Lexical Summary Ellasar: Ellasar Original Word: אֶלָּסָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ellasar Probably of foreign derivation; Ellasar, an early country of Asia -- Ellasar. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition a country of unknown location NASB Translation Ellasar (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלָּסָר proper name, of a location Ellasar Genesis 14:1,9 (= Babylonian Larsa, modern Senkereh, approximately 28 miles northeast from Ur; compare LoftCS 240 f DlPa 223 f TieleGeschichte i. 86, COTon the passage). Topical Lexicon Geographical SettingEllasar designates an ancient Mesopotamian city-state whose ruler, Arioch, joined the eastern coalition that invaded Canaan in the days of Abram (Genesis 14:1; Genesis 14:9). Archaeological and textual evidence most naturally situates Ellasar in southern Mesopotamia, near the lower Euphrates River, corresponding to the site later known as Larsa. The region lay only a few miles from Ur—Abram’s birthplace—underscoring the interconnectedness of Genesis geography. A minority of scholars place Ellasar farther north, but the weight of cuneiform parallels linking “Arioch of Larsa” with the biblical Arioch strengthens the southern identification and harmonizes Scripture with the wider historical record. Historical Context Genesis 14 preserves the first military campaign described in Scripture, set during the era of early Amorite and Elamite supremacy. Ellasar’s king, Arioch, allied with Amraphel of Shinar (Babylonia), Chedorlaomer of Elam (south-western Iran), and Tidal of Goiim (a coalition leader) to subdue the rebellious pentapolis of the Jordan plain. Extra-biblical records from the early second millennium B.C. reveal that Larsa was ruled by powerful kings bearing names close to Arioch (e.g., Rim-Sin, son of Kudur-Mabuk), confirming the plausibility of Genesis 14 in its ancient setting. Political Significance Ellasar’s presence in the four-king alliance highlights the fluidity of Mesopotamian power blocs before the rise of the Babylonian and Assyrian empires. The coalition demonstrates that smaller city-states like Ellasar could project force across hundreds of miles when unified by a dominant suzerain (Chedorlaomer). Their incursion into Canaan brought Abram onto the stage of international politics and warfare, showing that God’s redemptive plan unfolded within the realpolitik of the Ancient Near East. Theological Importance 1. God’s Sovereignty over Nations The inclusion of Ellasar in Genesis 14 shows that the God who called Abram also governs distant kingdoms. When Abram defeats the coalition and frees Lot, the narrative bears witness that divine promise overrides numerical and geopolitical advantage (compare Psalm 47:8). 2. Foreshadowing the Abrahamic Covenant’s Global Reach By recording the defeat of kings from Shinar, Elam, Ellasar, and other “nations,” Genesis anticipates the later promise: “all the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). Ellasar represents one strand of the broader tapestry of nations destined to be influenced by Abram’s seed. 3. Validation of Scripture’s Historical Reliability The probable identification of Ellasar with Larsa and Arioch with Rim-Sin lends external corroboration to the biblical narrative, encouraging confidence in the accuracy of Genesis as genuine history rather than myth. Ministry Applications • Courage in Culture: Abram’s pursuit of the eastern kings models faith-driven engagement with hostile powers. Believers today can confront cultural and spiritual adversaries, trusting the God who delivered Abram to deliver them (Genesis 14:14–16). Key References Forms and Transliterations אֶלָּסָ֑ר אלסר ’el·lā·sār ’ellāsār ellaSarLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:1 HEB: אַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר כְּדָרְלָעֹ֙מֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ NAS: king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer KJV: king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer INT: Arioch king of Ellasar Chedorlaomer king Genesis 14:9 2 Occurrences |
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