Who was Eliel in the Bible?

Eliel was a Levite, a member of the priestly tribe, who served as an overseer during the religious reforms of King Hezekiah of Judah. His role involved helping to manage the contributions brought to the temple (2 Chronicles 31:13).

What did Eliel do for King Hezekiah?

Eliel was one of several officials appointed to oversee the storerooms for the tithes and offerings brought to the temple. This was a crucial role in supporting the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 31:11-13).

Why is Eliel mentioned in the Bible?

Eliel's mention highlights the organized restoration of temple worship under Hezekiah. It shows how faithful individuals were entrusted with responsibilities to ensure God's commands were followed and His servants were provided for during a time of national revival.

Eliel

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleLevite

Eliel was a Levite who served as an overseer during the reign of King Hezekiah.

Eliel

Biography

Eliel the Levite served as an overseer of tithes and offerings during the religious reforms of King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31:13). When Hezekiah reinstituted the proper collection and distribution of temple contributions after decades of neglect under his predecessors, he appointed a team of faithful Levites to manage the storehouses. Eliel is named among those who assisted Conaniah and Shimei in overseeing these operations. This administrative role was essential to the functioning of the temple cult: without faithful stewardship of the tithes, the priests and Levites could not sustain their ministry, and the worship of God would be disrupted. Eliel's service thus helped undergird one of the most significant spiritual revivals in Judah's history, contributing to the restoration of proper Yahwistic worship at a critical moment.

Significance

Eliel's service as a tithe overseer under Hezekiah illustrates the essential connection between faithful administration and genuine spiritual revival. The Hezekiah reforms recorded in 2 Chronicles 29–31 represent one of the Old Testament's most comprehensive patterns of covenant renewal, and Eliel's role demonstrates that such renewal requires not only prophetic proclamation and priestly worship but also careful, trustworthy management of resources. His work models the New Testament principle that those who are faithful in small matters are entrusted with greater ones (Luke 16:10). Eliel's contribution to the revival reminds readers that behind every great movement of God, faithful and largely unsung administrators quietly sustain the infrastructure of worship.

Verse Appearances (1)

2Chr

2Chr 31:13

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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