Elah was the fourth king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He reigned only from 886 to 885 BC. King Elah was doomed from the very beginning of his reign, for before he took the throne the Lord had sent word through the prophet Jehu against Elah’s father, King Baasha, promising to destroy Baasha’s family for his sin of leading the people into idolatry. God’s judgment on Baasha’s house was severe: “I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house. . . . Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country” (1 Kings 16:3–4).