Ezion-geber
Ezion-geber is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Negev in modern-day Israel. Known today as Jezirat Faraun. It appears across 7 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Ezion-geber was one of the most strategically significant port cities in the ancient Near East, situated at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. It first appears in the Exodus narrative as a stopping point during Israel's wilderness journey (Numbers 33:35–36; Deuteronomy 2:8). The city rose to its greatest prominence during the united monarchy: Solomon built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, and Hiram of Tyre sent experienced sailors to serve alongside Solomon's men in the trade expeditions to the land of Ophir, returning with gold, silver, precious stones, and exotic wood (1 Kings 9:26–28; 2 Chronicles 8:17–18). These maritime ventures brought immense wealth to Solomon's kingdom and demonstrated Israel's brief emergence as a regional naval and commercial power. The port appears again in the account of Jehoshaphat, who attempted to revive Solomonic maritime trade but whose ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber before they could sail (1 Kings 22:48; 2 Chronicles 20:36–37). The prophetic interpretation of this failure attributed it to Jehoshaphat's ill-advised alliance with the wicked king Ahaziah. Ezion-geber thus encapsulates both the heights of Israelite prosperity and the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Ezion-geber was long identified with Tell el-Kheleifeh, excavated by Nelson Glueck between 1938 and 1940, near modern Aqaba. Glueck initially interpreted the site as a Solomonic copper smelting facility, but later analysis revised this understanding — the structures are now thought to represent a fortified storehouse or administrative complex. More recently, Jezirat Faraun (Pharaoh's Island), an island in the Gulf of Aqaba near the Egyptian border, has been proposed as the actual site of Ezion-geber. Israeli archaeologists have excavated the island, uncovering a Solomonic-period fortress and harbor installations. The debate between these two identifications remains active in the scholarly literature, with Jezirat Faraun gaining increasing support.
Verse Appearances (7)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →