Ee´luhm
The region east of the Tigris River, which provided Mesopotamia with a rich source of raw materials. In the Bible, Elam is best known from (Gen 14), which details the coalition of several kings, including the Elamite Chedorlaomer, against the kings of the Dead Sea region. The coalition captured Lot, who was rescued by his uncle, Abram. In the Table of Nations, Elam is listed as a descendant of Shem (Gen 10:22). Shushan (Susa), the capital (Neh 1:1; Dan 8:2) of Elam, is called “the citadel” in (Esth 1:2). In the eighth and seventh centuries BCE, Elam alternatively showed its last independence and joined Chaldean and Aramean coalitions against Assyria. The Assyrians prevailed, and in 646 BCE Ashurbanipal sacked Susa. (Ezek 32:24) describes the destruction of Elam. Isaiah (Isa 11:11, Isa 21:2, Isa 22:6) records Elamite help in Assyrian attacks on Judah. During the reign of Zedekiah, Jeremiah (Jer 49:35-39) prophesied God’s promise of a total victory over Elam and a return from the captivity. Jews from Elam are counted among the returnees from the Babylonian captivity in (Ezra 2:7, Ezra 2:31, and Ezra 8:7). The one mention of Elamites in the NT (Acts 2:9) records their presence in Jerusalem at Pentecost.
