Ellasar

At a Glance

Ancient kingdom named in Genesis 14; location uncertain.

Key Points

• Appears in Genesis 14:1, 9
• Associated with Arioch, one of the eastern kings
• Scripture gives no further identification
• Exact historical location is uncertain

Description

Ellasar is a place-name found in Genesis 14:1, 9, where Arioch is called the king of Ellasar during the conflict often called the war of the kings in the days of Abram. The Bible gives no further description of the kingdom beyond its role in that narrative. Various historical identifications have been suggested, but none can be confirmed with certainty, so interpreters should avoid speaking with more precision than the text and evidence allow. For dictionary purposes, Ellasar is best defined simply as an ancient kingdom named in Genesis 14, with its exact location and political identity remaining uncertain.

Biblical Context

Ellasar belongs to the Genesis 14 account, which presents a coalition of kings in conflict with the cities of the Jordan plain. The name is tied to Arioch, but the narrative does not pause to explain the kingdom’s geography or history.

Historical Context

Outside Scripture, Ellasar has not been identified with confidence. Because the biblical text gives only the name, proposals remain tentative and should be held lightly.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Jewish interpretation generally treats Ellasar as a real place-name in the Genesis narrative without building doctrine from it. Later readers were interested in identification, but the text itself does not provide enough information for certainty.

Primary Key Texts

• Genesis 14:1
• Genesis 14:9

Secondary Key Texts

• Genesis 14:8-12

Original Language Note

The Hebrew text preserves Ellasar as a place-name associated with Arioch; its etymology and precise location are uncertain.

Theological Significance

Ellasar has little direct theological content, but it contributes to the Bible’s presentation of Genesis 14 as historical narrative grounded in real people and places.

Philosophical Explanation

Because Scripture names Ellasar without defining it, careful readers should distinguish between what the text states and what later reconstructions infer. Uncertainty here is a historical limitation, not a denial of the text’s authority.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not treat Ellasar as a securely identified site unless the evidence warrants it. Avoid building doctrine or detailed historical arguments on an uncertain location.

Major Views

Interpretations vary widely, but no identification has gained universal or decisive confirmation. The safest approach is to acknowledge the name and the uncertainty.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Ellasar is a geographical name, not a doctrinal term. Its uncertain identification does not affect biblical authority or any core doctrine.

Practical Significance

Ellasar reminds readers that Genesis is set in a real historical framework, even when some ancient locations remain unidentified.

Related Entries

• Arioch
• Genesis 14
• War of the Kings

See Also

• Amraphel
• Chedorlaomer
• Tidal