Interesting Facts

• Elan was the king of Gaash.
• Gaash is described as the strongest and best fortified city of all the cities of the Amorites, possessing three walls.
• Elan had fourteen captains under his command.
• Levi killed Elan and his fourteen captains with the edge of the sword.
• The people of Gaash gathered against the sons of Jacob to battle because they had slain Elan and his captains.

Genealogy

• The provided sources do not offer any information regarding Elan’s ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring. He is solely identified by his title as the king of Gaash.

Historical Context

Elan’s story takes place during a period of conflict between Jacob and his sons and the surrounding Canaanite and Amorite kings. Following the return of Jacob’s family to Shechem and the subsequent destruction of several Amorite cities by the sons of Jacob, the remaining kings, including Elan of Gaash, assembled to wage war against them. This era was characterized by inter-city and inter-tribal warfare as groups vied for land and dominance in Canaan. The strength and fortification of Elan’s city, Gaash, suggest a time when defensive capabilities were crucial for survival against potential aggressors. The assembly of multiple kings indicates a sense of shared threat from the expanding influence and military prowess of Jacob’s sons.

Narrative

Elan, as the king of the formidable city of Gaash, plays a role in the coalition formed against Jacob and his sons after their return to Shechem. Upon hearing of the sons of Jacob’s presence and their past actions against other Amorite cities, Elan and his fourteen captains gathered with other kings to make war. When Levi encountered Elan advancing with his captains, Levi, accompanied by twelve of his servants, engaged them in battle and slew Elan and all fourteen of his captains with the sword. This act of Levi directly led to the subsequent gathering of the people of Gaash, who sought to avenge the death of their king and captains by confronting the sons of Jacob. The account highlights Elan’s leadership position and the significance of his death in escalating the conflict between Jacob’s family and the Amorite city of Gaash.