Bible Dictionary
Elam
Elam was a highland country east of Babylonia, with Susa as an important center, and the name of a son of Shem. Scripture also mentions several individuals and families called Elam, including returned exiles and leaders in Judah.
Definition
Elam was both a son of Shem and the country inhabited by his descendants. The country was a highland region east of Babylonia, extending toward the Mediterranean, with Shushan, or Susa, as its capital in the time of Abraham. “Elam” is identified as an Assyrian word meaning “high.”
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses Elam for the son of Shem, the country and its inhabitants, and several Israelites: a Benjamite, a Korahite, heads of families who returned from exile, a chief of the people, and a priest.
Historical Background
The Elamites spoke related dialects of an agglutinative language. Elam was often involved in conflicts with Babylonia, was conquered by Assyria under Assur-bani-pal, and later passed to the Persians. The Greeks called the region Cissia or Susiana.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Highland, the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22), and the name of the country inhabited by his descendants (14:1, 9; Isa. 11:11; 21:2, etc.) lying to the east of Babylonia, and extending to the shore of the Mediterranean, a distance in a direct line of about 1,000 miles. The name Elam is an Assyrian word meaning “high.” “The inhabitants of Elam, or ‘the Highlands,’ to the east of Babylon, were called Elamites. They were divided into several branches, speaking different dialects of the same agglutinative language. The race to which they belonged was brachycephalic, or short-headed, like the pre-Semitic Sumerians of Babylonia. “The earliest Elamite kingdom seems to have been that of Anzan, the exact site of which is uncertain; but in the time of Abraham, Shushan or Susa appears to have already become the capital of the country. Babylonia was frequently invaded by the Elamite kings, who at times asserted their supremacy over it (as in the case of Chedorlaomer, the Kudur-Lagamar, or ‘servant of the goddess Lagamar,’ of the cuneiform texts). “The later Assyrian monarchs made several campaigns against Elam, and finally Assur-bani-pal (about B.C. 650) succeeded in conquering the country, which was ravaged with fire and sword. On the fall of the Assyrian Empire, Elam passed into the hands of the Persians” (A.H. Sayce). This country was called by the Greeks Cissia or Susiana.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(eternity).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>e'-lam (`elam):</p><p>(1) A son of Shem (Ge 10:22; 1Ch 1:17; see ELAMITES).</p><p>(2) A Benjamite (1Ch 8:24).</p><p>(3) A Korahite (1Ch 26:3).</p><p>(4) Heads of families in the return (Ezr 2:7 parallel Ne 7:12; Ezr 2:31 parallel Ne 7:34; Ezr 8:7; 10:2,26).</p><p>(5) A chief of the people (Ne 10:14).</p><p>(6) A priest (Ne 12:42).</p>