Ezion-Geber — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Important port near some significant ruins at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba. Ezion-geber was one of the stations where the Israelites encamped while on their way to the plains of Moab (Nm 33:35-36; Dt 2:8). The city is not mentioned again until Solomon’s time. From this port Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre, carried on a profitable commercial venture. Solomon’s products included copper (mined in the Arabah at Timna, 15 miles, or 24.1 kilometers, north of Ezion-geber), olive oil, and possibly products bought from Egypt, such as linen, and chariots (1 Kgs 10:28-29). The “ships of Tarshish,” with the ships of Hiram, made a round trip of three years from Ezion-geber to many ports along the coasts of Africa and Arabia and possibly even as far as India (1 Kgs 10:22). In exchange the fleet brought back gold from Ophir, along with precious stones, almug wood (vv 11-12), silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks (v 22). Solomon’s alliance with the Phoenicians of Tyre gave him a port on the Mediterranean (which he himself did not have). The alliance also gave Hiram and the Phoenicians an outlet at Ezion-geber for trading in the Indian Ocean.

Show passage in OET: NUM 33:35–36

OET-RV NUM 33:35

35 From Avronah, they went to Etsyon-Gever and camped there,

OET-RV NUM 33:36

36 then they left and camped in the Tsin (Zin) wilderness, i.e., at Kadesh.

OET-LV NUM 33:35

35 And_they _set _out from_ˊAⱱronāh and_they _encamped at_ˊEʦyon- geⱱer.

OET-LV NUM 33:36

36 And_they _set _out from_ˊEʦyon- geⱱer and_they _encamped in_the _wilderness _of Tsin/(Zin) that is_Qādēsh.

Show passage in OET: DEU 2:8

OET-RV DEU 2:8

8 “So we passed by our relatives, Esav’s descendants who live in Se’ir. We travelled along the Yarden (Jordan) valley plain from Eylot and Etsyon-Gever, then north through the Moav (Moab) wilderness.

OET-LV DEU 2:8

8 And_we _passed _away from_with relatives _of_our the _descendants _of ˊĒsāv who_were_dwelling in_Sēˊīr from_the _way _of the _wilderness _plain from_ʼĒylōt and_from_ˊEʦyon- geⱱer and_we _turned and_we _passed _along the _way _of the _wilderness _of Mōʼāⱱ.

Show passage in OET: KI1 10:28–29

OET-RV KI1 10:28

28 Shelomoh acquired horses from Mitsrayim (Egypt) and from Kue—his traders would acquire them from Kue for the king for a price.

OET-RV KI1 10:29

29 An Mitsri (Egyptian) chariot went for six hundred silver coins and a horse for one hundred and fifty. Then they’d export them again to the Hiti and Aramean kings.

OET-LV KI1 10:28

28 And_the _export _of the _horses which belonged_to_Shəlomoh/(Solomon) was_from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_from_Que the _traders _of the_king they _took_them from_Que for_a _price.

OET-LV KI1 10:29

29 And_it _came _up and_it _came _out a _chariot from_Miʦrayim for_six hundred(s) silver and_a _horse for_fifty and_one _hundred and_thus/so/as _follows to/from_all/each/any/every the _kings _of the _Ḩittiy and_to_the _kings _of ʼArām by_hand _of_their they _brought_them_out.

Show passage in OET: KI1 10:22

OET-RV KI1 10:22

22 because the king had a fleet of ships that joined King Hiram’s fleet. Every three years the fleet would return bringing gold and silver, ivory, monkeys and baboons.

OET-LV KI1 10:22

22 If/because the _ship[s]_of Tarshiysh to/for_the _king on_sea with the _ship[s]_of Ḩīrām one_time to_three years it _came the _ship[s]_of Tarshiysh carrying _of (of)_gold and_silver ivori(es) and_monkeys and_peacocks.

Show passage in OET: KI1 10:11–12

OET-RV KI1 10:11

11 King Hiram’s fleet also brought gold from Ofir as well as a lot of almug wood and precious gemstones.

OET-RV KI1 10:12

12 The king used the almug timber to make railings for the temple and the palace, and lyres and harps for the musicians. Such a quantity and quality of almug wood has never again been brought in or seen in Yisrael to this day.

OET-LV KI1 10:11

11 And_also the _ship[s]_of Ḩīrām which it _carried gold from_ʼŌfīr it _brought from_ʼŌfīr wood(s)_of almug(s) much very and_stone _of precious.

OET-LV KI1 10:12

12 And_ the_king _he/it _made DOM the _wood(s)_of the _almug(s) support[s] for_the _house _of YHWH and_for_the _house _of the_king and_harps and_lyres for_singers not it _has _come thus wood(s)_of almug(s) and_not it _has _been _seen until the_day (the)_this.

Jump to OET NUM 33:35–36 section.

Jump to OET DEU 2:8 section.

Jump to OET KI1 10:28–29 section.

Jump to OET KI1 10:22 section.

Jump to OET KI1 10:11–12 section.

With the division of the kingdom after Solomon, the port was under Judah’s control. It was burned and destroyed by Shishak of Egypt in his invasion of Judah in Rehoboam’s fifth year (925 BC). A second city was built on the ruins, but there is no mention of a navy. Jehoshaphat was able to restore the fleet to sail once again, but some storm or other disaster wrecked the ships (1 Kgs 22:48). In subsequent Judean history, Judah was able to use the port when it was strong, but in its times of weakness, other nations did (e.g., Edom, 2 Kgs 8:20-22; 16:6). See Exodus, The; Wilderness Wanderings.