Elephantine
LocationsGeographical Setting
Elephantine is a triangular island at the first cataract of the Nile River, historically significant as a frontier fortress and a center for Jewish settlement during the Persian period.
What is the meaning of Elephantine in the Bible?
Elephantine is an island in the Nile River situated near modern-day Aswan in southern Egypt. It functioned as a military garrison for the Egyptian pharaohs and later served as a prominent settlement for Jewish exiles who maintained their own temple and community during the Persian era.
SIGNIFICANCE
The archaeological findings from Elephantine, particularly the papyri detailing the Jewish community's religious practices and their interactions with local authorities, provide critical historical context for understanding the diversity of worship in the ancient Near East and the experiences of Jewish diaspora communities referenced in biblical narratives.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Elephantine in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Elephantine clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.