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.
From the co-author of the classic Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, Fausset's Bible Dictionary stands as one of the best single-volume Bible encyclopedias ever written for general use. The author's writing style is always clear and concise, and he tackles issues important to the average student of the Bible, not just the Biblical scholars. This makes Fausset an excellent tool for both everyday Bible study and in-depth lesson or sermon preparation.Wikipedia
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