Bible Locations

Zela was a town of Benjamin, listed in Joshua 18:28 with Haeleph and Jebus (Jerusalem). It was where Saul and Jonathan were finally buried. After the Philistines killed them on Mount Gilboa, the men of Jabesh-gilead took their bodies, burned them and buried the bones at Jabesh. Years later, David "had the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan brought from there. They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin" (2 Samuel 21:14), along with the bones of seven of Saul's descendants. After this, "God answered prayer on behalf of the land," ending a three-year famine. Zela means "rib" or "side." Its location is uncertain. Some scholars suggest Khirbet Salah, between Jerusalem and Gibeon, or a site near Gibeah, Saul's hometown.