Elah

Before it is a battlefield, the valley of Elah is simply a place where Saul and the men of Israel pitch their camp against the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:2). That is where the story of David and Goliath unfolds. The name Elah belongs to several people too: an Edomite chief in Genesis 36, a man of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 9, and the father of Hoshea, who plotted against King Pekah and took the throne of Israel (2 Kings 15:30). Start with 1 Samuel 17 for the valley.

5 verses

Genesis

Genesis 36:41

Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 17:2

And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:19

Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

2 Kings

2 Kings 15:30

And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 9:8

And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

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.

Read the full entry

(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).

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

Elah

(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

(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.).