Lexical Summary Elale: Elale Original Word: אֶלְעָלֵא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Elealeh Or (more properly) gel aleh {el-aw-lay'}; from 'el and alah; God (is) going up; Elale or Elaleh, a place east of the Jordan -- Elealeh. see HEBREW 'el see HEBREW alah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom el and alah Definition "God ascends," four Isr. NASB Translation Elealeh (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלְעָלֵא, "" אֶלְעָלֵה proper name, of a location (God doth ascend?) of a village in the tribe of Reuben, near Heshbon, in ruins, el A±l (see RbBR ii, 278) Numbers 32:3; Numbers 3:37; Isaiah 15:4; Isaiah 16:9; Jeremiah 48:34. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Elealeh lay on the high plateau east of the Jordan River, roughly three kilometers north of Heshbon. The elevated terrain afforded a commanding view of the surrounding valleys and the road system that connected the Arnon gorge to the plateau cities. Its strategic placement made the town a valuable military lookout as well as an agricultural hub, benefiting from the fertile uplands that produced grain, vines, and pasture. Biblical Occurrences • Numbers 32:3 lists Elealeh among the towns that the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested from Moses after Israel’s victories over Sihon and Og. Historical Background After the conquest of the Amorite territory, Elealeh was apportioned to Reuben. The town’s name appears on the Mesha Stele, where the Moabite king Mesha claims to have captured and rebuilt it. That inscription corroborates the biblical narrative that Moab wrested back portions of the land, including Elealeh, sometime after the days of Solomon (2 Kings 3). The alternating Israelite and Moabite control explains why prophets later address Elealeh as a Moabite center. Prophetic Context Isaiah and Jeremiah both lament Elealeh’s downfall while foretelling divine judgment upon Moab. Isaiah 15:4 links the city’s cry with Heshbon’s, underscoring the completeness of Moab’s calamity. Isaiah 16:9 pictures the prophet weeping for “Heshbon and Elealeh” as their vineyards are trampled, revealing God’s compassion even amid judgment. Jeremiah 48:34 expands the wail from Heshbon to Elealeh, portraying the nation-wide despair Moab would suffer. In each oracle, the ruin of Elealeh embodies the broader theme that no fortress or fertile field can shield a people who exalt themselves against the Lord. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Territory: Elealeh reminds readers that God’s promises to Israel included definite geography. The city’s initial inclusion in Reuben’s inheritance affirms the reliability of divine distribution. Lessons for Ministry Today • Stewardship of Blessings: Elealeh prospered under Israel’s care but fell when covenant responsibilities were neglected. Churches and believers must safeguard what God entrusts—property, heritage, and testimony—by ongoing faithfulness. Archaeological and Later Historical Notes Tell el-‘Al (often identified with Elealeh) features Iron Age walls and water systems that align with a fortified Reubenite town later re-fortified by Mesha. Pottery evidence shows occupation into the Persian and Hellenistic eras, though the site gradually diminished as Madaba and other centers rose. The ruins thus stand as silent witnesses to the biblical record, underscoring the trustworthiness of Scripture’s historical claims and the enduring relevance of its theological messages. Forms and Transliterations אֶלְעָלֵ֑א אֶלְעָלֵ֗ה אלעלא אלעלה וְאֶלְעָלֵ֑ה וְאֶלְעָלֵ֔ה ואלעלה ’el‘ālê ’el‘ālêh ’el·‘ā·lê ’el·‘ā·lêh elaLe elaLeh veelaLeh wə’el‘ālêh wə·’el·‘ā·lêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 32:3 HEB: וְנִמְרָ֔ה וְחֶשְׁבּ֖וֹן וְאֶלְעָלֵ֑ה וּשְׂבָ֥ם וּנְב֖וֹ NAS: Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo KJV: and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, INT: Nimrah Heshbon Elealeh Sebam Nebo Numbers 32:37 Isaiah 15:4 Isaiah 16:9 Jeremiah 48:34 5 Occurrences |
    |