EZION-GABER, a city of Idumæa or Arabia deserta, upon the coasts of the Red Sea, and upon a gulf of this Sea, called the Gulf of Elan. After the Israelites had been some time at Hebrona, they came to Ezion -gaber, from thence they went to the wilderness of Sin, where the city of Kadesh Numb. xxxiii. 35.was situated. At the port of 1 Kings ix. 26.Ezion-gaber1 Solomon equipped his fleets for the voyage to Ophir. See what we have said above concerning Elam, a town lying upon the gulf of Elan. Josephus says, that Ezion-gaber is the same as Berenice, a famous city upon the coast of the Red Sea. Antiq. l. 8. c. 2. p. 269. But is is very probable that he has confounded Berenice, which lies upon the western shore of the Red Sea, inclining towards Ethiopia, with the city of Ezion-gaber, situated upon the Gulf of Elan, and on the opposite shore.
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Footnotes
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Translators’ note. Near the mouth of this harbour there was a ridge of rocks, upon which the fleet of ships was lost, that had been fitted out for Ophir by Jehosaphat in conjunction with Ahaziah King of Israel. From these rocks the place took its name, Ezion-gaber signifying the back-bone of a man, which these rocks resembled. See. Prid. Connect. &c. P. 1. B. 1. ↩