📖 Biblical Definition
Valley in the Shephelah of Judah, running east-west between Socoh and Azekah, the principal battlefield-site of David's victory over Goliath the Philistine champion (1 Samuel 17:2, 19, now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines). The narrative is among the most famous in the OT. The Philistines and Israel encamped on opposite mountains with the Valley of Elah between them. Goliath of Gath, a giant six cubits and a span tall (about nine feet nine inches), came forth morning and evening for forty days, defying the armies of Israel: I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together (1 Samuel 17:10). Saul and all Israel were dismayed. David, the youngest son of Jesse, sent by his father with provisions for his three older brothers in Saul's army, heard the challenge, was moved to respond, was provided armor by Saul but refused it, took five smooth stones from the brook in the valley, slung one stone into Goliath's forehead, ran and stood upon Goliath, took the Philistine's own sword, and cut off his head (1 Samuel 17:48-51). The Israelites pursued the fleeing Philistines along the road to Shaaraim and to Gath and Ekron. The narrative establishes David's emergence as the deliverer of Israel and points typologically to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would defeat the great enemies of His people. The patriarchal-Reformed reader receives the Valley of Elah as the great OT type of faith confronting overwhelming worldly intimidation in the LORD's name and prevailing.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Valley in Judah's Shephelah between Socoh and Azekah; site of David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17); type of faith confronting worldly intimidation.
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VALLEY OF ELAH, proper n. (OT place; Hebrew 'Emeq Elah, Valley of the Terebinth) Valley in the Shephelah of Judah, running east-west between Socoh and Azekah. Principal battlefield-site of David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Goliath of Gath, six cubits and a span tall, defied the armies of Israel morning and evening for forty days. David, youngest son of Jesse, heard the challenge while bringing provisions to his brothers; refused Saul's armor; took five smooth stones from the brook; slung one into Goliath's forehead; cut off the Philistine's head with his own sword. Israelites pursued Philistines to Shaaraim, Gath, and Ekron. Type of faith confronting overwhelming worldly intimidation in the LORD's name.
📖 Key Scripture
1 Samuel 17:2-3 — "And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them."
1 Samuel 17:45-46 — "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand."
1 Samuel 17:50 — "So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David."
1 Corinthians 1:27 — "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. The principal contemporary mishandling is the moralized children's-Bible reading that misses David's typological pointing to Christ.
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Valley of Elah as a place name does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal contemporary mishandling is the moralized children's-Bible reading: David vs. Goliath as a lesson in you can overcome any obstacle if you try hard enough or even small kids can do great things. The biblical narrative is theologically richer. David's victory is the LORD's victory through His anointed servant (the future king David is already in some sense the LORD's anointed); the substantive theology is that the LORD delivers His people from overwhelming worldly intimidation through His chosen agent; David's typological pointing is to the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would defeat the great enemies of His people on the cross. The patriarchal-Reformed reader receives the Valley of Elah as the great OT type of faith confronting overwhelming worldly intimidation in the LORD's name and prevailing — not as a generic motivational lesson but as a substantive prefigurement of Christ's victory.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
1 Samuel 17; valley in Judah's Shephelah; David's victory over Goliath; typological prefigurement of Christ.
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['Hebrew', 'H6010', "'Emeq", 'valley']
['Hebrew', 'H424', 'Elah', 'terebinth, oak']
['Hebrew', 'H1555', 'Goliyat', 'Goliath']
Usage
"Valley of Elah: site of David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17)."
"Type of faith confronting overwhelming worldly intimidation in the LORD's name."
"Typologically prefigures Christ's victory over the great enemies of His people."