[Image] [Hi-Res Image]
Page 103
108 RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA Elah Elders in Israel on the northeast in a bay about four miles wide with an irregular beach of sand, mussel shells, and detritus from the neighboring hills. On the east cliffs of porphyritic rock rise to a height of 4,000 feet, on the west are porphyritic rocks, interrupted by strata of sandstone and limestone about 2,500 feet in height. In the northeast is a depres sion continuing for about twenty miles at a height of about 210 feet above sea level, which is the continuation of the depression in which lies the Dead Sea and is known as the Wadi al-Arabah. The drainage of the rainy season from the hills empties along the west side though much is lost in the sand. By digging, water is easily found (of. II Kings iii. 16-17), at first brackish, afterward fresh and potable. Nearly the entire region is covered with a growth of thorn-bush. In a bight of the Gulf not far from the east side are heaps of ruins, and a little farther south is a square fort with thick walls and a tower at each corner, which bears the name of (Kalat al-) Akabah, " Fort of the Declivity." The Arabic geographer Idrisi (1154) speaks of the `Akabet Aila, in which may be recognized the fuller form of the prlsent name. At the northeastern corner of the bight is a beauti ful palm grove containing both date-palms and the African variety. This circumstance has given rise to the conjecture that the name came not from the oak (as the form of the name would suggest) bat irom the grove of palms. The cultivated area is small, though the ground is not unfrli';ful. The tempera ture averages high, especially in summer. The water of the bay is very clear and abounds in fish, and sharks are numerous. Corals are plentiful. The heaps of ruins mentioned above belong prob ably to the Aila of the Middle Ages the Elath of the Old Testament probably was situated on the hills higher up. The Old Testament knows of two places in the region, Ela,th and Ezion-geber (cf. I Kings ix. 26 and II Chron. viii. 17), the latter probably north of the former. Ezion-geber has been located at Ladyan, about twenty-four miles north of the present coast line, but formerly on the coast when the sea extended farther inland. Elath and Ezion-geber are brought into connec tion with the desert wandering of the Hebrews (Deut. ii. 8), and David made the region a part of his realm (II Sam. viii. 14). From Elath and Ezion-geber Solomon sent his ships to Ophir (q.v.; I Kings ix. 26, 28); but after the death of Je hoshaphat they were retaken by the Edomites (II Kings viii. 20), and were for only a short time in the possession of Judah, during the reign of Uzziah (II Kings xiv. 22, xvi. 6). Under the Romans Elath was still an important mercan tile place, the station of a legion, and the seat of a bishop. Under the Mohammedans it lost its trade. About 1300, at the time of Abulfeda, it was com- pletely deserted. H. GUTHE. BIBLIOGRAPHY: E. Hull, Mount Seir, Sinai and Western Palestine, pp. 71 eqq., London, 1889; idem, Memoir on the Geology and Geography of Arabia Petr., ib., 1889; E. Ruppell, Reiaen in . . , dem PefrBiachen Arabien, pp. 248 eqq.. 385-386, Frankfort, 1829; L. de Laborde , Voyage de L'Aratrie Petree, Paris, 1880; E. Robinson, Biblical Researches, i. 280, Boston, 1856; C. M. Doughty, Travels in Arabia Deserts, London, 1888; G, le Strange, Palestine under the Moslems, ib.1890; H. C. Hart, Fauna and Flora
of Sinai, Petra and Wads Arabah, ib. 1891; F. Buhl, Geachichte der Edomiter, Leipeic, 1893.
ELDAD AND MODAD, BOOB OF. See PaEUDEPIGRAPHA, OLD TESTAMENT, III, 31.
ELDERS IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. See PRESBYTER.
ELDERS IN ISRAEL: The patriarchal and later officers, whose position was due to their statue as heads of families. Till the establishment of the kingdom the Israelites had a tribal organization the characteristic feature of which was that the constituents (families) of the tribe as well as the individuals were fully independent. There was no organized government. The Sheik of a tribe or encampment among the Arabs has no formal au thority. He may lead in war, locate the camp In times of peace, and the like; he may advise but can enjoin nothing of importance without consulting the prominent men of the aggregation. As a judge he has moral influence, but no power to carry out a sentence or to inflict punishment. The elders had similar functions, as is indicated Before the in the narrative of the desert-journey Settlement in E. They appear not as though in Canaan. instituted in Mosaic times, but as existing ever since there was a " people of Israel " (Ex. iii. 16 sqq., iv. 29). They are also presupposed among other nations (Josh. ix. 11; Num. xxii. 4, 7). They had no special office, but as the most prominent individuals (Ex. xviii. 21) were called to represent the people on special oc casions (Ex. xvi. 12; Num, xvi. 25; Josh. vii. 6); their decision had weight (Ex. xvii. 5; Deut. xxxi. 9); and they were leaders in war (Josh. viii. 10). By virtue of this position they mediated between Moses and the people; according to E, Moses often communicated Yahweh's behests first to the elders (Ex. iv. 29; Deut. xxxi. 9); what was commanded to them was also commanded to the people, whose representatives they were by station and birth. Their connection with the family constitution is evident from Ex. xii. 21 sqq.; while the gloss on Deut. i. 15 designates the elders correctly as the family heads of the tribes called also " heads of the people " (Num. xxv. 4).The settlement in the West-Jordan country caused many changes among the tribes, but not in the organization. The tribe was organized early for war; the family-heads remained the persons in authority. The elders of the tribe of Gilead made Jephthah captain (Judges xi. 1 aqq.); by presents David sought to win over the elders of Judah, of the Jerahmeelites, Kenites and others
From the (I Sam, xxx. 26 sqq.); the elders of Settlement Israel led in the war against the Phi to the Exile. listines and decided to have the ark of the covenant brought to the camp (I Sam. iv. 3). In the name of the people the elders asked a king of Samuel (I Sam. viii.). The word is used always in the plural. When the people settled in a locality the elders became the heads of the local communities (Judges viii. 4 sqq.; I Sam. xi. 3 aqq., xvi. 4). Gradually the heads of the communities took the character of magistrates, and their influence