Places of the Bible

Elath

Head of the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) · Old Testament · 6 verses

Elath, near Ezion-geber, was a port at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. It lay at the southern edge of Edom. The name appears in Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, 2 Kings and 1 more in the King James text.

About Elath

Elath, near Ezion-geber, was a port at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. It lay at the southern edge of Edom.

Its place in the story

Israel passed by Elath and Ezion-geber during the wilderness journey. Solomon built a fleet at Ezion-geber near Elath to sail for Ophir, and the port changed hands between Judah and Edom over the centuries. It was Israel's gateway to sea trade in the south.

Elath in Scripture (KJV)

“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 Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.”

Deuteronomy 2:8 (KJV)

“And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.”

1 Kings 9:26 (KJV)

“He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.”

2 Kings 14:22 (KJV)

“At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.”

2 Kings 16:6 (KJV)

“Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.”

2 Chronicles 8:17 (KJV)

“He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.”

2 Chronicles 26:2 (KJV)

Where it leads

Solomon's maritime trade through Elath brought the wealth that adorned his kingdom, a passing splendor pointing to the greater King, Jesus.

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Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).