Lexical Definition
אֵילוֹן ʼÊylôwn (ay-lone') Elon N:N-M-P
or (shortened) אֵלוֹן ʼÊlôwn (ay-lone') ; or אֵילֹן ʼÊylôn (ay-lone') ; from אַיִל; oak-grove
Elon.
- § Elon = "terebinth, mighty"
- Elon, the name of a place in Palestine, and also of one Hittite, two Israelites
1) Hittite, father-in-law of Esau
2) second son of Zebulun
3) Zebulonite judge of Israel
4) town in Dan
Extended Information
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. אֵלוֺן proper name, masculine (= id. compare אֵלָה proper name)
1. a son of Zebulun Gen 46:14; Num 26:26.
2. אֵילֹן Gen 26:34 אֵיִלוֺן Gen 36:2 a Hittite, father-in-law of Esau.
3. אֵילוֺן Judg 12:11; Judg 12:12 a judge of Israel, of tribe of Zebulun
4. proper name, of a location אֵילוֺן Josh 19:43 a town of Dan; so 1Kgs 4:9 (where read ׳וּבֵית ח ׳א Th Klo).
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 26:34 · 36:2 · 46:14 |
| Numbers | 26:26 |
| Joshua | 19:43 |
| Judges | 12:11 · 12:12 |
| 1 Kings | 4:9 |
Profile
Male • Father of Adah • A Hittite, father-in-law of Esau.
Edomite living at the time of the Patriarchs
Elon the Hittite was the father of Basemath, one of Esau's wives (Gen.26.34; 36.2).
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.26.34;
- only referred to as Elon אֵילוֹן;
- father of Adah עָדָה.
Elon the Hittite is mentioned in Genesis as the father of Basemath, one of Esau's wives. Esau, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, married two Hittite women, Judith and Basemath, causing grief to his parents (Gen.26.34). Basemath is specifically identified as the daughter of Elon the Hittite. The Hittites were a people group living in Canaan during the time of the patriarchs. Esau's marriage to Hittite women was seen as a departure from the custom of marrying within the family or tribe, as his parents had desired. In Genesis 36:2, Basemath is again mentioned as one of Esau's wives, reaffirming her identity as the daughter of Elon the Hittite. No further information is provided about Elon's life, occupation, or role in the Hittite community. His mention in the text serves primarily to identify the background of one of Esau's wives and to highlight the cultural and familial tensions surrounding Esau's marriages.
All entries for Elon: אֵילוֹן
Related Profiles:
- Adah (child)