'El (H413) is one of the most common prepositions in Biblical Hebrew, used to express motion toward or direction. It indicates movement to a place, turning to a person, speaking to someone, or direction of attention. It occurs over 5,500 times in the Old Testament and is translated variously as to, toward, into, unto, at, against, concerning. It should be distinguished from 'el (H410), meaning 'God.'
The directional force of 'el is spiritually significant. God consistently speaks, calls, and moves toward his people: 'Come to me, all who are weary' is directional — God as the destination of the soul's longing. The prophets describe God turning toward Israel in mercy and Israel needing to turn toward God in repentance (cf. Zechariah 1:3: 'Return to me, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you.').
'El shapes the relational geography of the Hebrew Bible: covenants are made toward a people, prayers are lifted toward heaven, and the whole narrative arc is one of God coming toward humanity and calling humanity back toward himself.