Elah

In Bible versions:

Elah: NET AVS NIV NRSV NASB TEV

a chief of Edom
the valley where David killed Goliath
son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel (about 900 BC)
father of Hoshea, the last king of Israel about 700 BC
son of Caleb the son of Jephunneh of Judah
son of Uzzi (Michri Benjamin) who led his clan back from exile

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an oak; a curse; perjury

Arts:

Arts Topics: King Elah

Hebrew

Strongs #0425: hla 'Elah

Elah = "An oak"

1) an Edomite chief
2) a king of Israel for two years, son of Baasha
3) the father of king Hoshea of Israel
4) a son of Caleb
5) son of Uzzi

425 'Elah ay-law'

the same as 424; Elah, the name of an Edomite, of four
Israelites, and also of a place in Palestine:-Elah.
see HEBREW for 0424

Elah [EBD]

terebinth or oak. (1.) Valley of, where the Israelites were encamped when David killed Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2, 19). It was near Shochoh of Judah and Azekah (17:1). It is the modern Wady es-Sunt, i.e., "valley of the acacia." "The terebinths from which the valley of Elah takes its name still cling to their ancient soil. On the west side of the valley, near Shochoh, there is a very large and ancient tree of this kind known as the 'terebinth of Wady Sur,' 55 feet in height, its trunk 17 feet in circumference, and the breadth of its shade no less than 75 feet. It marks the upper end of the Elah valley, and forms a noted object, being one of the largest terebinths in Palestine." Geikie's, The Holy Land, etc.

(2.) One of the Edomite chiefs or "dukes" of Mount Seir (Gen. 36:41).

(3.) The second of the three sons of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh (1 Chr. 4:15).

(4.) The son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:8-10). He was killed while drunk by Zimri, one of the captains of his chariots, and was the last king of the line of Baasha. Thus was fullfilled the prophecy of Jehu (6, 7, 11-14).

(5.) The father of Hoshea, the last king of Israel (2 Kings 15:30; 17:1).

Elah [NAVE]

ELAH
1. A valley where David killed Goliath, 1 Sam. 17:2, 19; 21:9.
2. An Edomite duke, Gen. 36:41; 1 Chr. 1:51.
3. Son of Caleb, 1 Chr. 4:15.
4. Father of Shimei, 1 Kin. 4:18.
5. Son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel, 1 Kin. 16:6-14.
6. Father of Hoshea, 2 Kin. 15:30; 17:1.
7. A Benjamite chief, 1 Chr. 9:8.

ELAH [SMITH]

(an oak, strength).

1. The son and successor of Baasha king of Israel. (1 Kings 16:8-10) His reign laster for little more than a year; comp. ver. 8 with 10. (B.C. 928-7.) He was killed while drunk, by Zimri, in the house of his steward Azra, who was probably a confederate in the plot.
2. Father of Hoshea, the last king of Israel. (2 Kings 15:30; 17:1) (B.C. 729 or before.).

ELAH [SMITH]

1. One of the dukes of Edom. (Genesis 36:41; 1 Chronicles 1:52)
2. Shimei ben-Elah was Solomon?s commissariat officer in Benjamin. (1 Kings 4:18) (B.C. 1013.)
3. A son of Caleb the son of Jephuneh. (1 Chronicles 4:15) (B.C. 1450.)
4. Son of Uzzi, a Benjamite, (1 Chronicles 9:8) s, and one of the chiefs of the tribe at the settlement of the country. (B.C. 536.)

ELAH (1) [ISBE]

ELAH (1) - e'-la ('elah, "oak" or "terebinth"):

(1) A "duke" or "sheik" (head of a clan, the Revised Version (British and American) "chief") of Edom (Gen 36:41).

(2) Shimei-ben-Elah, Solomon's commissary in Benjamin (1 Ki 4:18 the King James Version).

(3) A son of Caleb the son of Jephunneh (1 Ch 4:15).

(4) Father of Hoshea, last king of Israel (2 Ki 15:30; 17:1).

(5) A Benjamite, son of Uzzi, one of the chiefs of the tribes when the country was settled (1 Ch 9:8).

(6) King of Israel. See next article.

ELAH (2) [ISBE]

ELAH (2) - e'-la. Son of Baasha, fourth king of Israel (1 Ki 16:6-14). He reigned two years, 888-887 BC. The statement that he came to the throne in the 26th year of Asa, reigned two years, and died in the 27th year of Asa, illustrates the Hebrew method of synchronizing the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah (compare 1 Ki 15:33; 16:8). Elah appears to have been a debauchee. While he was drinking himself drunk in the house of Azra, his chamberlain, Zimri, one of his military leaders, conspired against him and murdered him. According to Josephus (VIII, xii, 4) he took advantage of the absence of the army, which was at Gibbethon, to kill Elah. The extirpation of the royal family followed the murder of the king. Baasha's dynasty had its origin in a murder and it ended in a murder. The government had no stability. These revolutions illustrate the truth that "they who take the sword shall perish with the sword."

S. K. Mosiman