The two mountains were used to symbolize the significance of the. Now, if you go looking your bible for the book of eli, you wont find one. However, the book of judges always mentions the years of oppression in. When elie describes the way in which the jewish community is. He restores my soul he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake, though i walk through the valle. High priest holman bible dictionary bible dictionary. Elis actions when it comes to women parallels with jesus. Spoilers every clue in the book of eli that explains the. We are not told why eli succeeded to the high priesthood, instead of. An investigative look into the evidence showing the 2 witness of the bible are the word of god the old testament a.
Some of what he says seems wise and some of it seems a little crazy. At that time eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. Jul 20, 2014 spoilers ahead the movies 4 years old, but just in case. The wife of elis son, phinehas, is pregnant, and the news of israels tragic defeat, the loss of the ark, and the deaths of eli and her husband bring on her labor. Then the lord called samuel, and he said, here i am.
Oil is a widely understood symbol of the holy spirit and thus does not require a detailed explanation, but one scripture will suffice to link the holy spirit and oil directly. With denzel washington, mila kunis, ray stevenson, gary oldman. The bible book of revelations details prophecy of the apocalypse and end times. A man travels across a wasteland, carrying a mysterious and powerful book. Eli was, according to the books of samuel, a high priest of shiloh. Eli wears dark sunglasses, as blind people often do. Mar 12, 2020 note that a literal interpretation of the bible allows for figurative language. Symbols of the church many people in the christian world feel they understand the bible. Biblical symbols have to be interpreted through the bible.
The term high priest occurs in only one brief passage in the pentateuch numbers 35. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neo western action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson, and jennifer beals. Being a postapocalyptic movie, that writing can be referenced to an apocalyptic book in the bible, revelation. Its a message from god, communicated to a human prophet, who shares it with the intended audience. Eli ascension, a descendant of aaron through ithamar, the youngest of his two surviving sons. The secular faith of book of eli film school rejects. Which bible verses are used in the movie book of eli as the. But beyond the bloody scenes and foul language, audiences will discover a compelling story filled with more biblical references and christian. Jan 22, 2010 as far as biblical symbolism, theres some standard connections between eli in the movie and eli in the bible. At first glance, the book of eli appears to be just another violent postapocalyptic film from hollywood.
The first and most prevalent example of symbolism in the book is the title itself. Eli believes that god has enabled him to have the book for a good reason. Symbols and meanings throughout the bible chicago bible. The 10th day of iyar is the anniversary of the death of eli the high priest. Mixed in with the violence and sepiatones is one giant religious symbol that we just had to quiz.
How can i recognize and understand biblical symbolism. Abp the bible plays a starring role in the book of eli, a postapocalyptic action film starring denzel washington that opens in theaters jan. The main character, eli, frequently protects the bible with his life, reads from it day and night, and hides its words in his heart and mind. In the morning, carnegie overhears solara repeat the prayer to her mother, and realizes eli has the book he has been seeking a bible. Eli was the high priest kohen gadol of shiloh, the secondtolast israelite judge succeeded only by samuel before the rule of the kings of israel and judah. Sequences explosive evolution fossils prove a flood fossil footprints dinosaurs and the flood petrified trees the biblical flood reasons for extinction fossil reefs the postflood. The script was conceived by english screenwriter gary whitta and then subsequently rewritten by american screenwriter. John wrote this book to his friend and fellow elder gaius. This book cross and crown is a powerful and thrilling recital of the most romantic and dramatic incidents in history to be found on record, told in the simplest, most graphic, and entertaining form. Color symbolism in the apocalypse last color in the. Metaphor and symbolism were powerful word tools in the jewish culture. The book of eli is in the latter categoryand also the former. His forty years of service as judge over israel has ended.
Christ is often referred to as an olive branchbiblical symbols have to edify other truths of scripture. However, there are many different types of prophecies. They gave deeper, concrete meaning to abstract concepts. Eli does not notice the car with the skeleton until he hears the sound of rattling metal. Christianity and the book of eli believe it or not.
But thats where the significant symbolism of the book of eli. Others take the biblical texts at face value and accept mosaic institution of the fully developed priesthood. Jan 15, 2010 the book of eli continues hollywoods obsession with postapocalyptic tales, and in many ways feels like it belongs in the same world as the road with its ashladen wastelands and crazed cannibals. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the. Eli is dead, along with his sons, and all on the same day. While his focus is on interpreting the book of revelation, the principles set forth can be applied to any passage containing numbers, making it extremely useful as a companion to any bible study. Mentioning 146 times in scripture, the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation. Symbols and their greater meaning are something that requires careful consideration when studying the bible. There are characters from the bible in the book of eli. Solara is a representation of jesuss loyal disciples. In the book of eli, allen and albert hughes, place biblical characters in a postapocalyptic society. This article about eli, together with other tools, activities, aids and materials and are designed to be used by an individual or a christian bible study group.
Most of the symbols used in the bible are easily recognizable to modern english readers, but a few have cultural references that are a little more difficult to translate. The biblical definition of prophecy is a lot simpler. Jair, one of the judges of israel, served for 22 years. The book of eli continues hollywoods obsession with postapocalyptic tales, and in many ways feels like it belongs in the same world as the road with its ashladen wastelands and crazed cannibals. Eli a free christian bible study resource we hope that this eli article will provide useful information and ideas for those following a bible study plan. What are five allusions from the book night by elie. In fact, i bought a book that said that it was a dictionary of bible symbols. Its brutal content is not for all tastes, but this thoughtful action movie finds denzel washington protecting the last copy of a very.
When the cry went out, their lamps were still burning, but they were sputtering and going out. The bible plays a starring role in the book of eli, a postapocalyptic action film starring denzel washington that opens in theaters jan. When eli encounters a group of road bandits, behind them is a tunnel structure with a bold 14. The book of eli casts bible as a major theme baptist standard. He was the first of the line of ithamar, aarons fourth son 1 chronicles 24. In his novel, elies use of symbolism is most important in helping the reader understand the horrors of his experience during the holocaust. This book cross and crown is a powerful and thrilling recital of the most romantic and dramatic incidents in history. Tens of thousands of books, major commentaries, bible dictionaries and prophetic writings explain and reexplain it, by thesis and exegesis. Eli of kittim is a published author and a biblical researcher.
But beyond the bloody scenes and foul language, audiences will discover a compelling story filled with more biblical references and christian thought than any other major motion picture in recent years. Eli bumps the car door with his bag to gauge exactly where it is. It offers a serious science fiction film in an era which has almost exclusively embraced a. This story of hannah, with which the books of samuel begin, involves eli. The ancient chaldeans sectioned the stars into twelve regions. During moses life he lived forty years in egypt and forty years in the desert before god selected him to lead his people out of slavery. The woman eli meets at the tunnel represents mary magdalene. Symbols are often referred to as types, because the words ensample and figure are translated from the original greek word tupos the new testament was first written in greek. Eli the high priest 2772 10 iyar 28702871 jewish history. Perhaps this is why the book of eli is such a revelation, in more than one interpretation of the word. Elkanah also had another wife who bore him children. Eli in the bible was a jewish priest living in the days of the judges and serving god at the tabernacle in shiloh, a city near the hill country of ephraim 1 samuel 1. Eli is the chosen one,carnegie is satan, and the prostitute is mary magdalene. Jan 15, 2010 the book of eli has an incredible biblical message, which tells the story of elis unwavering faith as he honors god with his life and follows gods will no matter how hard the journey may be.
Denzel washington thumps his bible and slices through bad guys in this. Eli was a descendant of ithamar, the fourth and youngest son of aaron the high priest. Eli has to feel the feet to see if there are boots on the skeleton. I utilize these rules when looking at biblical symbolism.
The spirit of the lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson, and jennifer beals. Oct 14, 2014 an investigative look into the evidence showing the 2 witness of the bible are the word of god the old testament a. The book of eli dvd 2009 this is probably one of the most highly underrated movies of 2010 due to the overwhelming surge of 3d films brought on by avatar which was out around the same time of this film. An obedient son, seth shown twice listens to his dying fathers last wish, dons his cap and sets out the door to fulfill adams request, in this 15thcentury illumination from the book of hours of catherine of cleves. After the massive scene of carnegie trying to get the bible from eli, solara and eli go on a journey to a spiritual place where eli tells the story of the bible starting with genesis and having a man write down every word that is being said and showing numerous pages of biblical writings. Psalms and bible verses are quoted throughout the movie, and christian imagery and symbolism are present in many scenes. The story revolves around eli, a nomad in a postapocalyptic world, who is told by a voice to deliver his copy of a mysterious book to a safe. A postapocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across america in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. For that matter, eli is something of a modernday elijah. Lets take a look at the meaning and symbolism of each color. We see elis faith remain steadfast as he faces many trials and tribulations, including. Jan 11, 2010 though in the vein of recent films like 2012, a blockbuster about the end of the world as predicted by the mayan calendar, evangelical movie buffs are touting the book of eli as a rare major studio release where the protagonist is unabashedly a christian. In a book full of nameless characters, ely stands out.
The title is a reference to both the book that eli carries, and the fact that the. The lamp of god had not yet gone out, and samuel was lying down in the temple of the lord, where the ark of god was. He became high priest kohen godol after the death of pinehas, the son of elazar, ithamars older brother. Cross i am legend with the ten commandments and youve got the book of eli, a genuinely religious parable that. The ancient babylonians and egyptians had a developed numerology based on astrological divination, which is forbidden in the hebrew scriptures.
There was also a discontent with the idea that the bible would be the artifact. Overall, i really enjoyed this film because it had an interesting concept. As i began to read it i found that most of the work the author did was by pondering a while and sometimes it took two or three attempts before the light dawned on me then he said that everyone must engage in their own interpretation of the bible. The story revolves around eli, a nomad in a postapocalyptic world, who is told by a voice to deliver his copy of a. The meaning of the symbol, or type, is often referred to. The title is a reference to both the book that eli carries, and the fact that the book he carries is, in fact, the bible. Eli of kittim author of the little book of revelation. Jesus is recorded to have quoted from twentytwo old testament books. Even better, through several memorable scenes, eli begins to show solara the power of the bible not as a tool for conquest, but as a handbook for living. Note that a literal interpretation of the bible allows for figurative language. The book of eli 2010 frequently asked questions imdb.
Jan 19, 2010 perhaps this is why the book of eli is such a revelation, in more than one interpretation of the word. Which bible verses are used in the movie book of eli as. For example, there are references to the jewish exile in babylon, a story told in the bible. The difference between the wise and the foolish virgins in the parable is not that one group did not have oil, but that one group did not have enough for the unexpectedly long delay. The gospel according to the book of eli popmatters. Elkanah also had another wife peninnah who bore him. He shares his name with a biblical prophet eli from the book of samuel. However, the author does not seek to confine the interpretations in this book to judaism. He finds a small town ruled by a ruthless man, who attempts to take the book. There are specific colors mentioned in the last days. The 22nd book written and included in the new testament, in chronological order, is the book of 3john.
Spoilers ahead the movies 4 years old, but just in case. Washington, a twotime academy award winner widely known in hollywood for his christian beliefs, portrays a lone warrior making his way across a desolate american landscape defending the worlds last. Symbolism in night by brooke justus elie wiesel uses several types of figurative language in night. Book of eli movie quotes meet your next favorite book. The office remained in his family till the time of abiathar 1 kings 2. Eli is best remembered for his blessing on samuels mother and for his part in samuels first prophecy. As far as biblical symbolism, theres some standard connections between eli in the movie and eli in the bible. However, carnegie ha killed many people in his pursuit for the book.
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