Concerning Elam

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 1, 1908

At the very dawn of history we find Elam mentioned as a powerful nation under Chedorlaomer. From the countries about the Euphrates he led a confederacy of four kingdoms all the way to Sodom and Gomorrah, subjugating those cities and their allies. Fourteen years later, on the revolt of the five cities of the plain, Chedorlaomer repeated his march of conquest, this time, moreover, adding many other countries on both sides of the Jordan to the list of his possessions. The expedition, however, did not return unscathed. Abram, whose nephew had been taken captive, fell upon the invading host by night, and rescued Lot and the other captives.

In the succeeding centuries we find continual reference in history to the people of Elam. They were a warlike race, famed for their skill in the use of bow and arrow. Elamite dynasties are found again and again ruling over the ancient kingdom of Babylon, but the country was gradually forced to yield to the rising power of Assyria. During the reign of Assur-bani-pal that monarch devastated the land of Elam. He records the exploit in one of his inscriptions:—

“For a journey of a month and twenty-five days the districts of Elam I laid waste; destruction, servitude, and drought I poured over them. The daughters of kings, consorts of kings, and families former and latter of the kings of Elam, the governors and citizens of those cities, all I had captured; the commanders of archers, prefects, directors, three-horse charioteers, chariot-drivers, archers, officers, camp followers, and the whole of the army, all there was; people, male and female, small and great, horses, mules, asses, oxen and sheep, besides much spoil; I carried off to Assyria.

“The dust of Shushan, Madaktu, Haltemas, and the rest of their cities, entirely I brought to Assyria. For a month and a day Elam to its utmost extent I swept. The passage of men, the treading of oxen and sheep, and the springing up of good trees I burnt off his fields. Wild asses, serpents, beasts of the desert, safely I caused to lay down in them.”

This was the Assyrian idea of conquest. By such measures its kings sought to prevent future trouble arising out of nationalistic aspirations. The Elamites are included in the list of the nations whom “the great and noble Asnapper [Assur-bani-pal] brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria.” Ezra 4:9, 10.

As the power of Assyria waned, it seems evident that Elam must have recovered some degree of her former independence. In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, the prophet Jeremiah was instructed to speak these words to Elam:—

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.” Jer. 49:35, 36.

In these words the Lord teaches that the destinies of nations are not altogether decided by the wisdom of their statesmen. Elam depended upon her bow, but that bow was broken by the Lord of hosts. In her hour of weakness, her enemies came on all sides, and Elam was scattered like the chaff. God can send a spirit of fear into the

hearts of a people that will bring to naught all their valor and all their war-like preparations. “I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life. . . . And I will set my throne in Elam.”

When the kings of the earth set themselves against God, his arm is not shortened. Earthly powers are unable to thwart the will of God. In the very hour when the confederated kingdoms of the earth will be gathered together to make war against him, the words will be spoken in heaven: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.” Rev. 11:15. There is no power in earthly might to thwart the purpose of God. Why then do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? Why, too, should his people be afraid because of the fury of the oppressor? The history of all the kingdoms of the earth shows how futile is the hope that they can prevail against the word of God. Proud empires may glory in their military strength and scorn the thought of humbling themselves before the word of the Lord, but he can smite the chief of their might and cause them to fear before their enemies. He can set his own throne upon the ruins of the thrones that have set themselves against him.

When the time came for Babylon to be punished because of its sins, Elam was entrusted with a share in this work: “Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media: all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.” Isa. 21:2, 9. The province of Elam constituted a part of the Babylonian empire, but Cyrus was of Elamite origin, and when he came against Babylon, Elam rose up in his behalf. The Persian kings made their residence at Shushan, the chief city of the province, and the stirring events recorded in the book of Esther centered there. Thus Elam had many opportunities of learning about the true God, and it may well have been that in many hearts the word that God would set his throne in Elam was happily fulfilled. On the day of Pentecost among the devout men who were at Jerusalem to worship there were Elamites present to hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. These would be able to carry back to their own homes the glad tidings of the Saviour whose love and compassion had not forgotten the dwellers in the land of Elam.—Present Truth.