Bible Person

Elah

Meaning: an oak; a curse; perjury · Male · 4 cross references

This Elah entry refers to Elah son of Baasha, king of Israel, not Elah the father of Hoshea. His short and compromised reign ends in drunkenness, assassination, and the extinction of his father's house. First appears in 1 Kgs 16:6.1

AI summary: This Elah matters because the cross references present him as a weak and morally compromised king whose reign quickly collapses. His death at the hand of Zimri fulfills prophetic judgment on Baasha's dynasty and shows again how unstable the northern throne has become. He is less memorable for policy than for how abruptly his house ends. Taken together, the material presents this Elah as a short-lived king whose fall seals the judgment on Baasha's line.1

Central Figure

Elah

Meaning: an oak; a curse; perjury

The son and successor of Baasha, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:8-10).