor (Genesis 33:20). - 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