359. Eloth

Lexical Summary

Eloth: Eloth

Original Word: אֵילוֹת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Eylowth
Pronunciation: ay-LOHT
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-loth')
KJV: Elath, Eloth
NASB: Eloth, Elath
Word Origin: [from H352 (אַיִל - Ram)]

1. trees or a grove (i.e. palms)
2. Eloth or Elath, a place on the Red Sea

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Elath, Eloth

Or meylath {ay-lath'}; from 'ayil; trees or a grove (i.e. Palms); Eloth or Elath, a place on the Red Sea -- Elath, Eloth.

see HEBREW 'ayil

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from ayil
Definition
"grove of lofty trees," the same location as NH0365a
NASB Translation
Elath (1), Eloth (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אֵילַת proper name, of a location (lofty tree (s collective?) i.e. palms? compare Di Genesis 14:6) town & harbour, northeast arm of Red Sea, hence called lanitic Gulf (= Gulf of Akaba, from neighbouring fortress) Deuteronomy 2:8; 2 Kings 14:22; 2 Kings 16:6 (twice in verse) (perhaps later designation for fuller איל פארן q. v.) = ᵐ5 Αἰλων, Αἰλαθ Greek Αἰλανα etc.; = אֵלָה (? Genesis 36:41 see Di), אֵילוֺת below

אֵילוֺת proper name, of a location id. (grove of lofty trees (palms?)) 1 Kings 9:26; 2 Kings 16:6; 2Chronicles 8:17; 26:2 (compare אֵיל מָּאוָן, אֵילַת).

Topical Lexicon

Geographical Setting

Eloth was a coastal settlement at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, opposite modern Aqaba and adjacent to today’s Eilat. Sitting on the customary route that linked the Arabah with Arabia and Africa, it provided Israel with her only direct window to the Red Sea and the broader Indian Ocean trade routes.

Historical Overview of Biblical Mentions

• Deuteronomy 2:8 first places Eloth in the Exodus itinerary: “So we bypassed our brothers, the descendants of Esau living in Seir… away from Elath and Ezion-geber”. Its mention highlights how close Israel came to Edomite territory while still respecting God’s command not to seize it (Deuteronomy 2:4-6).
• Under Solomon, Eloth became the staging ground for the king’s maritime enterprise: “King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea” (1 Kings 9:26; cf. 2 Chronicles 8:17). The port allowed partnership with the Phoenicians and opened Israel to the gold of Ophir (1 Kings 9:27-28), fulfilling the Abrahamic promise that Israel would bless “all the families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3) through economic exchange and international influence.
• After the kingdom divided, Amaziah’s son Azariah (Uzziah) “rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah” (2 Kings 14:22; 2 Chronicles 26:2). The prosperity that followed illustrated how covenant faithfulness brings enlargement (2 Chronicles 26:5).
• In the reign of Ahaz, compromise led to loss: “Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram and drove out the men of Judah. The Edomites came to Elath and live there to this day” (2 Kings 16:6). The repeated reference underlines a permanent reversal that accompanied Judah’s unfaithfulness to the Lord (2 Kings 16:3-4).

Economic and Strategic Importance

1. Trade Hub: From Eloth, incense, spices, ivory, and precious metals streamed northward along the King’s Highway. The city therefore symbolized Israel’s intersection with Gentile commerce.
2. Naval Base: Solomonic shipbuilding at nearby Ezion-geber depended on Eloth’s sheltered waters. Control of Eloth effectively meant control of the Red Sea lanes stretching toward East Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
3. Military Outpost: Whoever held Eloth could threaten Edom from the sea or secure Judah’s southern border. Hence every shift in political control (Solomon, Uzziah, Rezin) is carefully noted by Scripture.

Theological Insights

• Covenant Blessing versus Apostasy: The rise of Eloth under Solomon and Uzziah parallels periods of devotion to the LORD; its loss under Ahaz parallels idolatry. Geography thus becomes a barometer of spiritual health.
• God’s Sovereign Boundaries: In Deuteronomy, Eloth is linked with Edomite territory, reminding Israel that some lands were off-limits despite proximity. Respect for divinely set borders prefigures New-Covenant respect for God-appointed spheres of ministry (2 Corinthians 10:13-16).
• Outreach to the Nations: Ships launched from Eloth carried Israel’s craftsmen, sailors, and goods to far-off peoples. The port foreshadows the missionary movement in which the gospel travels “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), showing that God’s plan for global blessing has ancient roots.

Applications for Ministry Today

• Stewardship of Opportunities: Like Solomon’s fleet, modern resources—technology, trade, travel—can extend godly influence when employed under divine wisdom.
• Vigilance against Compromise: Ahaz’s loss of Eloth warns that spiritual decline can dissolve hard-won gains. Churches and families must guard their “ports” of influence through faithfulness.
• Respect for God-given Boundaries: Whether in ethical business practices or pastoral jurisdictions, believers honor the Lord by recognizing and staying within the limits He sets.

Summary

Eloth stands as more than a marginal place-name; it is a living illustration of covenant privilege, responsibility, and the expansive heart of God who positions His people at strategic crossroads for the blessing of the nations.

Forms and Transliterations

אֵיל֔וֹת אֵיל֛וֹת אֵילַ֔ת אֵילַת֙ אֵל֛וֹת אילות אילת אלות מֵֽאֵיל֑וֹת מֵאֵילַ֖ת מאילות מאילת ’ê·laṯ ’ê·lō·wṯ ’êlaṯ ’êlōwṯ eiLat eiLot eLot mê’êlaṯ mê’êlōwṯ mê·’ê·laṯ mê·’ê·lō·wṯ meeiLat meeiLot

Englishman's Concordance

Deuteronomy 2:8
HEB: מִדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ הָֽעֲרָבָ֔ה מֵאֵילַ֖ת וּמֵעֶצְיֹ֣ן גָּ֑בֶר
KJV: of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber,
INT: road the Arabah Elath Ezion-geber turned

1 Kings 9:26
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֶת־ אֵל֛וֹת עַל־ שְׂפַ֥ת
NAS: is near Eloth on the shore
KJV: in Eziongeber, which [is] beside Eloth, on the shore
INT: which is near Eloth on the shore

2 Kings 14:22
HEB: בָּנָ֣ה אֶת־ אֵילַ֔ת וַיְשִׁבֶ֖הָ לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה
KJV: He built Elath, and restored
INT: He built Elath and restored to Judah

2 Kings 16:6
HEB: אֲרָ֤ם אֶת־ אֵילַת֙ לַֽאֲרָ֔ם וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ל
NAS: the Judeans out of Elath entirely; and the Arameans
KJV: recovered Elath to Syria,
INT: king of Aram of Elath Aram and cleared

2 Kings 16:6
HEB: אֶת־ הַיְהוּדִ֖ים מֵֽאֵיל֑וֹת [וַאֲרַמִּים כ]
KJV: the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians
INT: and cleared the Judeans of Elath Syrian came

2 Kings 16:6
HEB: ק) בָּ֣אוּ אֵילַ֔ת וַיֵּ֣שְׁבוּ שָׁ֔ם
KJV: came to Elath, and dwelt
INT: Syrian came of Elath lived there

2 Chronicles 8:17
HEB: גֶּ֧בֶר וְאֶל־ אֵיל֛וֹת עַל־ שְׂפַ֥ת
NAS: to Ezion-geber and to Eloth on the seashore
KJV: to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea
INT: to Ezion-geber and to Eloth and side

2 Chronicles 26:2
HEB: בָּנָ֣ה אֶת־ אֵיל֔וֹת וַיְשִׁיבֶ֖הָ לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה
NAS: He built Eloth and restored
KJV: He built Eloth, and restored
INT: He built Eloth and restored to Judah

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 359
8 Occurrences

’ê·laṯ — 3 Occ.
’ê·lō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
’ê·lō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
mê·’ê·laṯ — 1 Occ.
mê·’ê·lō·wṯ — 1 Occ.