Who was Elah in the bible?

Elah is a biblical name borne by multiple figures and also attached to a location. The name’s derivation is connected (by lexicon gloss) with “an oak or other strong tree,” and Scripture uses Elah for an Edomite chief, several Israelites in genealogical lists, a king of Israel, and the father of Hoshea king of Israel, as well as “the valley of Elah.”

Elah in Scripture

1) Elah as an Edomite chief. In an Edomite list of chiefs, Elah appears among other named chiefs:

“chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,” (1 Chronicles 1:52)

2) Elah in Israelite genealogies. Elah is also listed as a son of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, with a son named Kenaz:

“The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.” (1 Chronicles 4:15)

Another Elah appears in a list connected with Jerusalem’s inhabitants, identified by a line of descent:

“and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;” (1 Chronicles 9:8)

3) Elah son of Baasha, king of Israel. Elah is named as Baasha’s son and successor:

“Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his place.” (1 Kings 16:6)

The narrative places Elah’s reign within the regnal framework of Judah’s king Asa and specifies its length and location:

“In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah for two years.” (1 Kings 16:8)

Within the same chapter, Yahweh’s word through Jehu the son of Hanani first comes “against Baasha” (1 Kings 16:1) and declares judgment because Baasha “made my people Israel to sin” (1 Kings 16:2). After Baasha’s death and Elah’s accession (1 Kings 16:6), Elah is then caught up in the fulfillment of that word through events in Tirzah. Elah’s servant Zimri “conspired against him” (1 Kings 16:9) while Elah “was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah” (1 Kings 16:9). Zimri kills Elah:

“and Zimri went in and struck him, and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.” (1 Kings 16:10)

After taking the throne, Zimri exterminates Baasha’s house:

“When he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, he attacked all the house of Baasha. He didn’t leave him a single one who urinates on a wall among his relatives or his friends.” (1 Kings 16:11)

The text interprets Zimri’s destruction of Baasha’s line as fulfillment of a prophetic word against Baasha:

“Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,” (1 Kings 16:12)

Elah is explicitly included in the moral evaluation of Baasha’s dynasty. The reason given is “all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son,” which are described as both personal wrongdoing and leading Israel into sin:

“for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and with which they made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities.” (1 Kings 16:13)

The narrative closes Elah’s account by referring to other records:

“Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?” (1 Kings 16:14)

4) Elah as a place name: the valley of Elah. In the account of Israel’s confrontation with the Philistines, Saul’s forces encamp and fight in “the valley of Elah”:

“Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 17:2)

“Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 17:19)

The phrase “the valley of Elah” also appears as the remembered location where Goliath’s sword was associated with David’s victory, as reported by the priest:

“The priest said, “Behold, the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you would like to take that, take it; for there is no other except that here.” David said, “There is none like” (1 Samuel 21:9)

5) Elah as the father of Hoshea, king of Israel. Another Elah is named as Hoshea’s father in the historical notice about Hoshea’s rise:

“Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, attacked him, killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.” (2 Kings 15:30)

This filial identification is repeated when dating an Assyrian siege by Hoshea’s reign:

“In the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.” (2 Kings 18:9)

Multiple Bearers

Scripture uses the name Elah for distinct individuals and a place. One Elah is an Edomite “chief” (1 Chronicles 1:52). At least two Elahs appear in Israelite genealogical contexts: “Elah” among “The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh” (1 Chronicles 4:15), and “Elah the son of Uzzi” within another lineage (1 Chronicles 9:8). A separate Elah is “Elah the son of Baasha,” who reigned “over Israel in Tirzah for two years” and was killed by Zimri (1 Kings 16:8–10). Another Elah is identified only as the father of Hoshea, “Hoshea the son of Elah” (2 Kings 15:30; 2 Kings 18:9). Finally, “the valley of Elah” is a location where Israel encamped and fought the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:2, 19) and where Goliath was killed (1 Samuel 21:9).

Name and Meaning

In Hebrew script the name is אֵלָה, transliterated ‘Elah and pronounced “ay-law.” According to the lexicon derivation, it is linked with H424 and is associated with elah (אֵלָה), “an oak or other strong tree,” which supplies the name’s sense.

Observation

Across its uses, “Elah” can identify both people and place, and in the royal narrative it appears in a tightly framed account where “Elah the son of Baasha” reigns briefly and is judged together with Baasha for sins “with which they made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 16:13).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Elah mean?

Elah is used as a name for an Edomite, four Israelites, and also a place in Palestine.

How many times does Elah appear in the Bible?

Elah occurs 13 times.

Who was Elah in the Bible?

Elah is the name of an Edomite, four Israelites, and also a place in Palestine. One Elah is named as the son of Baasha who reigned over Israel in Tirzah (1 Kings 16:6, 1 Kings 16:8).

Where is the valley of Elah mentioned?

Saul and the men of Israel encamped in the valley of Elah against the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:2), and it is also mentioned in connection with fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 17:19) and Goliath’s sword (1 Samuel 21:9).

Explore Further

If you found this page about Elah interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).