EKRON ; Sept. 'ArKapdiv), one of the royal cities of the Philistines. Its situation is pointed out with considerable minuteness in Scrip ture. It is described as lying on the northern bor der of Philistia (Josh. xiii. 3), and of the territory allotted to Judah (xv. II). It stood on'the plain between Bethshemesh and Jabneel (Id.) Jerome locates it on the east of the road leading from Azotus (Ashdod) to Jamnia (Jabneel, Onornast. s. v. Accaron). From these notices we can have no difficulty in identifying it with the modern village of Akir. Akir stands on the southern slope of a low, bleak ridge or swell which separates the plain of Philistia from Sharon. It contains about fifty mud houses ; and has not a vestige of antiquity except two large and deep wells, and some stone water-troughs. Wady Surar, which lies below it, and the great plain beyond, are rich and fertile ; yet the higher ground around the village and northward has a barren aspect, and may perhaps have suggested the name (Ekron, Nvasteness'). The houses are built on the accumulated rubbish of past ages ; and like their predecessors, if left desolate for a few years, they would crumble to dust (Robinson, B. R. ii. 227 ; Van de Velde, 168 ; Handbook for S. and P. 275).
Ekron was within the territory of Judah ; but was one of the cities allotted to Dan (Josh. xix. 43). The most interesting event in its history was the sending of the ark to Bethshemesh. A new cart was made, and two milch kine yoked to it, and then left to choose their own path ; ' and they took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh ;' the position of which can be seen in a gorge of the distant mountains eastward (I Sam. v.) The deity worshipped at Ekron was called Baal-zebub; and we may conclude from the story of Ahaziah that his oracle had a great reputation even among the degenerate Israelites (2 Kings i.) The doom of Ekron was predicted by the prophets in connection with the other cities of Philistia ; and Ekron is now `rooted up'—every trace of royalty, riches, and power is gone (Amos i. 8 ; Zeph. ii. 4). It ap pears, however, never to have been completely deserted. It was a large village in the days of Jerome ; and also in the age of the crusades (Ono mast. ut sup. ; Gesta Dei per Francos, p. J. L. P.
ELAH (r6N ; Sept. 'Had). I. One of the dukes of Edom (Gen. xxxvi. 41 ; I Chron. i. 52). 2 The father of one of Solomon's officers for pro viding for his household (I Kings iv. 18). 3. A son of Caleb, son of Jephunneh (1 Chron. iv. 15) ; 4. A son of Uzzi, a Benjamite (1 Chron. ix. 8).
5. Son of Baasha, king of Israel. After a reign of two years (B.c. 93o-929) he was assassinated while drunk, and all his kinsfolk and friends cut off, by Zimri, `the captain of half his chariots.' He was the last king of Baasha's line, and by this catas trophe the predictions of the prophet Jehu were accomplished (I Kings xvi. 6-14). 6. Father of
Hoshea, last king of Israel (2 Kings xv. 3o ; xvii. r).
ELAH (74r1 pti4; Sept. KOLVLS Tc7S Speds, and 'HXci). ' The valley of Elah' is only mentioned as the scene of David's combat with Goliath (I Sam. xvii. 2, 19; xxi. 9). Elah signifies a terebinth tree.' and is so rendered in the Sent. and We..
versions of I Sam. xvii. 19. There can be little doubt, however, that the word is used as a proper name, though most probably arising from some re markable terebinth which grew in the valley. The valley is now called Wady-es-Sun/pt. (` Acacia val ley'), because it abounds in acacias. It is a re markable fact, and tends to throw light on the origin of the ancient name, that one of the largest terebinths in Palestine may be seen in a branch of the valley only a few miles distant from the scene of the battle. It was noticed by Dr. Robinson (B. R 21), and has since been visited by the writer (Handbook for S. and P. 280.) An old ecclesiastical tradition affirms that Wady Beit Hanina, eight miles north of Jerusalem, is the Elah of Scripture ; but it so happens that the inci dental references in Scripture afford sufficient data to prove that this is altogether erroneous (Ditto's Pictorial Palestine, 121). ' The Philistines ga thered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to 7miah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah' (I Sam. xvii. r). Wady Belt Hanina is in Benja min ; and Shochoh and Azekah were on the bor ders of the Shephelah, or plain of Philistia, some twelve miles south-west of Jerusalem (Josh. xv. 33, 35). The sites of both are now known, and serve not only to identify the valley, but to mark the exact scene of the battle. Wady es-Sumpt runs in a north-westerly direction from the mountains of Judah, through the low hills at their base, into the plain of Philistia, which it enters a little north of the site of Gath. The ruins of Shochoh, now called Shnweikeh, cover a natural terrace on the left bank of the valley ; and Azekah appears to have stood on a conical hill some two miles distant on the same bank. Between there, on the slope of the ridge, the Philistines encamped ; and opposite them on the right bank were the Israelites. The distance between the armies was about a mile; and the vale beneath is flat and rich. Through the centre winds a torrent bed, the banks fringed with shrubbery of acacia, and the bottom covered with rounded • smooth stones.' The ridges on each side rise to the height of about 50o feet, and have a steep uniform slope, so that the armies ranged along them could see the combat in the valley. The Philistines when defeated fled down the valley towards Gath and Ekron (Handbook for S. and P. ; Robinson, B. R. ii. 21 Sq.)—j. L. P.