spirit and power . . . to get ready for Jehovah a prepared people.” (Lu 1:17) Jesus indicated that John did that work but was not recognized by the Jews. (Mt 17:11-13) After John’s death a visionary appearance of Elijah along with Moses occurred at Jesus’ transfiguration, indicating that there was something yet to take place as represented by the work that Elijah had done.​—Mr 9:1-8.

2. A son of the Benjamite Jeroham; an inhabitant of Jerusalem and the head of his house.​—1Ch 8:1, 27, 28.

3. A Levite priest of “the sons of Harim” (1Ch 24:8; Ezr 2:1, 2, 39) among those complying with Ezra’s admonition to dismiss their foreign wives.​—Ezr 10:21, 44.

4. A descendant of Elam among those following through on Ezra’s exhortation to dismiss their foreign wives.​—Ezr 10:26, 44.

(E·liʹka).

One of David’s mighty men, evidently from the town of Harod.​—2Sa 23:25.

(Eʹlim) [Big Trees].

The second encampment location of the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea. (Ex 15:27; 16:1; Nu 33:9, 10) Although its exact location is not certain, it is traditionally identified with Wadi Gharandel on the Sinai Peninsula, about 88 km (55 mi) SSE of Suez. Like the Biblical Elim, which had “twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees,” this modern site is well known as a watering place with vegetation and palms.

(E·limʹe·lech) [My God Is King].

A man of Bethlehem who, along with his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, left Judah because of a famine in the days of the Judges and took up alien residence in Moab, where he died.​—Ru 1:1-3.

(Eli·o·eʹnai) [shortened form of Elieho-enai].

1. A son of Neariah and a descendant of King Solomon. Elioenai was the father of Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.​—1Ch 3:10, 23, 24.

2. A chieftain of the tribe of Simeon.​—1Ch 4:24, 36-38.

3. A son of Becher and a descendant of Benjamin.​—1Ch 7:6, 8.

4. A priest of “the sons of Pashhur” among those heeding Ezra’s exhortation to send their foreign wives away.​—Ezr 2:36, 38; 10:18, 19, 22.

5. A descendant of Zattu. Elioenai was among those dismissing their foreign wives in Ezra’s time.​—Ezr 10:27, 44.

6. One of the priests with trumpets who were in the procession arranged for by Nehemiah at the inauguration of the wall of Jerusalem.​—Ne 12:27, 31, 40, 41.

(E·liʹphal) [possibly, My God Has Arbitrated].

The son of Ur listed among the mighty men of David’s military forces. Eliphal may be the Eliphelet of 2 Samuel 23:34.​—1Ch 11:26, 35.

(Elʹi·phaz).

1. Firstborn son of Esau, by his Canaanite wife Adah. Six or seven of Eliphaz’ sons, including Teman, Omar, and Amalek, became sheiks of Edomite tribes.​—Ge 36:4, 10-12, 15, 16; 1Ch 1:35, 36; see SHEIK.

2. One of Job’s three companions. (Job 2:11) A Temanite, he was likely a descendant of No. 1 above, therefore a descendant of Abraham and distantly related to Job. He and his posterity boasted of their wisdom. (Jer 49:7) Of the three “comforters,” Eliphaz stands out as the most important and influential, suggesting that he may also have been the oldest. He speaks first in the three rounds of the debate, and his speeches are longer.

Eliphaz’ reasoning in his first speech went like this: “Who that is innocent has ever perished? And where have the upright ever been effaced?” Hence, the conclusion he draws is that Job must have done something wicked to receive God’s punishment. (Job chaps 4, 5) In his second upbraiding Eliphaz ridicules Job’s wisdom: “Will a wise person himself answer with windy knowledge, or will he fill his belly with the east wind? . . . What do you actually know that we do not know?” “Over the Almighty,” Eliphaz implies, Job “tries to show himself superior.” Concluding his second smear of Job’s virtues, the Edomite paints righteous Job as an apostate, living in tents of bribery, a man full of deceit. (Job 15) Finally Eliphaz torments Job for the third time, falsely accusing him of all sorts of crimes​—extortion, withholding water and bread from the needy, and oppressing widows and orphans.​—Job 22.

Following Eliphaz’ second tirade Job answers well: “All of you are troublesome comforters! Is there an end to windy words?” (Job 16:2, 3) At the conclusion of the debates Jehovah himself addresses Eliphaz: “My anger has grown hot against you and your two companions, for you men have not spoken concerning me what is truthful as has my servant Job.” Eliphaz is told