Lexical Summary Elteqe or Elteqeh: Eltekeh Original Word: אֶלְתְּקֵא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Eltekeh Or (more properly) neltqeh {el-te-kay'}; of uncertain derivation; Eltekeh or Elteke, a place in Palestine -- Eltekeh. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a city in Pal. NASB Translation Elteke (1), Eltekeh (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶלְתְּקֵא, אֶלְתְּקֵה proper name, of a location Levitical city in the tribe of Dan, between Ekron & Timna, Assyrian Altaku (COT) Joshua 19:44; Joshua 21:23. Topical Lexicon Name and Etymology Eltekeh combines the divine element “El” with a verbal root that conveys the idea of smiting or fastening. Within the cultural setting of ancient Israel, place-names that invoked the covenant name of God often testified to His past acts or anticipated His ongoing protection. Biblical Context 1. Tribal allotment: “Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath” (Joshua 19:44). These two references establish the town first as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Dan and then as a Levitical city assigned to the Kohathites. Tribal Allotment and Levitical Assignment Eltekeh’s transfer from general tribal possession to Levitical usage illustrates a recurring principle in the conquest narratives: the land belongs to the Lord and is distributed at His sovereign discretion. The Kohathites, charged with the most sacred duties surrounding the tabernacle furnishings (Numbers 3:27–31), required strategic locations throughout Israel to foster faithful worship. Stationing such servants in Dan’s territory embedded priestly instruction among the frontier tribes and underscored the unity of worship from north to south. Geographical Considerations While the precise site remains debated, scholars generally place Eltekeh in the southern Shephelah, the rolling foothills between the coastal plain and the Judean highlands. Its proximity to Aijalon and Gath Rimmon situates it near major north–south and east–west trade arteries. As a Levitical center, the city would have offered both pastoral lands for flocks and ready access to travelers—ideal conditions for disseminating Torah teaching and facilitating offerings brought to the central sanctuary. Historical Significance 1. Frontier witness: The tribe of Dan struggled to secure its original allotment (Judges 1:34). A Levitical presence in Eltekeh would have brought moral and spiritual encouragement to a border people frequently pressured by Philistine incursions. Theological and Ministry Insights • Integration of worship and daily life: By embedding priests among the lay tribes, God ensured that worship was not confined to tabernacle or temple walls but permeated ordinary community rhythms. Archaeological Indicators Proposed sites such as Tel el-Melat (southeast of modern Ramla) or Tell esh-Shallaf exhibit occupational layers from the late Bronze and early Iron Ages, aligning with Joshua’s chronology. Pottery fragments, fortification remnants, and cistern systems typical of Levitical towns have been unearthed, though no inscription bearing the name has yet surfaced. Each discovery adds circumstantial weight to the biblical record and invites continued investigation. Legacy and Modern Application Eltekeh reminds contemporary believers that: Though brief in Scripture, Eltekeh stands as a testament to the meticulous fulfillment of divine promises, the integration of worship with daily life, and the enduring call to serve faithfully in every corner of God’s inheritance. Forms and Transliterations אֶלְתְּקֵ֖א אלתקא וְאֶלְתְּקֵ֥ה ואלתקה ’el·tə·qê ’eltəqê elteKe veelteKeh wə’eltəqêh wə·’el·tə·qêhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:44 HEB: וְאֶלְתְּקֵ֥ה וְגִבְּת֖וֹן וּבַעֲלָֽת׃ NAS: and Eltekeh and Gibbethon and Baalath, KJV: And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, INT: and Eltekeh and Gibbethon and Baalath Joshua 21:23 2 Occurrences |
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