E´lon, of the tribe of Zebulon, who judged Israel ten years. He was preceded by Ibzan of Bethlehem, and succeeded by Abdon of Ephraim. The whole period covered by their administration was twenty-five years (from B.C. 1190 to 1174); but it is probable that they were for a part of this time contemporary, each exercising authority over a few of the tribes. They appear to have overawed the enemies of Israel by their judicious administration; for no war is mentioned in their time (Jdg 12:8-15).
E’lon. (an oak).
1. A Hittite, whose daughter was one of Esau’s wives. Gen 26:34; Gen 36:2. (B.C. 1797).
2. The second of the three sons, attributed to Zebulun, Gen 46:14; Num 26:26, and the founder of the family of the Elonites. (B.C. 1695).
3. Elon, the Zebulonite, who judged Israel for ten years, and was buried in Aijalon in Zebulun. Jdg 12:11-12. (B.C. 1174-1164).
4. One of the towns, in the border of the tribe of Dan. Jos 19:43.
1. A Hittite, whose daughter Esau married (Gen 26:34; Gen 36:2).
2. Gen 46:14.
3. The judge who judged Israel ten years: buried in Aijalon (or Elon) in Zebulun (Jdg 12:11-12).
a name occurring in two forms in the Hebrews (but both having the primitive sense of oak [q.v.]), as that of a place, and also of three men.
1. (Hebrews Eylon’,
[E’lon]
1. A Hittite, father of Bashemath, and Adah, wife, (or wives) of Esau. Gen 26:34; Gen 36:2. See BASHEMATH.
2. Second son of Zebulun and founder of the ELONITES. Gen 46:14; Num 26:26.
3. The Zebulonite who judged Israel ten years. Jdg 12:11-12.
4. Border-town of Dan. Jos 19:43. Identified with Beit Ello, 31° 59’ N, 35° 7’ E.
By: Morris Jastrow, Jr., Charles J. Mendelsohn, George A. Barton
1.
—Biblical Data:
The tenth judge of Israel. He was a Zebulonite, and succeeded Ibzan as judge. He judged Israel for ten years, when he died and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun (Judges xii. 11, 12). "Elon" (
) and "Aijalon" (
) differ merely in their vowels, and it is generally thought that they should be considered the same. The Septuagint renders both
J. Jr. C. J. M.—Critical View:
Elon is one of the five minor judges whose names are given together with a few statistics about them, but who are connected with no historical exploits. The others are Tola, Jair, Ibzan, and Abdon. Elon is, in Gen. xlvi. 14 and Num. xxvi. 26, a clan of the tribe of Zebulun. Since Tola and Jair are also clans; since Ibzan and Abdon, from the number of their posterity, are probably likewise; and since the narratives of the minor judges are late additions to the Book of Judges, it is probable that Elon is a personified clan and never had historical existence as a judge (compare Moore, "Commentary on Judges," pp. 270 et seq., 310 et seq., and Budde's Commentary to Judges, p. 78).
J. Jr. G. A. B.
2. A Hittite; father of Esau's wife, Bashemath or Adah (Gen. xxvi. 34, xxxvi. 2).
3. One of the three sons of Zebulun; he was the ancestor of the Elonites (Gen. xlvi. 14; Num. xxvi. 26).
4. A city on the border of Dan (Josh. xix. 43). The place has not yet been positively identified. Some consider it the same as Elon-beth-hanan (I Kings iv. 9), which is mentioned as belonging to the second taxing district of Solomon, and according to Schick (in "Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina Vereins," x. 137), is identical with Khirbat Wadi Alin, east of 'Ain Shams. Elon-beth-hanan, on the other hand, is sometimes taken as representing two places (compare LXX. and Vulgate: the former has
ELON.—(‘terebinth’.)—1. Of the tribe of Zebulun, one of the minor judges (Jdg 12:11-12). All that is told of him is simply that he judged Israel for ten years, that he died, and was buried in Elon in Zebulun. 2. A son of Zebulun (Gen 46:14, Num 26:26, where the gentilic name Elonites occurs). 3. A Hittite, the father-in-law of Esau (Gen 26:34; Gen 36:2).
ELON.—1. A town in the territory of Dan, now unknown (Jos 19:43). It is perhaps the same as Elon-beth-hanan (1Ki 4:9). 2. An unknown locality in Zebulun (Jdg 12:12).
R. A. S. Macalister.