and not actually genealogical, is the evidence in the form of sculptures carved for Elamite kings and dated by archaeologists as far back as the time of Sargon I (whose rule they assign to the latter part of the third millennium). These sculptures not only present the form of typical Akkadian (Semitic Assyro-Babylonian) figures but also bear Akkadian inscriptions.—The New Bible Dictionary, J. D. Douglas, p. 355.

HISTORY

The first Biblical mention of Elam as a country or nation is in the time of Abraham (2018-1843 B.C.E.) when Chedorlaomer “king of Elam” marched with an alliance of kings against a Canaanite coalition of kings in the Dead Sea region. (Gen. 14:1-3) Chedorlaomer is indicated as the leader of the alliance and as having held suzerainty over the Canaanite kings, upon whom he now inflicted punishment. (Vss. 4-17) Such a campaign, requiring a round-trip journey of perhaps two thousand miles (3,218 kilometers), was not unusual for Mesopotamian kings even in that ancient time. Secular history confirms that in the early part of the second millennium B.C.E. there was such a period of Elamite dominance in the Mesopotamian region. An Elamite official named Kudur-Mabuk who successfully occupied the prominent city of Larsa (along the Euphrates north of Ur) appointed his son Warad-Sin as king there. Noteworthy is the fact that Warad-Sin and Rim-Sin (Warad-Sin’s brother who succeeded him as king) are both Semitic names, further substantiating a Semitic element in Elam.

This period of Elamite power in Babylonia was upset and terminated by Hammurabi and it was not until the latter part of the second millennium B.C.E. that Elam was able to conquer Babylon and again establish control for a period of some centuries. It is believed that it was during this time that a stele bearing the famous Code of Hammurabi was taken from Babylonia to Susa, where modern archaeologists discovered it.

Elam again was reduced to a subordinate position by Nebuchadnezzar I (not the Nebuchadnezzar who, several centuries later, destroyed Jerusalem), but continued to be a frequent participant in the power struggle between Assyria and Babylon until finally Assyrian Emperors Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal (or Asenappar) defeated the Elamite forces, transplanting some of the people to the cities of Samaria. (Ezra 4:8-10) Also, Israelite captives were sent into exile in Elam. (Isa. 11:11) Inscriptions of the Assyrian emperors vividly describe this subjugation of Elam.

Following the downfall of the Assyrian Empire, Elam appears to have come under Japhetic (Aryan) control. The Medes and Persians are thought to have spread into the Iranian plateau region several centuries earlier, and, under Cyaxares, the Medes fought with the Babylonians in overthrowing the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. Daniel 8:2 seems to indicate that Elam thereafter became a Babylonian district. Whatever the immediate effects on Elam from the Assyrian collapse, the Persians evidently succeeded in taking from Elam the region called Anshan, as Persian rulers Teispes, Cyrus I, Cambyses, and Cyrus II, all were respectively called by the title “King of Anshan.” While some consider such conquest of Anshan to be in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy concerning Elam (49:34-39), most authorities place the conquest of Anshan by Teispes many years prior to the pronouncement of that prophecy made in 617 B.C.E.

Isaiah’s warning at Isaiah 22:4-6 foretold that Elamite archers would be among those attacking Judah and Jerusalem. The Elamites were also prophesied to unite with Media in despoiling Babylon (539 B.C.E.), Media by that time being under the rule of the Persian Cyrus II, “King of Anshan.” (Isa. 21:2) Elamites thus contributed toward the release of Israel from exile, yet, having aligned themselves at various times with enemies of God’s people, Elam along with the other nations would, in due time, be made to drink of the cup of God’s wrath and go down into Sheol.—Jer. 25:17, 25-29; Ezek. 32:24.

On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., Elamites were among the thousands hearing the message spoken by the disciples in the language then currently spoken in Elam. (Acts 2:8, 9) As a nation and people, however, they have since ceased to exist, even as foretold at Jeremiah 49:34-39.

2. A Levite gatekeeper during David’s reign and a son of Meshelemiah of the family of the Korahites.—1 Chron. 25:1; 26:1-3.

3. A son of Shashak and a headman of the tribe of Benjamin.—1 Chron. 8:24, 25, 28.

4. Progenitor of an Israelite family of whom 1,254 descendants returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:1, 2, 7; Neh. 7:12), and a later contingent of seventy-one males accompanying Ezra. (Ezra 8:7) Some of his descendants were among those agreeing to put away their foreign wives (Ezra 10:19, 26), and a representative of the family signed the covenant in Nehemiah’s time.—Neh. 10:1, 14.

5. One designated as “the other Elam,” also a family head with the same number, 1,254 descendants, accompanying Zerubbabel’s company to Judah.—Ezra 2:31; Neh. 7:34.

6. A Levite present at the inauguration of the wall of Jerusalem by Nehemiah.—Neh. 12:27, 42.

ELAMITES

See ELAM No. 1.

ELASAH

(El·aʹsah) [God has made].

The son of Shaphan who, with Gemariah, was sent by Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah on that occasion sent his letter to the exiles in Babylon by the hand of Elasah and of Gemariah.—Jer. 29:1-3.

ELATH

(Elʹlath), Eloth (Eʹloth [plural]) [perhaps, grove of lofty trees].

A site first mentioned in Moses’ recapitulation of the Israelites’ forty-year trek through the wilderness. (Deut. 2:8) Elath is mentioned along with Ezion-geber and lay on “the shore of the Red Sea in the land of Edom.” (1 Ki. 9:26) This points to a location on the NE arm or branch of the Red Sea known as the Gulf of Aqabah. Modern geographers basically agree with Jerome, of the fourth and fifth centuries C.E., who identified Elath with the city then known as Aila, associated with the Nabataeans. This would place Elath at or near the present-day Arabic city of Aqabah situated at the NE corner of the gulf (the modern Jewish city called Elath being at the NW corner).

The head of the Gulf of Aqabah is less than four miles (6.4 kilometers) wide, with high barren mountains rising sharply on either side. Luxuriant palm groves in the area of the suggested site of Elath, commented on by Strabo near the start of the Common Era, are associated by some with the “lofty trees” suggested by the name. Others would link the name with that of the Edomite sheik Elah. (Gen. 36:41) At any rate, Elath was part of the Edomite domain when the Israelites passed through the region on their way to Canaan. Seals bearing the Edomite name of “Qos ‘anal, servant of the king,” dated by archaeologists as from the seventh century B.C.E. have been found in the Elath area.

Evidently as a result of David’s conquest of Edom, Elath and neighboring Ezion-geber came under Judean control (2 Sam. 8:13, 14), and are mentioned in connection with Solomon’s shipbuilding activities. (1 Ki. 9:26; 2 Chron. 8:17) The feet that Ezion-geber is referred to as “by Eloth” may indicate that Elath (Eloth) was the more prominent of the two sites, at least at that time.

Control of Elath evidently reverted back to Edom during the reign of Jehoram of Judah. (2 Ki. 8:20-22) In the following century the city was restored to Judah and rebuilt by King Uzziah (Azariah). (2 Ki. 14:21, 22; 2 Chron. 26:1, 2) Then, during the rule of