<P> Though his own genealogy is not given by the text, a number of scholars have determined a genealogy for Eli, based on that given to his sons in other passages . Abiathar is described by the Book of Chronicles as being a direct (paternal) descendant of Ithamar; the Books of Samuel state that Abiathar was a son of Ahimelek and that Ahimelek was a son of Ahitub, who is the brother of Ichabod . Consequently, since the narrative states that Ichabod was the son of Phinehas, and that Phinehas was the son of Eli, a number of scholars have drawn the conclusion that Eli must be a descendant of Ithamar . </P> <Ul> <Li> Ahimelech, great - grandson of Eli: slain by Doeg the Edomite, fulfilling part of the curse on the House of Eli that none of his male descendants would live to old age . According to the Jewish Encyclopedia on David's descendant Jehoash of Judah: In Rabbinical Literature: As the extermination of the male descendants of David was a divine retribution for the extermination of the priests by Saul (comp . I Sam . xxii. 17 - 21), Joash escaped death because in the latter case one priest, Abiathar, survived (Sanh . 95b). </Li> <Li> Abiathar, son of Ahimelech: the only survivor of the massacre at Nob; great - great - grandson of Eli and last High Priest of the House of Eli; deposed from office of High Priest which went to the house of Zadok after God deserted Abiathar and without which the Urim and Thummin could not be consulted (fulfilling the other part of the Curse on the House of Eli that the priesthood would pass out of his descendants hands - the house of Zadok was descended from the family of Eleazar and Phinehas) </Li> <Li> Jeremiah: it is suggested that Jeremiah was descended from Abiathar . </Li> <Li> Rabbah bar Nahmani, Babylon Jewish Talmudist (Amora) </Li> <Li> Abaye, Babylon Jewish Talmudist, nephew of Rabbah bar Nahmani (Amora) </Li> <Li> Bebai ben Abaye, Babylon Jewish Talmudist, son of Abaye </Li> </Ul> <Li> Ahimelech, great - grandson of Eli: slain by Doeg the Edomite, fulfilling part of the curse on the House of Eli that none of his male descendants would live to old age . According to the Jewish Encyclopedia on David's descendant Jehoash of Judah: In Rabbinical Literature: As the extermination of the male descendants of David was a divine retribution for the extermination of the priests by Saul (comp . I Sam . xxii. 17 - 21), Joash escaped death because in the latter case one priest, Abiathar, survived (Sanh . 95b). </Li> <Li> Abiathar, son of Ahimelech: the only survivor of the massacre at Nob; great - great - grandson of Eli and last High Priest of the House of Eli; deposed from office of High Priest which went to the house of Zadok after God deserted Abiathar and without which the Urim and Thummin could not be consulted (fulfilling the other part of the Curse on the House of Eli that the priesthood would pass out of his descendants hands - the house of Zadok was descended from the family of Eleazar and Phinehas) </Li>

Story of eli and samuel in the bible