ezion-geber Summary and Overview

the giant's backbone (so called from the head of a mountain which runs out into the sea), an ancient city and harbour at the NE end of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Akabah, near Elath or Eloth (Num. 33:35; Deut. 2:8). Here Solomon built ships, "Tarshish ships," like those trading from Tyre to Tarshish and the west, which traded with Ophir (1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chr. 8:17); and here also Jehoshaphat's fleet was shipwrecked (1 Kings 22:48; 2 Chr. 20:36). It became a populous town, many of the Jews settling in it (2 Kings 16:6, "Elath"). It is supposed that anciently the north end of the gulf flowed further into the country than now, as far as 'Ain el-Ghudyan, which is 10 miles up the dry bed of the Arabah, and that Ezion-geber may have been there.

Ezion-gaber or Ezion-geber (giant's backbone), #Nu 33:35; De 2:8; 1Ki 9:26; 22:48; 2Ch 8:17| the last station named for the encampment of the Israelites before they came to the wilderness of Zin. It probably stood at Ain el-Ghudyan, about ten miles up what is now the dry bed of the Arabah, but which was probably then the northern end of the gulf.

E'ZION-GA'BER OR GE'BER (giant's backbone), a city on the Red Sea, the last station of the Israelites before they came to the wilderness of Zin, Num 33:35; Deut 2:8; the station of Solomon's navy, 1 Kgs 9:26; 2 Chr 8:17, and of Jehoshaphat's navy. 1 Kgs 22:48. Probably it was at 'Ain el-Ghudydn, about 10 miles up what is now the dry bed of the Arabah. Kiepert and Robinson suppose that the northern end of the gulf anciently flowed up to this point.

("the giant's backbone".) A town on the eastern arm of the Red Sea. The last stage in Israel's march before the wilderness of Zin or Kadesh. The station of Solomon's navy "beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom." The timber was probably brought to Ezion Geber from Tyre to build the ships (2 Chronicles 8:17-18). There Jehoshaphat's fleet was broken on the jagged rocks on each side (1 Kings 9:26; 1 Kings 22:48). Now wady Ghadyan (another form of Ezion), a valley running E. into the Arabah, some miles N. of the present head of the Elanitic gulf. A salt marsh marks where the sea anciently reached. A tidal haven was here, at the head of which the city of Ezion Geber stood. On the haven's eastern side lay Elath (now Akaba), from whence the Elanitic gulf took its name, meaning "trees"; a palm grove is still there; on the W. lay Ebronah (Numbers 33:35-36).