Ezion-geber
Ezion-geber is a island mentioned in 7 verses. Its most likely location is Jezirat Faraun. The name means “the wood of the man.”
Where is Ezion-geber?
Approx. 29.4628, 34.8601 · OpenStreetMap · Google Maps
Possible modern locations
| Identification | Type | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Jezirat Faraun | island | Medium |
| Tell el Kheleifeh | settlement | Medium |
| another name for Elath | settlement | Low |
Ezion-geber in the Bible dictionary
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 north-east 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.
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), public domain. Full dictionary entry →
Verses that mention Ezion-geber
- Numbers 33:35
And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Ezion–gaber.
- Numbers 33:36
And they removed from Ezion–gaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.
- Deuteronomy 2:8
And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion–gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
- 1 Kings 9:26
And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion–geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
- 1 Kings 22:48
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion–geber.
- 2 Chronicles 8:17
Then went Solomon to Ezion–geber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.
- 2 Chronicles 20:36
And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion–geber.