Biblical References:
Elteke is mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Joshua. It is listed among the cities given to the tribe of Dan as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land. The relevant scripture is found in Joshua 19:44: "Elteke, Gibbethon, Baalath."

Historical and Geographical Context:
Elteke was a city located in the region allocated to the tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The exact location of Elteke is not definitively known today, but it is generally believed to have been situated in the lowland region of the Shephelah, an area characterized by rolling hills between the coastal plain and the central highlands of Israel. This region was known for its agricultural productivity and strategic importance, serving as a buffer zone between the Philistine cities on the coast and the Israelite territories inland.

Cultural and Theological Significance:
The allocation of Elteke to the tribe of Dan is part of the broader narrative of the Israelites' conquest and settlement of Canaan, as described in the Book of Joshua. This distribution of land was a fulfillment of God's promise to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that their descendants would inherit the land of Canaan. The division of the land among the tribes was conducted by lot, under the leadership of Joshua, and was seen as an act of divine providence.

The tribe of Dan, however, struggled to fully possess their allotted territory, including Elteke, due to the presence of the Philistines and other Canaanite peoples. This struggle is emblematic of the broader challenges faced by the Israelites in maintaining faithfulness to God's covenant while living amidst pagan cultures. The narrative of the tribe of Dan, including their eventual migration to the north, highlights themes of faith, obedience, and the consequences of failing to fully trust in God's provision.

Archaeological Insights:
While Elteke itself has not been conclusively identified through archaeological excavations, the general region of the Shephelah has been extensively studied. Archaeological findings in this area have provided insights into the Iron Age culture of the Israelites and their interactions with neighboring peoples, such as the Philistines. These findings include fortifications, pottery, and other artifacts that shed light on the daily life and military challenges of the period.

Conclusion:
Elteke, though briefly mentioned in the biblical text, is part of the rich tapestry of Israel's history as they settled in the Promised Land. Its mention serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between divine promise and human responsibility in the biblical narrative.ELTEKE; ELTEKEH

el'-te-ke, ('elteqeh Joshua 19:44, 'elteqe' (Joshua 21:23); Codex Vaticanus Alkatha; Codex Alexandrinus, Elketho):

A place in the territory of Dan named between Ekron and Gibbethon (Joshua 19:44), and again between Beth-horon and Gibbethon, as given to the Kohathite Levites (Joshua 21:23). It is probably identical with the Assyrian Altaqu, where Sennacherib (Hexagon prism inscrip.) claims to have defeated the allied armies of the Philistines and the Egyptians. It should probably be sought somewhere East of Ekron. Beit Likia, the place marked Eltekeh on the PEF map, seems a position for such an encounter.

It is about 2 1/2 miles Southwest of Beth-horon the Upper.

W. Ewing

514. Elteqe -- a city in Palestine
... a city in Palestine. Transliteration: Elteqe or Elteqeh Phonetic Spelling:
(el-te-kay') Short Definition: Elteke. ... NASB Word Usage Elteke (1), Eltekeh (1). ...
/hebrew/514.htm - 6kElteke (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ELTEKE; ELTEKEH. el'-te-ke ... Upper. W. Ewing.
Multi-Version Concordance Elteke (1 Occurrence). Joshua 21 ...
/e/elteke.htm - 7k

El'teke (1 Occurrence)
El'teke. Elteke, El'teke. Eltekeh . ... Joshua 21:23 Out of the tribe of Dan,
Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, (See RSV). ...
/e/el'teke.htm - 6k

Elsewhere (14 Occurrences)

/e/elsewhere.htm - 10k

Grass-lands (42 Occurrences)
... lands, four towns. (BBE). Joshua 21:23 And from the tribe of Dan, Elteke
and Gibbethon with their grass-lands; (BBE). Joshua 21:24 ...
/g/grass-lands.htm - 17k

Gibbethon (5 Occurrences)
... Joshua 21:23 Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon
with its suburbs, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). ...
/g/gibbethon.htm - 9k

Gib'bethon (5 Occurrences)
... Joshua 21:23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with the open land about
it, Gibbethon with the open land about it; (See RSV). 1 ...
/g/gib'bethon.htm - 7k

Eltekeh (2 Occurrences)
... 21:23). It has been identified with Beit-Likia, north-east of latrum. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ELTEKE; ELTEKEH. el'-te-ke ...
/e/eltekeh.htm - 8k

Suburbs (75 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). Joshua 21:23 Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its
suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/s/suburbs.htm - 29k

Pasture (120 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). Joshua 21:23 Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its
suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs, (See NAS RSV). Joshua ...
/p/pasture.htm - 33k

Lands (226 Occurrences)
... towns. (BBE NAS RSV NIV). Joshua 21:23 And from the tribe of Dan, Elteke
and Gibbethon with their grass-lands; (BBE NAS RSV). Joshua ...
/l/lands.htm - 35k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus