Who was Ela in the Bible?

Ela was the son of Uzzi and served as a royal official, specifically a prefect, under King Solomon. He was responsible for the territory of Benjamin, overseeing provisions for the king's household (1 Kings 4:18).

Why is Ela mentioned in the Bible?

Ela's mention highlights the administrative structure and organization of Solomon's prosperous kingdom. His role as a prefect shows how Solomon delegated governance across Israel to ensure stability and provision (1 Kings 4:7-19).

What was Ela's significance in Solomon's reign?

Ela was one of twelve district governors tasked with supplying food for Solomon's court for one month each year. This system was crucial for maintaining the king's extensive household and demonstrated the kingdom's wealth and order (1 Kings 4:7).

Ela

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Ela, the son of Uzzi, served as an official under King Solomon.

Ela

Biography

Ela appears in the Old Testament as the son of Uzzi, mentioned in connection with King Solomon's administrative structure. The name Ela (Hebrew: אֵלָה, meaning 'oak' or 'terebinth tree') appears in 1 Kings 4:18, where his son Shimei is identified as one of Solomon's twelve district governors responsible for providing provisions for the royal household. Though Ela himself is not described as holding office, his place in this genealogical notice signals that his family occupied a position of social standing during the prosperous era of the United Monarchy. Beyond this brief genealogical reference, the biblical text preserves no further details about his life, character, or deeds, placing him among the many supporting figures whose names are recorded primarily to establish the pedigree of more prominent individuals.

Significance

Ela's mention in Solomon's administrative records, though fleeting, reflects the ordered governance of Israel at the height of its power. The inclusion of family lineages in royal appointments reveals the importance of hereditary standing in ancient Israelite administration. Ela's son Shimei served as a district governor, one of twelve officials tasked with sustaining the king's household, suggesting that God's provision for Israel operated through structured human institutions. The oak tree meaning of his name carries symbolic resonance in Scripture, where the terebinth often marks sacred covenant sites, pointing to the enduring strength and rootedness that characterized faithful families in Israel's story.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Kgs

1Kgs 4:18

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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