Who was Elah in the Bible?

Elah was a man from the tribe of Benjamin, specifically identified as the son of Uzzi. He is listed among the descendants of Benjamin who were heads of families and mighty warriors (1 Chronicles 9:8).

Why is Elah mentioned in the Bible?

Elah is mentioned to establish the genealogical record of the tribe of Benjamin after the exile. His inclusion shows the continuity of the tribe and its important families who returned to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:3-9).

What is significant about Elah being a Benjamite?

Being a Benjamite connected Elah to one of the foundational tribes of Israel. His lineage was significant as the tribe of Benjamin produced Israel's first king, Saul, and was later part of the southern kingdom of Judah.

Elah

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleSon

Elah was a Benjamite, the son of Uzzi.

Elah

Biography

This Elah was a Benjamite, identified as the son of Uzzi, and is mentioned among those who resettled in Jerusalem following the return from Babylonian exile, as recorded in Nehemiah 11:7. He belongs to the Exile and Return period, one of the most transformative eras in Israel's history, when the remnant community labored to re-establish covenant life in the promised land. The genealogical list in Nehemiah 11 documents the heads of households who took up residence in Jerusalem, a voluntary act, since the city was not yet fully repopulated and required inhabitants to make sacrificial choices. Elah's inclusion among the Benjamite settlers of Jerusalem places him within the faithful remnant who answered the call to rebuild the holy city, continuing the tribe of Benjamin's long association with the capital region.

Significance

Elah's role as a Benjamite settler in post-exilic Jerusalem illustrates the communal commitment required to restore covenant community after catastrophic loss. The resettlement of Jerusalem under Nehemiah was not merely a civic project but a theological act of faith, a declaration that God's promises to dwell among His people remained intact. Benjamin's historical tie to Jerusalem, the city of David and the temple, made each returning Benjamite a living embodiment of covenant continuity. Elah's presence in this list speaks to the unsung faithfulness of ordinary people whose willingness to inhabit a ruined city made the restoration of Israel's worship and identity possible.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 9:8

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]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources