Ezion-Gaber (Ezion-Geber)

Ezion-geber sits at the head of the Red Sea, in Edomite territory beside Eloth, where the wilderness gives way to a shoreline. It surfaces in the wilderness itinerary of Israel and, centuries later, as the harbor from which Judah's kings tried to launch maritime trade.

A Stop on the Wilderness March

In the staged record of Israel's journey, Ezion-geber is named as one of the late encampments before the company moves on toward Zin. "And they journeyed from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion-geber" (Nu 33:35), and from there "they journeyed from Ezion-geber, and encamped in the wilderness of Zin (the same is Kadesh)" (Nu 33:36). Moses recalls the same passage in his retrospective: "So we passed by from our brothers the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion-geber. And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab" (De 2:8).

Solomon's Port at the Red Sea

Under Solomon, Ezion-geber becomes a working harbor. "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" (1Ki 9:26). The Chronicler attaches Solomon's personal presence to the project: "Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom" (2Ch 8:17).

Jehoshaphat's Wrecked Fleet

A later king of Judah revives the same shipyard, with very different results. Jehoshaphat "joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish; and they made the ships in Ezion-geber" (2Ch 20:36). The voyage never sails: "Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they did not go; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber" (1Ki 22:48). The same harbor that launched Solomon's navy holds the wreck of Jehoshaphat's.