Eliezer ben- Judah (sometimes called Ei.eazar Garjiiza, but apparently without good reason), of "Worms, the son of Kalon} nios of Mentz, was one of the most distinguished Rabbins of the 13th century. He was a pupil of Judah the Saint, and died in 1238. He wrote thirty works, of which only a few have been printed. The principal ones are : Yoieh Chataim n^i^ CX-H, "he will instruct sinners") a liturgical and ascetic formulary (Venice, 1589, 8vo, and often): — Yeijn ha-Rekach (P'\^^T} ^.^ "■»v>ne of spicery"), a cabalistic commentary on Canticles and Ruth (Lub- lin, 1608, 4to) -.—Sepher Rokeach (npl "STC, '■ spiced book"), on the fear of God and repentance (Fano, 1505, fol., and often since): — "w^"iS, etc., a commen- tary on the cabalistic book Jizirah (Mantua, 1562, 4to, and since): — 3'^Z2^^3, etc., a cabalistic exposition of the Pentateuch (extracts in Azulai's Q"'^""Tp l:r!3, Leghorn, 1800):— X*n in^D, on angelology (in part, Amst. 1701, 4to). Several of his works in MS. are at the Bibliotheque de I'Oratoire at Paris.— Hoefer, A't)?/r. Biogr. Genir. xv, 826-7; Griisse, Allgem. Litei'drgeech. iii, 521 ; Ftirst, Bibliotheca Jttdaica, i, 228. (J. H. W.)
Eliezer ben-Nathan, sometimes also surnamed Metz, from his native place, was a contemporary of Rashi, and eminent in the cabalistic science. His renown is greatly due to a work on Talmudical law which he composed in 1152, under the title "'^V,!^ "S*? (Dtone of help), printed at Prague in 1610. The Rab- bins Jachia and Wolf ascribe to him also the author-
ELIGIUS
143
ELIIIU
ship of Tsopknath Paaneach, but Rossi asserts that Eli- ezer of Spain was the real author of that work. It ajipoars to be oiil^v another title of the preceding work. He wrote also D'^?"^"' "1^03 (Constantinople, 1520, and later) and ^3b!^ "^'51!?.'? (Cremona, 1554, and later) ; both relating to the Jewish ritual. — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gener. xv, 826 ; Griisse, AVgein. Literurgesch. iii, 502.
Eligius, Eloi, or Eloysius (St.), bishop of No- von one of the most eminent names in the ecclesiasti- cal history of France, was l)orn at Cadillac, near Li- moges, in or shortly before the year 588. He learned the trade of a goldsmith, and became the most skilful artist of the Aa.y, especjally in ornaments for churches and tombs. He gainecl the confidence of Clotaire II, and stood high at his court. While working at his art, he alwaj's had an open Bible before him. He devoted his gains to works of piety, especially to the redemption of slaves from captivity, sometimes eman- cipating a hundred at one time. As a layman, he in- structed the common people constantly. Dagobert, the son and successor of Clotaire, made him his treas- urer, and emploj'ed him for important missions, in which he was alwaj's successful. Thus he brought about a treaty of peace between Dagobert and Judica- hill, duke of Brittany. Eligius availed himself of his influence with the weak and licentious Dagobert to obtain large donations, which he used for tlie estab- lishment of churches, monasteries, and hospitals. In CIO, two years after the death of Dagobert, the major- domo Herchenoald, who was regent during the minor- ity of Clodvig II, in order to get rid of the influence of Eligius, appointed him bishop of No3'on. In this office he was in labors abundant for eighteen j'ears, preaching, taking missionary tours, and founding churches and monasteries. Eligius seems to have been a thoroughlj^ converted man, and his life is in- deed a light in a dark place. Eligius, together with his friend Audoenus (St. Ouen), archbishop of Rheims, had a predominating influence upon the churches of Gaul ; and although most of the bishops disliked the rigor and severity of Eligius, they j'ielded to his zeal and authoritj'. Thus, in 644, at a sj'nod of Chalons sur Saone, verj' strict rules were given for the appoint- ment of bishops and abbots ; and the metropolitan Theodosius of Aries, who had violated many Church laws, was suspended from his office. When bishop Martin of Rome, in the Monothelitic controversj^, was imprisoned and exiled by the emperor, the majority of the Gallic bishops, at a council held in Orleans, under the leadership of Eligius and Audoenus, declared for the pope and against the Monothelites, who were cru- elly persecuted. After the death of Clodvig II and Herchenoald, Eligius was recalled bj' the queen dow- ager Bathilde to the court, where he remained until shortlj- before his death. He died at Noyon Nov. 30, 658 (or 659), and the people soon after Iiegan to vener- ate him as a saint. His life ( ( "da S. Eligii), written by his disciple Audoenus (St. Ouen), will lie found in D'Achery, Spicikgium, ii, 76-123, and in Migne, Pa- trol. Latin. Ixxxix, 474. The extracts from sermons of Eligius which are included in this biography are almost verlially taken from the sermons of Cassarius of Aries. In its present form this work is imdoubt- edly of a later origin. Sixteen homilies are given to him in JJib. Max. Patr. xii, 300 ; also in IMigne, Patrol. Latin. Ixxxvii, 595; 1)ut their genuineness is ques- tioned. A letter from Eligius to bishop Desiderius of Cahors is given in Canisii Antiqnit. Lection, ed. Bas- nage, tom. i, and in INIigne, Ixxxvii, 657. See Herzog, Real-Eiiajhiop. iii, 700 ; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gmer. xv, 904; Neauder, Ch. I/isf. iii, 41, 42; Ncander, Light in Dark Places; Mosheim, Ch. Hist, bk, ii, ch. vii, pt. ii, ch. ii, n. 24.