Zela, Zelah
A City in Benjamin
Zela, also spelled Zelah, was a city within the tribal territory of Benjamin. It appears in the list of towns allocated to Benjamin during Joshua's distribution of the Promised Land (Joshua 18:28). Though a small and otherwise obscure settlement, Zela gained lasting significance as the ancestral burial ground of Israel's first royal family.
The Burial Place of Saul's Family
Zela's primary biblical importance comes from 2 Samuel 21:14, which identifies it as the location of the tomb of Kish, Saul's father. After a period of famine that was attributed to Saul's violation of the treaty with the Gibeonites, David took steps to make amends. As part of the resolution, David gathered the bones of Saul and Jonathan — which had been kept at Jabesh-gilead after their recovery from the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:11-13) — and had them properly buried in the tomb of Kish at Zela in Benjamin.
The Story Behind the Reburial
The events leading to the burial at Zela form a complex narrative. After Saul and Jonathan died in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines hung their bodies on the wall of Beth-shan (1 Samuel 31:10). The men of Jabesh-gilead, remembering how Saul had once rescued their city, courageously retrieved the bodies and gave them a burial under a tamarisk tree in Jabesh (1 Samuel 31:11-13). Years later, David arranged for the final transfer of their remains to the family tomb at Zela, bringing closure to the saga of Israel's first king.
An Unidentified Location
Despite its biblical significance, the exact location of Zela has not been identified with certainty. It lay somewhere within the territory of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem. Some scholars have suggested a connection with Zilu, a place mentioned in the Tell el-Amarna Letters (14th century BC diplomatic correspondence between Canaan and Egypt), but this identification remains speculative. The difficulty in locating Zela is compounded by textual issues: the Septuagint translation of 2 Samuel 21:14 appears to translate the word rather than treating it as a place name, reading it as "side" rather than "Zela."
Burial Customs in Ancient Israel
The importance of proper burial in ancestral tombs was deeply significant in ancient Israelite culture. Being buried with one's fathers was considered essential for honor and rest. David's decision to transfer Saul's bones to the family tomb at Zela, despite the complicated history between them, demonstrated both political wisdom and genuine respect for the dead. The act of reburial brought proper honor to Saul and Jonathan and helped heal the divisions between the house of Saul and the house of David.
Biblical Context
Zela appears in Joshua 18:28 among the cities allotted to Benjamin, and in 2 Samuel 21:14 as the location of Kish's tomb where the bones of Saul and Jonathan were finally laid to rest. The reburial narrative connects to the broader stories of 1 Samuel 31 (the death of Saul), 2 Samuel 2-4 (the conflict between Saul's and David's houses), and 2 Samuel 21:1-14 (the Gibeonite crisis).
Theological Significance
The burial at Zela illustrates themes of honor, reconciliation, and closure. David's care for Saul's remains, despite Saul's years of persecution against him, demonstrates grace toward an enemy. The passage also shows God's concern for justice — the famine ended only after David addressed the wrong done to the Gibeonites and properly honored the dead. Even in death, the dignity of human beings made in God's image demands respect.
Historical Background
Family tombs were a central feature of Israelite burial practice, typically consisting of rock-cut chambers where multiple generations were laid to rest. The phrase 'gathered to his fathers' reflected this custom. The Tell el-Amarna Letters mention a place called Zilu in the region of Canaan, which some scholars tentatively connect with biblical Zela. Tomb reuse across generations has been well documented in archaeological excavations throughout the Judean hill country and the territory of Benjamin.