A seaport at the northern tip of the northeastern projection of the Red Sea, in Edom.
About Elath
Elath (also spelled Eloth) was a city in the land of Edom. It was at the top of the Gulf of Aqaba, near the eastern edge of the wilderness of El-paran (Genesis 14:6; Deuteronomy 2:8; 1 Kings 9:26). The name Elath means “grove of trees.” It may have been named for the many palm trees in the area. Some people think it was located in a group of sacred trees.
Elath was on an important trade route. Traders traveled through it on their way between southern Arabia, Egypt, and Phoenicia. Because of this, it was a valuable city.
Key References
At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram, drove out the men of Judah, and sent the Edomites into Elath, where they live to this day.
All Scripture References (6)
Deuteronomy (1)
So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned away from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber, and traveled along the road of the Wilderness of Moab.
1 Kings (1)
King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.
2 Kings (2)
Azariah was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah rested with his fathers.
At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram, drove out the men of Judah, and sent the Edomites into Elath, where they live to this day.
2 Chronicles (2)
Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and to Eloth on the coast of Edom.
Uzziah was the one who rebuilt Eloth and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah rested with his fathers.