Places of the Bible

Valley of Elah

Shephelah lowlands of Judah · Old Testament · 16 verses

The Valley of Elah is a valley in the Shephelah lowlands of Judah, between the hill country and the Philistine plain. A brook runs through its floor. The name appears in Genesis, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 more in the King James text.

About Valley of Elah

The Valley of Elah is a valley in the Shephelah lowlands of Judah, between the hill country and the Philistine plain. A brook runs through its floor.

Its place in the story

In the Valley of Elah, the armies of Israel and the Philistines faced each other, and there the young David killed the giant Goliath with a stone from the brook. It became the setting of one of Scripture's most famous victories. The confrontation launched David toward the throne.

Valley of Elah in Scripture (KJV)

“Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,”
Genesis 36:41 (KJV)
“And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 17:2 (KJV)
“Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 17:19 (KJV)
“And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.”
1 Samuel 21:9 (KJV)
“Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:”
1 Kings 4:18 (KJV)
“So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.”
1 Kings 16:6 (KJV)
“In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.”
1 Kings 16:8 (KJV)
“For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.”
1 Kings 16:13 (KJV)

Valley of Elah is named 16 times in Scripture; 8 shown above.

Where it leads

David's triumph in the Valley of Elah prefigures the victory of the Son of David, Jesus, who overcomes the great enemy for His people.

Who is Jesus? · Places of the Bible

People also ask

Where is Valley of Elah in the Bible?

The Valley of Elah is a valley in the Shephelah lowlands of Judah, between the hill country and the Philistine plain. A brook runs through its floor. The name appears in Genesis, 1 Samuel, 1 Kings and 2 more in the King James text.

What happened at Valley of Elah?

In the Valley of Elah, the armies of Israel and the Philistines faced each other, and there the young David killed the giant Goliath with a stone from the brook. It became the setting of one of Scripture's most famous victories. The confrontation launched David toward the throne.

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Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).

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