Elath

a hind; strength; an oak

Elath

Or ELOTH, a city of Idumea, situated at the northern extremity of the eastern gulf of the Red Sea, which was anciently called the Elantic gulf, and now the gulf of Akaba. Ezion-Gaber was also situated here, and very near Elath, De 2:8 1 Kings 9:26. This gulf, although known to the ancients, has been almost unknown to modern geographers until the time of Burckhardt. This enterprising traveler explored it, and gave the first full amount of it. The great sand valley called El-Arabah, and towards the north El-Ghor, runs from this gulf to the Dead Sea. Elath was annexed to Judah by David, who established there an extensive commerce, 2 Samuel 8:14. Solomon also built ships there, 2 Chronicles 8:17,18. In the reign of Joram the Edomites recovered it, but lost it again to Uzziah, 2 Kings 8:20 14:22; and he to Rezin, 2 Kings 16:6. Under the rule of the Romans it was a flourishing commercial town with the ordinances of Christianity. In 630 A. D. it fell under the power of Mohammed, and is now in ruins. The fortress of Akaba, near by, now often visited by travelers from Mount Sinai to Palestine, is only important for the protection of pilgrims to Mecca.

ELATH; ELOTH

e'-lath, or e'-loth ('eloth, 'elath; Ailon (Deuteronomy 2:8), Ailath (2 Kings 16:6)):

A seaport on the Red Sea in the territory of Edom. It is named along with Ezion-geber in the account of Israel's journey round the land of Edom (Deuteronomy 2:8). It appears as Ailath, and Alion in the Septuagint, and in Josephus as Ilanis (Ant., VIII, vi, 4), while Eusebius (Onomasticon) has Aila. From this we may gather that the Aramaic Ilan or Ilana was in use as well as the Hebrew 'elath or 'eloth. The name, "grove," was doubtless derived from the presence of certain sacred trees. It may be identical with El-paran of Genesis 14:6, and Elah of Genesis 36:41. When David conquered Edom, Elath passed into the hands of Israel (2 Samuel 8:14). It was a position of great importance in connection with the trade with South Arabia. Here the merchant fleets of Solomon and Jehoshaphat were fitted out, and hence, they sailed (1 Kings 9:26 2 Chronicles 8:17 1 Kings 22:48).

In the reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, Edom shook off the hand of Judah (2 Kings 8:20), but under Amaziah and Uzziah it was again subdued (2 Kings 14:7, 10, 22). Finally it was taken from Ahaz by Rezin, king of Syria. The Jews were driven out and the Syrians (Edomites?) took permanent possession (2 Kings 16:6). It is identical with the modern `Aqaba, at the head of the gulf of that name.

W. Ewing

Grove; trees, (Deuteronomy 2:8), also in plural form Eloth (1 Kings 9:26, etc.); called by the Greeks and Romans Elana; a city of Idumea, on the east, i.e., the Elanitic, gulf, or the Gulf of Akabah, of the Red Sea. It is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 2:8. It is also mentioned along with Ezion-geber in 1 Kings 9:26. It was within the limits of Solomon's dominion, but afterwards revolted. It was, however, recovered and held for a time under king Uzziah (2 Kings 14:22). Now the ruin Aila.

365a. Elath -- "lofty tree," a city and harbor on the Red Sea
... << 365, 365a. Elath. 365b >>. "lofty tree," a city and harbor on the Red Sea.
Transliteration: Elath Short Definition: Elath. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/365a.htm - 5k

359. Eloth -- "grove of lofty trees"
... Word Origin from ayil Definition "grove of lofty trees," the same location as
NH0365a NASB Word Usage Elath (1), Eloth (3). Elath, Eloth. ...
/hebrew/359.htm - 6k

365b. ayyeleth -- ayyeleth or ayyalah
... ayyeleth or ayyalah. 366 >>. ayyeleth or ayyalah. Transliteration: ayyeleth or ayyalah
Short Definition: Elath. Word Origin the same as ayyalah, qv. << 365a, 365b ...
/hebrew/365b.htm - 5k