Topical Encyclopedia
Ellasar is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Genesis. It is referenced in the context of the narrative concerning the war of the kings during the time of Abram (later Abraham). The mention of Ellasar is brief but significant in understanding the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East during the patriarchal period.
Biblical Reference:Ellasar is first introduced in
Genesis 14:1, which states: "In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim went to war." . This verse sets the stage for the battle of the kings, where a coalition of four kings, including Arioch of Ellasar, wages war against five other kings in the region of Canaan.
Historical and Geographical Context:The exact location of Ellasar is not definitively known, but it is traditionally associated with a region in Mesopotamia. Some scholars suggest that Ellasar might be linked to the ancient city of Larsa, a prominent city-state in southern Mesopotamia. Larsa was known for its significant role in the political and economic affairs of the region during the early second millennium BC.
The identification of Ellasar with Larsa is based on linguistic similarities and historical records that align with the time frame of the patriarchs. Larsa was a center of power and influence, which would make it a plausible candidate for the kingdom ruled by Arioch.
Role in the War of the Kings:In the narrative of
Genesis 14, the king of Ellasar, Arioch, is part of a coalition led by Kedorlaomer, king of Elam. This coalition embarks on a military campaign against the cities of the plain, including Sodom and Gomorrah. The conflict is significant as it leads to the capture of Lot, Abram's nephew, prompting Abram to take action.
Abram's subsequent rescue of Lot and his victory over the coalition of kings is a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, demonstrating God's favor and protection over Abram. The involvement of Ellasar in this event highlights the interconnectedness of the various city-states and kingdoms in the ancient Near East.
Theological Significance:The mention of Ellasar and its king, Arioch, in
Genesis 14 serves to underscore the historical and cultural backdrop of the patriarchal narratives. It illustrates the challenges and threats faced by Abram and his family as they navigated a world of shifting alliances and conflicts.
From a theological perspective, the account of the war of the kings, including the role of Ellasar, emphasizes God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Despite the formidable coalition of kings, Abram's successful intervention is attributed to divine assistance, reinforcing the theme of God's covenantal promises to Abram and his descendants.
Conclusion:While Ellasar is only briefly mentioned in the biblical text, its inclusion in the narrative of
Genesis 14 provides valuable insights into the historical context of the patriarchs. The identification of Ellasar with the ancient city of Larsa remains a topic of scholarly interest, contributing to our understanding of the complex political landscape of the ancient Near East.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Ellasarrevolting from God
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Ellasar(oak), the city of Arioch, (Genesis 14:1) seems to be the Hebrew representative of the old Chaldean town called in the native dialectLarsa orLarancha .Larsa was a town of lower Babylonia or Chaldea, situated nearly halfway between Ur (Mugheir) and Erech (Warka), on the left bank of the Euphrates. It is nowSenkereh.
ATS Bible Dictionary
EllasarGenesis 14:1,9, perhaps the same country as Thelassar,2 Kings 19:12;Isaiah 37:12. The Arabic version calls it Armenia.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The oak or heap of Assyria, a territory in Asia of which Arioch was king (
Genesis 14:1, 9). It is supposed that the old Chaldean town of Larsa was the metropolis of this kingdom, situated nearly half-way between Ur (now Mugheir) and Erech, on the left bank of the Euphrates. This town is represented by the mounds of Senkereh, a little to the east of Erech.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ELLASARel-a'-sar ('ellacar):
1. The Name and Its Etymology:
The city over which Arioch (Eri-Aku) and other Babylonian kings ruled (Genesis 14:1). The Semitic-Babylonians form of its name is (al) Larsa, "the city Larsa," a form which implies that the Hebrew has interchanged r and s, and transposed the final vowel. Its Sumerian name is given as Ararwa, apparently for Arauruwa, "light-abode," which, in fact, is the meaning of the ideographic group with which it is written. The ruins of this ancient site are now known as Senqara, and lie on the East bank of the Euphrates, about midway between Warka (Erech) and Muqayyar (Ur of the Chaldees). In addition to the name Larsa, it seems also to have been called Aste azaga "the holy (bright, pure) seat" (or throne), and both its names were apparently due to its having been one of the great Babylonian centers of sun-god worship.
2. Its Holy Places:
Like most of the principal cities of Babylonia, it had a great temple-tower, called E-dur-an-ki, "house of the bond of heaven and earth." The temple of the city bore the same name as that at Sippar, i.e. E-babbar, "House of Light," where the sun-god Samas was worshipped. This temple was restored by Ur-Engur, Hammurabi (Amraphel), Burna-burias, Nebuchadrezzar and Nabonidus. Among the tablets found on this site by Loftus was that which gives measures of length and square and cube roots, pointing to the place as one of the great centers of Babylonian learning. Besides the remains of these temples, there are traces of the walls, and the remains of houses of the citizens. The city was at first governed by its own kings, but became a part of the Babylonian empire some time after the reign of Hammurabi.
LITERATURE.
Loftus, Chaldea and Susiana; Delitzsch, Wo lag das Paradies?; Zehnpfund, Babylonien in seinen wichtigsten Ruinenstatten, 53-54.
T. G. Pinches
Strong's Hebrew
495.Ellasar -- a country of unknown location... 494, 495.
Ellasar. 496 . a country of unknown location. Transliteration:
Ellasar Phonetic Spelling: (el-law-sawr') Short Definition:
Ellasar.
...746a. Aryok -- king ofEllasar
... king ofEllasar. Transliteration: Aryok Short Definition: Arioch. Word Origin of
foreign origin Definition king ofEllasar NASB Word Usage Arioch (2)....
746. Aryowk -- king ofEllasar
... 745b, 746. Aryowk. 746a . king ofEllasar. Transliteration: Aryowk Phonetic
Spelling: (ar-yoke') Short Definition: Arioch. Arioch...
Library
Chapter xiv
... 1. And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, and Arioch, king
ofEllasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goyim....
The History after the Flood.
... [612] And in the land of Shinar, among those called Chald??ans, the first king was
Arioch, and next after himEllasar, and after him Chedorlaomer, king of Elam...
"In the Volume of the Book it is Written of Me" (Heb. . .
... Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome), so dominions: "And it came to pass in the days
of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king ofEllasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam...
The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... Sodom, Gomorrah, Adamah, Zeboim, and Bela"revolted against him: he immediately convoked
his great vassals, Amraphel of Chaldaea, Arioch ofEllasar,* Tida'lo...
Appendices
... pure! X. LETTERS OF KHAMMURABI OR AMMURAPI (THE AMRAPHEL OP Genesis 14:1)
TO SIN-IDINNAM, KING OF LARSA (THEELLASAR OF GENESIS). I...
Thesaurus
Ellasar (2 Occurrences)... of Erech. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ELLASAR. el-a
... 53-54. TG Pinches.
Multi-Version Concordance
Ellasar (2 Occurrences). Genesis 14
...Arioch (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Lion-like, venerable. (1.) A king ofEllasar who was
confederate with Chedorlamer (Genesis 14:1, 9). The tablets recently discovered...
Amraphel (2 Occurrences)
... where he is mentioned as the king of Shinar (Babylonia), who fought against the
cities of the plain, in alliance with Arioch king ofEllasar, Chedorlaomer king...
Tidal (2 Occurrences)
... in Genesis 14:1, 9 in the account of the expedition of Chedorlaomer of Elam, with
his allies, Amraphel of Shinar (Babylonia), Arioch ofEllasar, and Tidal, who...
Chedorlaomer (5 Occurrences)
... was under the suzerainty of the Elamites, and was divided into two kingdoms, that
of Babylon (the Biblical Shinar) and that of Larsa (the BiblicalEllasar)....
Goiim (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 14:1 It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of
Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim, (WEB JPS ASV...
Goyim (7 Occurrences)
... Genesis 14:1 And it cometh to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch
king ofEllasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goyim, (YLT)....
Goi'im (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch
king ofEllasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, (See RSV)....
Ella'sar (2 Occurrences)
... Genesis 14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch
king ofEllasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, (See RSV)....
Ched-or-lao'mer (5 Occurrences)
... Genesis 14:1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch
king ofEllasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, (See RSV)....
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