Elealeh, a Moabite city assigned to the tribe of Reuben, later featured in prophecies of Moab's destruction.
Elealeh was a city in the territory of Moab, east of the Jordan River. During the conquest of Canaan, the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested permission to settle in this area due to its suitability for livestock (Numbers 32:1-5). Elealeh was one of the cities rebuilt and settled by the Reubenites (Numbers 32:3,37).
However, the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah later pronounced judgment on Moab, including Elealeh. Isaiah mentioned the city in his oracle against Moab (Isaiah 15:4, 16:9), foretelling that the "weeping of Jazer extends to Elealeh." Jeremiah also predicted that the "lament of Heshbon and Elealeh" would be heard as far as Jahaz (Jeremiah 48:34). These prophecies indicate that Elealeh would face destruction along with the rest of Moab for their pride and idolatry.
Approximate location: 31.814, 35.824 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
God has ascended, a place in the pastoral country east of Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben (Num. 32:3, 37). It is not again mentioned till the time of Isaiah (15:4; 16:9) and Jeremiah (48:34). It is now an extensive ruin called el-A’al, about one mile north-east of Heshbon.
(the ascending of God), a place on the east of Jordan, taken possession of and rebuilt by the tribe of Reuben. (Numbers 32:3,37) By Isaiah and Jeremiah it is mentioned as a Moabite town. (Isaiah 15:4; 16:9; Jeremiah 48:34)
burnt-offering of God
ELEA'LEH (whither God ascends), a city east of Jordan; given to the Reubenites. Num 32:3, 2 Kgs 18:37; afterward possessed by Moab, Isa 15:4; Matt 16:9; Jer 48:34; now el-A'al ("the high"), 1 mile north-east of Heshbon.
ELEA'LEH (whither God ascends), a city east of Jordan; given to the Reubenites. Num 32:3, 2 Kgs 18:37; afterward possessed by Moab, Isa 15:4; Matt 16:9; Jer 48:34; now el-A'al ("the high"), 1 mile north-east of Heshbon.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
5 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0500
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore the soldiers of Moab cry out; their souls tremble within.
So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest.
There is a cry from Heshbon to Elealeh; they raise their voices to Jahaz, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim have dried up.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.