Elada
(whom God has put on), a descendant of Ephraim through Shuthelah. ( 1 Chronicles 7:20 )
Public-domain study tools
Bible dictionaries
and reference works
Look up people, places, customs, names, and biblical terms without leaving the site. Every work is identified by author and edition so its explanations can be used as study aids—not mistaken for Scripture.
William Smith
Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Public-domain Bible dictionary edition · 4,561 entries on site
Reference workThese public-domain reference works are study aids written by human authors. Definitions and conclusions should be tested against Scripture.
Elah
One of the dukes of Edom. ( Genesis 36:41 ; 1 Chronicles 1:52 ) Shimei ben-Elah was Solomon’s commissariat officer in Benjamin. ( 1 Kings 4:18 ) (B.C. 1013.) A son of Caleb the son of Jephuneh. ( 1 Chronicles 4:15 ) (B.C. 1450.) 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.) (an oak, strength). 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. Father of Hoshea, the last king of Israel. ( 2 Kings 15:30 ; 17:1 ) (B.C. 729 or before.).
Elah, The Valley Of
(valley of the terebinth), the valley in which David killed Goliath. ( 1 Samuel 17:2 , 19 ) It lay somewhere near Socoh of Judah and Azekah, and was nearer Ekron than any other Philistine town. 1Sam. 17 .
Enam
(double spring), one of the cities of Judah int he Shefelah or lowland. ( Joshua 15:34 )
Enoch
(dedicated). The eldest son of Cain, ( Genesis 4:17 ) who called after his name the city which he built. ( Genesis 4:18 ) (B.C. 3870.) The son of Jared and father of Methuselah. ( Genesis 5:21 ) ff.; Luke 3:37 (B.C. 3378-3013.) In the Epistle of Jude ( Jude 1 :14) he described as “the seventh from Adam;” and the number is probably noticed as conveying the idea of divine completion and rest, while Enoch was himself a type of perfected humanity. After the birth of Methuselah it is said, ( Genesis 5:22-24 ) that Enoch “walked with God three hundred years... and he was not; for God took him.” The phrase “walked with God” is elsewhere only used of Noah, ( Genesis 6:9 ) cf. Genesis17:1 etc., and is to be explained of a prophetic life spent in immediate converse with the spiritual world. Like Elijah, he was translated without seeing death. In the Epistle to the Hebrews the spring and issue of Enoch’s life are clearly marked. Both the Latin and Greek fathers commonly coupled Enoch and Elijah as historic witnesses of the possibility of a resurrection of the body and of a true human existence in glory. ( Revelation 11:3 )
Ephron
(fawn-like), the son of Zochar, a Hittite, from whom Abraham bought the field and cave of Machpelah. ( Genesis 23:8-17 ; 25:9 ; 49:29 , 30 ; 50:13 ) (B.C. 1860.)
Er
(watchful). First-born of Judah. Er “was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.” ( Genesis 38:3-7 ; Numbers 26:19 ) Descendant of Shelah the son of Judah. ( 1 Chronicles 4:21 ) Son of Jose and father of Elmodam. ( Luke 3:28 )
Esau
(hairy), the eldest son of Isaac, and twin-brother of Jacob. The singular appearance of the child at his birth originated the name. ( Genesis 25:25 ) Esau’s robust frame and “rough” aspect were the types of a wild and daring nature. He was a thorough Bedouin, a “son of the desert.” He was much loved by his father, and was of course his heir, but was induced to sell his birthright to Jacob. Mention of his unhappy marriages may be found in ( Genesis 26:34 ) The next episode in the life of Esau is the loss of his father’s covenant blessing, which Jacob secured through the craft of his mother, and the anger of Esau, who vows vengeance. ( Genesis 27:1 ) ... Later he marries a daughter of Ishmael, ( Genesis 28:8 , 9 ) and soon after establishes himself in Mount Seir, where he was living when Jacob returned from Padan-aram rich and powerful, and the two brothers were reconciled. ( Genesis 33:4 ) Twenty years thereafter they united in burying Isaac’s body in the cave of Machpelah. Of Esau’s subsequent history nothing is known; for that of his descendants see Edom, Idumaea Or Idumea .
Eshtaol
(a pass), a town in the low country—the Shefelah—of Judah, after wards allotted to Dan. ( Joshua 15:33 ; 19:41 ) Here Samson spent his boyhood, and hither after his last exploit his body was brought. ( Judges 13:25 ; 16:31 ; 18:2 , 8 , 11 , 12 )
Ether
(abundance), one of the cities of Judah in the low country, the Shefelah, ( Joshua 15:42 ) allotted to Simeon. ( Joshua 19:7 )
Ethnan
(hire), one of the sons of Helah the wife of Ashur. ( 1 Chronicles 4:7 )