Elam

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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1. Son of Shem. He settled in a highland district east of Babylonia, which became the seat of a powerful monarchy. The district was also called ELAM (Gen. 10:22; 1 Chron. 1:17). In the days of Abraham, Chedorlaomer king of Elam was able to make war as far off as the Dead Sea (Gen. 14:1, 9). It subsequently became subject to the great power of the Chaldeans and Assyrians. When Assyria declined, Elam was conquered by its Persian neighbors, and reigned over by the Achaemenian Dynasty. Cyrus was king of Anshan, or Anzan (Elam) as well as of Persia: hence the close connection, and almost identification of Elam with Persia. In scripture Elam often designates Persia. In Isaiah 21:2-10 Elam and Media were to destroy Babylon. It afterward became a part of the Medo-Persian empire. Daniel was at Shushan, which was in the province of Elam. Under the name of Susiana, Elam is represented by the historians as one of the most ancient regions of the East. There are many prophecies against it (Isa. 11:11; Isa. 21:2; Isa. 22:6; Jer. 25:25; Jer. 49:34-39; Ezek. 32:24; Dan. 8:2).
2. Son of Shashak, a Benjamite (1 Chron. 8:24).
3. Son of Meshelemiah, a Korhite (1 Chron. 26:3).
4. A chief of the people who sealed the covenant (Neh. 10:14).
5. One whose descendants had married strange wives (Ezra 10:2, 26);
6. A priest who took part in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh. 12:42).
7. Two or more whose descendants returned from exile (Ezra 2:7,31; Ezra 8:7; Neh. 7:12,34).