Elam
Son of Shem and ancestor of the Elamites
Elam was the eldest son of Shem, who was a son of Noah. He is regarded as the ancestor of the Elamites, an ancient people who lived in southwestern Iran. Elam is mentioned in the genealogy in Genesis and in several prophetic texts that speak of the fate of the Elamite people.
Famille
Événements clés
The birth and genealogy of Elam
Elam is mentioned as the firstborn son of Shem in the post-flood genealogy, as the ancestor of one of the great nations.
22The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
בְּנֵ֥י שֵׁ֖ם עֵילָ֣ם וְאַשּׁ֑וּר וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד וְל֥וּד וֽ͏ַאֲרָֽם׃
21Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth; he was the father of all the sons of Eber.
וּלְשֵׁ֥ם יֻלַּ֖ד גַּם־ה֑וּא אֲבִי֙ כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֵ֔בֶר אֲחִ֖י יֶ֥פֶת הַגָּדֽוֹל׃
22The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
בְּנֵ֥י שֵׁ֖ם עֵילָ֣ם וְאַשּׁ֑וּר וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד וְל֥וּד וֽ͏ַאֲרָֽם׃
23The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
וּבְנֵ֖י אֲרָ֑ם ע֥וּץ וְח֖וּל וְגֶ֥תֶר וָמַֽשׁ׃
24Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber.
וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד יָלַ֣ד אֶת־שָׁ֑לַח וְשֶׁ֖לַח יָלַ֥ד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃
25Two sons were born to Eber. One was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided; his brother's name was Joktan.
וּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הֽ͏ָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃
26Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
וְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃
27Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
וְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה׃
28Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
וְאֶת־עוֹבָ֥ל וְאֶת־אֲבִֽימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־שְׁבָֽא׃
29Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
וְאֶת־אוֹפִ֥ר וְאֶת־חֲוִילָ֖ה וְאֶת־יוֹבָ֑ב כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י יָקְטָֽן׃
30Their settlements stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, the hill country of the east.
וֽ͏ַיְהִ֥י מוֹשָׁבָ֖ם מִמֵּשָׁ֑א בֹּאֲכָ֥ה סְפָ֖רָה הַ֥ר הַקֶּֽדֶם׃
31These are the sons of Shem, by their clans and languages, in their lands and nations.
אֵ֣לֶּה בְנֵי־שֵׁ֔ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לִלְשֹׁנֹתָ֑ם בְּאַרְצֹתָ֖ם לְגוֹיֵהֶֽם׃
Repetition in the Genealogy of Shem
Elam is mentioned again in the detailed genealogy of Shem as the eldest of his five sons.
10This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was a hundred years old, he became the father of Arpachshad.
אֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת שֵׁ֔ם שֵׁ֚ם בֶּן־מְאַ֣ת שָׁנָ֔ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־אַרְפַּכְשָׁ֑ד שְׁנָתַ֖יִם אַחַ֥ר הַמַּבּֽוּל׃
11After he became the father of Arpachshad, Shem lived five hundred years and had other sons and daughters.
וֽ͏ַיְחִי־שֵׁ֗ם אֽ͏ַחֲרֵי֙ הוֹלִיד֣וֹ אֶת־אַרְפַּכְשָׁ֔ד חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בָּנִ֖ים וּבָנֽוֹת׃ ס
Kedorlaomer, King of Elam
King Kedorlaomer of Elam led a coalition of kings who ruled over the Valley of Sodom and was defeated by Abram, demonstrating the early military power of the Elamites.
1In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,
וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ אַמְרָפֶ֣ל מֶֽלֶךְ־שִׁנְעָ֔ר אַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר כְּדָרְלָעֹ֙מֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֔ם וְתִדְעָ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ גּוֹיִֽם׃
2these kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, that is, Zoar.
עָשׂ֣וּ מִלְחָמָ֗ה אֶת־בֶּ֙רַע֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ סְדֹ֔ם וְאֶת־בִּרְשַׁ֖ע מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמֹרָ֑ה שִׁנְאָ֣ב ׀ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַדְמָ֗ה וְשֶׁמְאֵ֙בֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ *צביים **צְבוֹיִ֔ים וּמֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּ֖לַע הִיא־צֹֽעַר׃
3All these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim, that is, the Salt Sea.
כָּל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ חָֽבְר֔וּ אֶל־עֵ֖מֶק הַשִּׂדִּ֑ים ה֖וּא יָ֥ם הַמֶּֽלַח׃
4For twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה עָבְד֖וּ אֶת־כְּדָרְלָעֹ֑מֶר וּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה מָרָֽדוּ׃
5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came with the kings who were allied with him, and they defeated the Rephaim at Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim at Ham, the Emim at Shaveh-kiriathaim,
וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה בָּ֣א כְדָרְלָעֹ֗מֶר וְהַמְּלָכִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיַּכּ֤וּ אֶת־רְפָאִים֙ בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹ֣ת קַרְנַ֔יִם וְאֶת־הַזּוּזִ֖ים בְּהָ֑ם וְאֵת֙ הֽ͏ָאֵימִ֔ים בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה קִרְיָתָֽיִם׃
9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar: four kings against five.
אֵ֣ת כְּדָרְלָעֹ֜מֶר מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֗ם וְתִדְעָל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ גּוֹיִ֔ם וְאַמְרָפֶל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ שִׁנְעָ֔ר וְאַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר אַרְבָּעָ֥ה מְלָכִ֖ים אֶת־הַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃
17After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, that is, the King's Valley.
וַיֵּצֵ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹם֮ לִקְרָאתוֹ֒ אַחַרֵ֣י שׁוּב֗וֹ מֽ͏ֵהַכּוֹת֙ אֶת־כְּדָר־לָעֹ֔מֶר וְאֶת־הַמְּלָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ אֶל־עֵ֣מֶק שָׁוֵ֔ה ה֖וּא עֵ֥מֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
Isaiah's Prophecy Against Elam
The prophet Isaiah delivers prophecies where Elam is mentioned as part of God's plan for the nations, both as an instrument of judgment and as a recipient of judgment.
2A harsh vision has been told to me: the traitor betrays, the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam! Lay siege, Media! I have put an end to all her groaning.
חָז֥וּת קָשָׁ֖ה הֻגַּד־לִ֑י הַבּוֹגֵ֤ד ׀ בּוֹגֵד֙ וְהַשּׁוֹדֵ֣ד ׀ שׁוֹדֵ֔ד עֲלִ֤י עֵילָם֙ צוּרִ֣י מָדַ֔י כָּל־אַנְחָתָ֖ה הִשְׁבַּֽתִּי׃
6Elam took up the quiver with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.
וְעֵילָם֙ נָשָׂ֣א אַשְׁפָּ֔ה בְּרֶ֥כֶב אָדָ֖ם פָּֽרָשִׁ֑ים וְקִ֥יר עֵרָ֖ה מָגֵֽן׃
Jeremiah's Judgment on Elam
The prophet Jeremiah pronounces a comprehensive prophecy of judgment against Elam, in which God says He will break Elam's bow and scatter the people, but also promises restoration in the last days.
34This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:
אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֧ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא אֶל־עֵילָ֑ם בְּרֵאשִׁ֗ית מַלְכ֛וּת צִדְקִיָּ֥ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
35This is what the LORD of hosts says: I am about to break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might.
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הִנְנִ֥י שֹׁבֵ֖ר אֶת־קֶ֣שֶׁת עֵילָ֑ם רֵאשִׁ֖ית גְּבוּרָתָֽם׃
36I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and I will scatter them to all these winds; there will not be a nation where Elam's exiles do not go.
וְהֵבֵאתִ֨י אֶל־עֵילָ֜ם אַרְבַּ֣ע רוּח֗וֹת מֵֽאַרְבַּע֙ קְצ֣וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְזֵ֣רִתִ֔ים לְכֹ֖ל הָרֻח֣וֹת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְלֹֽא־יִהְיֶ֣ה הַגּ֔וֹי אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־יָב֥וֹא שָׁ֖ם נִדְּחֵ֥י *עולם **עֵילָֽם׃
37I will terrify Elam before their enemies, before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, even the heat of my anger, declares the LORD. I will send the sword after them until I have made an end of them.
וְהַחְתַּתִּ֣י אֶת־עֵ֠ילָם לִפְנֵ֨י אֹיְבֵיהֶ֜ם וְלִפְנֵ֣י ׀ מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְהֵבֵאתִ֨י עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם ׀ רָעָ֛ה אֶת־חֲר֥וֹן אַפִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֤י אַֽחֲרֵיהֶם֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב עַ֥ד כַּלּוֹתִ֖י אוֹתָֽם׃
38I will set my throne in Elam and wipe out from there king and officials, declares the LORD.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י כִסְאִ֖י בְּעֵילָ֑ם וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֥י מִשָּׁ֛ם מֶ֥לֶךְ וְשָׂרִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
39Yet in days to come I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the LORD.
וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית הַיָּמִ֗ים *אשוב **אָשִׁ֛יב אֶת־*שבית **שְׁב֥וּת עֵילָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ ס
Elamites Present on Pentecost Day
Elamites are mentioned among the nations present in Jerusalem on Pentecost day who heard the gospel preached in their own language, showing the continued existence of Elam's descendants.
9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Πάρθοι καὶ Μῆδοι καὶ Ἐλαμῖται, καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες τὴν Μεσοποταμίαν, Ἰουδαίαν τε καὶ Καππαδοκίαν, Πόντον καὶ τὴν Ἀσίαν,