Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
(a grove), the name of a town of the land of Edom, commonly mentioned with Ezion-geber,
and situated at the head of the Arabian Gulf, which was thence called the Elanitic Gulf. It first
occurs in the account of the wanderings, (2:8) and in later times must have come under the rule of
David. (2 Samuel 8:14) We find the place named again in connection with Solomon’s navy. (1
Kings 9:26) comp. 2Chr 8:17 In the Roman period it became a frontier town of the south and the
residence of a Christian bishop. The Arabic name is Eyleh, and palm groves still exist there, after
which it was named.
Elbethel
(the God of Bethel), the name which Jacob is said to have bestowed on the place at which God
appeared to him when he was flying from Esau. (Genesis 35:7)
Eldaah
(Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:3) the last in order of the sons of Midian.
Eldad
(favored of God) and Me’dad (love), two of the seventy elders to whom was communicated
the prophetic power of Moses. (Numbers 11:16,26) (B.C. 1490.) Although their names were upon
the last which Moses had drawn up, (Numbers 11:26) they did not repair with the rest of their
brethren to the tabernacle, but continued to prophesy in the camp. moses, being requested by Joshua
to forbid this, refused to do so, and expressed a wish that the gift of prophecy might be diffused
throughout the people.
Elder
The term elder, or old man as the Hebrew literally imports, was one of extensive use, as an
official title, among the Hebrews and the surrounding nations, because the heads of tribes and the
leading people who had acquired influence were naturally the older people of the nation. It had
reference to various offices. (Genesis 24:2; 50:7; 2 Samuel 12:17; Ezekiel 27:9) As betokening a
political office, it applied not only to the Hebrews, but also to the Egyptians, (Genesis 50:7) the
Moabites and the Midianites. (Numbers 22:7) The earliest notice of the elders acting in concert as
a political body is at the time of the Exodus. They were the representatives of the people, so much
so that elders and people are occasionally used as equivalent terms; comp. (Joshua 24:1) with
(Joshua 24:2,19,21) and (1 Samuel 8:4) with (1 Samuel 8:7,10,19) Their authority was undefined,
and extended to all matters concerning the public weal. Their number and influence may be inferred
from (1 Samuel 30:26)ff. They retained their position under all the political changes which the
Jews underwent. The seventy elders mentioned in Exodus and Numbers were a sort of governing
body, a parliament, and the origin of the tribunal of seventy elders called the Sanhedrin or Council.
In the New Testament Church the elders or presbyters were the same as the bishops. It was an office
derived from the Jewish usage of elders or rulers of the synagogues. [Bishop]
Elead
(praised by God), a descendant of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:21)
Elealeh
(the ascending of God), a place on the east of Jordan, taken possession of and rebuilt by the
tribe of Reuben. (Numbers 32:3,37) By Isaiah and Jeremiah it is mentioned as a Moabite town.
(Isaiah 15:4; 16:9; Jeremiah 48:34)
Eleasah
(whom God made).
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William Smith