Elah אֵלָה
Son of Baasha, king of Israel
Who is Elah in the Bible?
Elah was the son of Baasha and the fourth king of Israel, ruling for only two years according to 1 Kings 16:8. He inherited the throne after his father's death but continued the evil practices and sins that characterized Baasha's reign, leading Israel away from God (1 Kings 16:13). While Elah was drinking in the house of his steward Arza in Tirzah, Zimri, one of his officials, assassinated him and seized the kingship for himself (1 Kings 16:9-10). Elah's brief and violent reign marked the end of Baasha's dynasty, fulfilling the prophecy that God had pronounced against his father's house (1 Kings 16:3-4, 11-14).
Biography
Elah was the son of Baasha and became the fourth king of Israel, ruling for two years (1Ki.16.8). He ascended to the throne after the death of his father, who had ruled for 24 years. Elah's reign was marked by his evil deeds and his continuation of the sins of his father, leading Israel astray from God (1Ki.16.13). While Elah was drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, his steward in Tirzah, Zimri, one of his officials, conspired against him and killed him (1Ki.16.9-10). Zimri then succeeded Elah as king. The death of Elah marked the end of the dynasty of Baasha, fulfilling the prophecy of Jehu against Baasha's house (1Ki.16.3-4, 11-14).
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Kings 4 verses
- 1 Kings 16:6
"And Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah, and his son Elah reigned in his place."
- 1 Kings 16:8
"In the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years."
- 1 Kings 16:13
"This happened because of all the sins Baasha and his son Elah had committed and had caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols."
- 1 Kings 16:14
"As for the rest of the acts of Elah, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֵלָה |