The name Elon appears in several distinct contexts within the Old Testament. It is a name rooted in strength and is associated with the tribe of Zebulun and the early history of the patriarchs.
1. Elon the Zebulonite (The Judge)
The most notable Elon was the eleventh Judge of Israel. His leadership occurred during a period of relative peace for the nation.
- His Tenure: He judged Israel for ten years (Judges 12:11).
- His Burial: Upon his death, he was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun (Judges 12:12).
- The Scriptural Record: > “And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.” (Judges 12:11, KJV)
2. Elon the Son of Zebulun
This Elon was one of the sons of the patriarch Zebulun and a grandson of Jacob. He was among the seventy members of Jacob’s household who migrated to Egypt to escape the famine.
- The Genealogies: He is listed in both Genesis and Numbers as the founder of the family of the Elonites.
- The Scriptural Record: > “And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.” (Genesis 46:14, KJV)”Of Elon, the family of the Elonites…” (Numbers 26:26, KJV)
3. Elon the Hittite
This figure appears much earlier in the biblical narrative during the life of Isaac. He was a Canaanite whose daughter married into the patriarchal family, causing significant distress.
- Family Connection: He was the father of Bashemath (also called Adah in some contexts), one of the wives of Esau.
- The Grief of Isaac: This marriage was a “grief of mind” to Isaac and Rebekah because it brought pagan influences into the family line.
- The Scriptural Record: > “And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:” (Genesis 26:34, KJV)
Etymology and Meaning
The name Elon is derived from the Hebrew word Ayil:
- “Oak” or “Terebinth”: It literally refers to a strong, sturdy tree.
- “Mighty” or “Strong”: In a metaphorical sense, the name implies a person of great stability and endurance, much like the oak tree.
Historical and Theological Significance
While Elon the Judge is often categorized as one of the “minor judges” because the Bible records no specific battles or miracles during his time, his ten-year rule represents stability. In the chaotic era of the Judges, a decade of peace and judicial order was a blessing from God.
The Elon found in the lineage of Esau serves as a Warning. He represents the “daughters of Canaan” that the patriarchs were warned against, serving as a reminder of the cultural and spiritual pressures that faced the people of the covenant.