Lexical Summary Tsela: Zela, Zelah Original Word: צֶלַע Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Zelah The same as tsela'; Tsela, a place in Palestine -- Zelah. see HEBREW tsela' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tsela Definition a place in Benjamin NASB Translation Zela (1), Zelah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צֵלַע proper name, of a location in Benjamin Joshua 18:28, A ᵐ5L Σελα [(ε) λαφ]; burial-place of Saul 2 Samuel 21:14 (צֵלָֹע), ἐν τῇ πλευρᾷ; possinly = Tel Amarna Zilu, so ZimZA vi. 258 JastrJBL xi (1892), 105 (Wkl, however, thinks of סלע). Topical Lexicon Geographical Identity Zela (צֶלַע, Strong’s 6762) was one of the fourteen towns allotted to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:28). It lay in the central hill country north of Jerusalem, somewhere between Gibeah and Kiriath, probably on a rocky spur overlooking one of the wadis that drain into the Aijalon or Jordan valleys. The Hebrew root suggests a slope or ridge, a fitting description for the rugged terrain of Benjamin where vantages, caves, and strategic passes figured prominently in Israel’s early history. Biblical References • Joshua 18:28 lists Zela among Benjamin’s inheritance. Historical Significance 1. Burial Place of Israel’s First King Saul’s family tomb at Zela became the final resting place not only for Saul but eventually for Jonathan and the sons executed to end the famine brought on by Saul’s earlier sin against the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1–14). By gathering their bones and burying them with honor, David brought closure to national guilt and divine judgment. Zela thus stands as a witness to covenant justice and royal mercy: justice, because the broken oath to the Gibeonites had to be satisfied; mercy, because the burial quelled God’s wrath and rain returned to the land. 2. Testament to Tribal Identity Benjamin, the smallest tribe, supplied Israel’s first royal house and later produced the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5). Zela, though obscure, anchors Saul’s lineage in a definite locale within the promised land, underscoring the Lord’s faithfulness in allotting territory to every tribe. Theological and Ministry Insights • Covenant Accountability: The famine of 2 Samuel 21 illustrates that corporate sin has corporate consequences. David’s act at Zela shows the leader’s responsibility to address inherited guilt and restore fellowship with God. Ministries today cannot ignore unresolved wrongs; reconciliation and restitution remain vital. • Honor in Death: Scripture commends the proper burial of God’s people, anticipating the resurrection (Isaiah 26:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:14). Zela reminds believers that the body, though mortal, is precious in God’s sight. • God’s Sovereign Storyline: From an unnoticed town in Benjamin came both Israel’s first monarch and, centuries later, the apostle who would carry the gospel to the nations (Acts 9:15). Zela exemplifies how God weaves small places into His grand redemptive tapestry. Lessons for Today 1. Faithfulness in the Ordinary: Most of ministry occurs in “Zelas”—unheralded contexts where obedience still shapes history. Summary Zela, though mentioned only twice, embodies profound themes—covenant fidelity, honorable burial, tribal heritage, and God’s use of the humble for His purposes. Its ridge in Benjamin continues to call believers to integrity, reconciliation, and hope in the resurrection life promised through Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations בְּצֵלָ֗ע בצלע וְצֵלַ֡ע וצלע bə·ṣê·lā‘ bəṣêlā‘ betzeLa vetzeLa wə·ṣê·la‘ wəṣêla‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 18:28 HEB: וְצֵלַ֡ע הָאֶ֜לֶף וְהַיְבוּסִ֨י NAS: and Zelah, Haeleph and the Jebusite KJV: And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, INT: and Zelah Haeleph and the Jebusite 2 Samuel 21:14 2 Occurrences |
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