Difference between revisions of "Elath"

<p> In Edom, on the [[Red]] Sea, near Ezion [[Geber]] (Deuteronomy 2:8). Now in Arabic Eyleh, at the point of the eastern horn of the Red Sea. Both town and gulf are named Akaba. No doubt included in David's conquest of [[Edom]] (2 Samuel 8:14). Solomon's navy rode at sea near Ezion Geber, beside [[Eloth]] (1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chronicles 8:17). From [[Elath]] the Elanitic gulf, the eastern arm of the Red Sea, takes its name. It means "trees," and a grove of palm trees is still at Akaba. Edom revolted in the [[Israelite]] king Joram's days; [[Azariah]] (Uzziah) of [[Judah]] "built Elath and restored it to Judah" (2 Kings 8:20; 2 Kings 14:22). [[Rezin]] of [[Syria]] recovered it and drove out the [[Jews]] (2 Kings 16:6). The Eyleh district was originally occupied by a tribe of the [[Amalekites]] (the Sameyda). Amalek, according to [[Arab]] historians, passed from the [[Persian]] gulf through the [[Arabian]] peninsula to [[Arabia]] Petraea. [[Herodotus]] makes the Phoenicians come from the Red Sea; if they were Cushites, their maritime propensities would accord with the characteristics of that race. </p>

<p> <strong> ELATH </strong> (called also <strong> [[Eloth]] </strong> , ‘the great trees’). An important [[Edomite]] town on the N.E. arm of the [[Red]] Sea, near Ezion-geber. It is mentioned as one of the places passed by the [[Israelites]] during their wanderings ( Deuteronomy 2:8 ). [[Close]] to it king Solomon’s navy was constructed ( 1 Kings 9:26 ). Subsequently the town must have been destroyed, as we read in 2 Kings 14:22 of its being built by Azariah. [[Later]] on it was conquered by the [[Edomites]] (so RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). </p> <p> W. O. E. Oesterley. </p>

<p> [[Elath]] (ç'lath), trees, a grove, perhaps terebinth-grove. A city of Idumea, on the extremity of the eastern [[Gulf]] of the [[Red]] Sea, which is called from it Sinus Elaniticus— Elanitic Gulf, or the Gulf of Akabah. Deuteronomy 2:8; 2 Kings 14:22; 2 Kings 16:6. The [[Edomites]] being subdued, 2 Samuel 8:14, [[David]] took possession of Elath or Eloth: and after him Solomon, whose fleet sailed from the neighboring town Ezion-geber to Ophir. 1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chronicles 8:17-18. It was again recovered by the Idumeans; and once more subdued by Uzziah, king of Judah; but Rezin, king of Syria, took it at length from the Jews, who seem never again to have recovered it. The site of Elath, the Ailah and Ælana of the [[Greeks]] and Romans, now consists of nothing but extensive mounds of rubbish, near the castle and village of Akabah. </p>

<p> E'lath. (a grove). The name of a town of the land of Edom, commonly mentioned with Ezion-geber, and situated at the head of the [[Arabian]] Gulf, which was, thence, called the Elanitic Gulf. It first occurs in the account of the wanderings, Deuteronomy 2:8, and in later times, must have come under the rule of David. 2 Samuel 8:14. </p> <p> We find the place named again, in connection with Solomon's navy. 1 Kings 9:26. Compare 2 Chronicles 8:17. In the [[Roman]] period, it became a frontier town of the south, and the residence of a [[Christian]] bishop. The Arabic name is Eyleh, and palm groves still exist there, after which it was named. </p>

<p> or ELOTH, a part of Idumea, situate upon the [[Red]] Sea, the emporium of [[Syria]] in Asia. It was taken by David, 2 Samuel 8:14 , who there established an extensive trade. There [[Solomon]] built ships, 2 Chronicles 8:17-18 . The [[Israelites]] held possession of [[Elath]] one hundred and fifty years, when the Edomites, in the reign of Joram, recovered it. </p> <p> 2 Kings 8:20 . It was again taken from them by Azariah, and by him left to his son, 2 Kings 14:22 . The king of Syria took it from his grandson, 2 Kings 16:6 . In process of time it fell to the Ptolemies, and lastly to the Romans. The branch of the Red [[Sea]] on which this city stood, obtained among [[Heathen]] writers the name of <em> Sinus Elaniticus </em> or Elanitic Gulf, from a town built on its site called Elana, and subsequently Ala; which, as we are informed by [[Eusebius]] and Jerom, was used as a port in their time. The modern [[Arabian]] town of Akaba stands upon or near the site either of Elath or Ezion-Geber; which of the two it is impossible to determine, as both ports, standing at the head of the gulf, were probably separated from each other by a creek or small bay only. </p>

<p> E´lath, now called Ailah. It was a city of Idumea, having a port on the eastern arm or gulf of the [[Red]] Sea, which thence received the name of Sinus Elaniticus (Gulf of Aqaba). According to Eusebius, it was ten miles east from Petra. It lies at the extremity of the valley of Elghor, which runs at the bottom of two parallel ranges of hills, north and south, through [[Arabia]] Petraea, from the [[Dead]] [[Sea]] to the northern parts of the Elanitic Gulf. </p> <p> The first time that it is mentioned in the [[Scriptures]] is in , where, in speaking of the journey of the [[Israelites]] towards the [[Promised]] Land, these words occur—'When we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongeber.' These two places are mentioned together again in , in such a manner as to show that [[Elath]] was more ancient than Eziongeber, and was of so much repute as to be used for indicating the locality of other places: the passage also fixes the spot where Elath itself was to be found: 'and King [[Solomon]] made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Elath, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.' The use which [[David]] made of the vicinity of Elath shows that the country was at that time in his possession. Accordingly, in , we learn that he had previously made himself master of Idumaea, and garrisoned its strong-holds with his own troops. Under his successor, [[Joram]] , the Idumeans revolted from Judah, and elected a king over themselves. Joram thereupon assembled his forces, 'and all the chariots with him,' and, falling on the Idumeans by night, succeeded in defeating and scattering their army. The Hebrews, however, could not prevail, but 'Edom revolted from under the hand of [[Judah]] unto this day;' thus exemplifying the striking language employed by Isaac—'by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother: and it shall come to pass, when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.' From , however, it appears that [[Uzziah]] recovered Elath, and, having so repaired and adorned the city as to be said to have built, that is rebuilt, it, he made it a part of his dominions. This connection was not of long continuance; for in of the same book, we find the [[Syrian]] king [[Rezin]] interposing, who captured Elath, drove out the Jews, and annexed the place to his Syrian kingdom, and 'the [[Syrians]] came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.' At a later period it fell under the power of the Romans, and was for a time guarded by the tenth legion, forming part of [[Palestina]] Tertia. It subsequently became the residence of a [[Christian]] bishop. In the days of its prosperity it was much distinguished for commerce, which continued to flourish under the auspices of Christianity. In the sixth century it is spoken of by [[Procopius]] as being inhabited by [[Jews]] subject to the [[Roman]] dominion. In A.D. 630, the Christian communities of Arabia Petraea found it expedient to submit to Mohammed, when John, the Christian governor of Ailah, became bound to pay an annual tribute of 300 gold pieces. Henceforward, till the present century, Ailah lay in the darkness of Islamism. Mounds of rubbish alone mark the site of the town, while a fortress, occupied by a governor and a small garrison under the [[Pasha]] of Egypt, serves to keep the neighboring tribes of the desert in awe, and to minister to the wants and protection of the annual [[Egyptian]] Hajj, or pilgrim caravan. This place has always been an important station upon the route of the Egyptian Hajj. Such is the importance of this caravan of pilgrims from [[Cairo]] to Mecca, both in a religious and political point of view, that the rulers of [[Egypt]] from the earliest period have given it convoy and protection. For this purpose a line of fortresses similar to that of Aqaba has been established at intervals along the route with wells of water and supplies of provisions. </p>

<p> (Hebrews Eylath', אֵילִת , grove, perhaps of TEREBINTH-trees; occurs in this form Deuteronomy 2:8; 2 Kings 14:22; 2 Kings 16:6; also in the plur. form אֵילוֹת, ELATH (See [[Elath]]) [q.v.], 1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chronicles 8:17; 2 Chronicles 26:2; "Elath," 2 Kings 16:6; in the Sept. Αἰλάθ and Αἰλών; in Joseph. [Ant. 8:6,4] Αἰλανή; in Jerome, Ailath [who says that in his day it was called Ailah, to which its appellation in Arabic writers corresponds]; by the [[Greeks]] and Romans, Elana or AElana, Ε᾿λάνα [Ptol. 5:17, [Αἴλανα [Strabo, 16:768; comp. Pliny, 5:12; 6:32]; in Arabic authors Ailah), a city of Idumaea, having a port on the eastern arm or gulf of the [[Red]] Sea, which thence received the name of Sinus Elaniticus (Gulf of Akabah). According to [[Eusebius]] (Onomast. s.v. ῾Ηλάθ ), it was ten miles east from Petra. It must have been situated at the extremity of the valley of El-Ghor, which runs at the bottom of two parallel ranges of hills, north and south, through [[Arabia]] Petraea, from the [[Dead]] [[Sea]] to the northern parts of the Elanitic Gulf; but on which side of the valley it lay has been matter of dispute (see M'Culloch's Geog. Dict. s.v. Akabah). In the geography of Arabia it forms the extreme northern limit of the province of the Hijoz (El-Makrizi, Khitat; and Maraisid, s.v.; (See [[Arabia]]) ), and is connected with some points of the history of the country. According to several native writers the district of Ailah was in very ancient times peopled by the Sameyda, said to be a tribe of the [[Amalekites]] (the first Amalek). The town itself, however, is stated to have received its name from Eyleh, daughter of [[Midian]] (El-Makrizi's Khitat, s.v.; Caussin's Essai sur l'Histoire des Arabes, 1:23). The Amalekites, if we may credit the writings of Arabic historians, passed in the earliest times from the neighborhood of the [[Persian]] [[Gulf]] through the peninsula (spreading over the greater part of it), and thence finally passed into Arabia Petraea. Future researches may trace in these fragments of primeval tradition the origin of the Phoenicians. [[Herodotus]] seems to strengthen such a supposition when he says that the latter people came from the Erythrean Sea. Were the Phoenicians a mixed [[Cushite]] settlement from the Persian Gulf, who carried with them the known maritime characteristics of the peoples of that stock, developed in the great commerce of Tyre, and in that of the Persian Gulf, and, as a link between their extreme eastern and western settlements, in the fleets that sailed from Ezion-geber and Elath, and from the southern ports of the Yemen? (See [[Arabia]]); (See [[Caphtor]]); (See [[Mizraim]]). It should be observed, however, that [[Tyrian]] sailors manned the fleets of [[Solomon]] and of [[Jehoshaphat]] (see Jour. Sac. Lit. October 1851, page 153, n.). </p> <p> The first time that [[Elath]] is mentioned in [[Scripture]] is in Deuteronomy 2:8, in speaking of the journey of the [[Israelites]] towards the [[Promised]] Land: "When we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-geber." These two places are mentioned together again in 1 Kings 9:26 (compare 2 Chronicles 8:17), in such a manner as to show that Elath was more ancient than Ezion-geber, and was of so much repute as to be used for indicating the locality of other places: the passage also fixes the spot where Elath itself was to be found: "and king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Elath, on the shore (Numbers 33:35) of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom." (See [[Ezion-Geber]]). </p> <p> The use which [[David]] made of the vicinity of Elath shows that the country was at that time in his possession. Accordingly, in 2 Samuel 8:14, we learn that he had previously made himself master of Idumaea, and garrisoned its strong-holds with his own troops. Under Joram, however (2 Kings 8:20), the [[Idumaeans]] revolted from Judah, and elected a king over themselves. [[Joram]] thereupon assembled his forces, "and all the chariots with him," and, falling on the Idumaeans by night, succeeded in defeating and scattering their army. The Hebrews, nevertheless, could not prevail, but ''Edom revolted from under the hand of [[Judah]] unto this day;" thus exemplifying the striking language employed (Genesis 27:40) by Isaac: "By thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass, when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." From 2 Kings 14:22, however, it appears that [[Uzziah]] recovered Elath, and, having so repaired and adorned the city as to be said to have built, that is, rebuilt it, he made it a part of his dominions. This connection was not of long continuance; for in chapter 16, 2 Kings 14:6 of the same book, we find the [[Syrian]] king [[Rezin]] interposing, who captured Elath, drove out the Jews, and annexed the place to his Syrian kingdom, and "the [[Syrians]] came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day." At a later period it fell under the power of the Romans, and was for a time guarded by the tenth legion, forming part of [[Palaestina]] [[Tertia]] (Jerome, Onomast. s.v. Ailath; Strabo, 21:4, 4; Reland, Palaest. page 556). It subsequently became the residence of a [[Christian]] bishop. Bishops of Elath were at the [[Council]] of [[Chalcedon]] (A.D. 451) and at that of [[Constantinople]] (A.D. 536). At the Council of Chalcedon, [[Beryllus]] thus wrote his designation as "bishop of [[Ela]] of [[Third]] Palestine" (Ἀϊλᾶ τῆς Παλαιστίνης τρίτης ). In the days of its prosperity it was much distinguished for commerce, which continued to flourish under the auspices of [[Christianity]] (Cellarii Notit. 2:686 sq.). </p> <p> In the 6th century it is spoken of by Piocopius as being inhabited by [[Jews]] subject to the [[Roman]] dominion (De Bell. Pers. 1:19). In A.D. 630 the Christian communities of Arabia Petraea found it expedient to submit to Mohammed, when John, the Christian governor of Ailah, became bound to pay an annual tribute of 300 gold pieces (Abulfeda, Ann. 1:171). Henceforward, till the present century, Ailah lay in the darkness of Islamism. It is merely mentioned by the supposed Ibn-Haukal (Engl. translation of D'Arvieux, Append. page 353), perhaps in the 11th century; and, after the middle of the 12th, [[Edrisi]] describes it as a small town frequented by the Aral s, who were now its masters, and forming an important point in the route between [[Cairo]] and Medina. In A.D. 1116, king [[Baldwin]] of [[Jerusalem]] took possession of it. Again it was wrested from the hands of the [[Christians]] by [[Saladin]] I, A.D. 1157, and never again fully recovered by them, although the reckless Rainald of Chatillon, in A.D. 1182, seized, and for a time held, the town. In Abulfeda's day, and before A.D. 1300, it was already deserted. He says, "In our day it is a fortress, to which a governor is sent from Egypt. It had a small castle in the sea, but this is now abandoned, and the governor removed to the fortress on the shore." Such as Ailah was in the days of Abulfeda, is Akabah now. Mounds of rubbish alone mark the site of the town, while a fortress, occupied by a governor and a small garrison under the pasha of Egypt, serves to keep the neighboring tribes of the desert in awe, and to minister to the wants and protection of the annual [[Egyptian]] Haj, or pilgrim caravan. Under the Roman rule it lost its former importance with the transference of its trade to other ports, such as Berenice, Myos Hormos, and Arsinoe; but in Mohammedan times it again became a place of some note. It is now quite insignificant. It lies on the route of the Egyptian pilgrim-caravan, and the mountain-road or Akabah named after it was improved or reconstructed by Ahmad Ibn-Tulun, who ruled [[Egypt]] from A.D. cir. 840 to 848. This place has always been an important station upon the route of the Egyptian Haj. Such is the importance of this caravan of pilgrims from Cairo to Mecca, both in a religious and political point of view, that the rulers of Egypt from the earliest period have given it convoy and protection. For this purpose a line of fortresses similar to that of Akabah has been established at intervals along the route, with wells of water and supplies of provisions (Robinson's Biblical Researches, 1:250). The first [[Frank]] who visited this place in modern times was Ruppell, in 1822 (Reise, page 248 sq.). Laborde (Journey through Arabia Petraea, London, 1836) was well received by the garrison and inhabitants of the castle of Akabah, of which he has given a view (1:116). The fortress, he states, is built on a regular plan, and is in a pretty good condition, though within several good habitations have been suffered to fall to decay. It has only two guns fit for service (Bartlett, [[Forty]] Days in the Desert, page 99 sq.). The ancient name of the place is indicative of groves in the vicinity, and [[Strabo]] speaks of its palm-woods (16:776), which appear still to subsist (Niebuhr, Beschr. Page 400; Schubert, 2:379) </p>