Ezion-Geber was a port city located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, which is the far northeastern arm of the Red Sea. It was within the land of Edom, but was at times controlled by the United Monarchy of Israel, then the Kingdom of Judah.
When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness of Sinai after the Exodus, Ezion-Geber was one of the locations that the Israelites set up camp, one of the last locations in the wilderness before they entered the land of Edom.[1]
Ezion-Geber would have first come under Israelite control when Edom was conquered during the reign of King David. During the prosperous reign of King Solomon, Ezion-Geber was an important port city.[2] From Ezion-Geber Solomon sent ships down the Red Sea to Ophir, which was likely in southwest Arabia. From Ophir large quantities of gold were imported to Israel.[3]
During the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Judah once again controlled Edom, including Ezion-Geber. Jehoshaphat attempted to send a fleet of ships from Ezion-Geber to Tarshish in a joint venture with King Ahaziah of Israel.[4] However, God did not approve of the righteous Jehoshaphat's alliance with the wicked Ahaziah, and the ships were wrecked before they could embark on their journey.[5]