Geographical Location:
Engedi, also known as En Gedi, is an oasis located on the western shore of the Dead Sea, approximately midway between the northern and southern ends of the sea. It is situated in the Judean Desert, within the modern-day boundaries of Israel. The name "Engedi" means "spring of the kid" or "fountain of the goat," reflecting the area's natural springs and the presence of wild goats.

Biblical References:
Engedi is mentioned several times in the Bible, primarily in the context of its natural beauty and strategic significance. It is first noted in the Book of Joshua as part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:62). The oasis is renowned for its lush vegetation, including date palms, and its abundant water supply, which stands in stark contrast to the surrounding arid desert.

One of the most notable biblical events associated with Engedi is found in 1 Samuel 24. Here, David sought refuge from King Saul, who was pursuing him with the intent to kill him. David and his men were hiding in the caves of Engedi when Saul entered one of the caves to relieve himself. Unbeknownst to Saul, David and his men were in the same cave. David's men urged him to kill Saul, but David refrained, choosing instead to cut off a corner of Saul's robe. After Saul left the cave, David revealed himself and demonstrated his loyalty by showing the piece of the robe, saying, "May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand will never be against you" (1 Samuel 24:12).

Engedi is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:2, where it is referred to as Hazazon-tamar. In this passage, it is the location from which a coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites launched an attack against King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The king responded by seeking the LORD's guidance, leading to a miraculous victory for Judah.

Symbolic and Theological Significance:
Engedi serves as a symbol of refuge and divine providence. The oasis provided David with a place of safety and sustenance during his flight from Saul, illustrating God's protection and provision for His anointed. The incident in the cave at Engedi highlights themes of mercy, restraint, and the importance of trusting in God's timing and justice.

The lushness of Engedi amidst the desert also serves as a metaphor for spiritual renewal and the life-giving presence of God. The Song of Solomon references Engedi in a poetic description of beauty and love: "My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En Gedi" (Song of Solomon 1:14). This imagery underscores the oasis's reputation as a place of beauty and fertility.

Historical and Archaeological Insights:
Engedi has been a site of human habitation and agriculture for millennia. Archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence of ancient settlements, including a Chalcolithic temple and remains from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The area was known for its production of balsam, a valuable resin used in perfumes and medicinal ointments.

Today, Engedi is a popular tourist destination, known for its natural beauty, hiking trails, and wildlife, including the Nubian ibex. The modern kibbutz of Ein Gedi continues the tradition of agriculture, cultivating dates and other crops in the fertile oasis.Engedi or Engedi

(fount of the kid), a town in the wilderness of Judah, (Joshua 15:62) on the western shore of the Dead Sea. (Ezekiel 47:10) Its original name was Hazezon-tamar, on account of the palm groves which surrounded it. (2 Chronicles 20:2) Its site is about the middle of the western shore of the lake, at the fountain of Ain Jidy , from which the place gets its name. It was immediately after an assault upon the "Amorites that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar," that the five Mesopotamian kings were attacked by the rulers of the plain of Sodom. (Genesis 14:7) comp. 2Chr 20:2 Saul was told that David was in the "wilderness of Engedi;" and he took "three thousand men, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. " (1 Samuel 24:1-4) The vineyards of Engedi were celebrated by Solomon. (Solomon 1:14)

5872. En Gedi -- "spring of a kid," a place on W. shore of the ...
... En Gedi. 5873 . "spring of a kid," a place on W. shore of the Dead Sea.
Transliteration: En Gedi Phonetic Spelling: (ane geh'-dee) Short Definition: Engedi. ...
/hebrew/5872.htm - 6k

How David, when He had Twice the Opportunity of Killing Saul did ...
... he staid there the men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul, he took his four
hundred men and retired into a desert that was over against a city called Engedi ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how david when.htm

Concerning Jehoshaphat Again; How He Constituted Judges And,
... time the Moabites and Ammonites made an expedition against Jehoshaphat, and took
with them a great body of Arabians, and pitched their camp at Engedi, a city ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 concerning jehoshaphat again.htm

The Exile --Continued.
... VII."THE EXILE"CONTINUED. There are many echoes of this period of Engedi
in the Psalms. Perhaps the most distinctly audible ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/vii the exilecontinued.htm

Chapter xiv
... time they were established at "Hazazon Tamar." This name would mean "the sandy country
of palms." According to 2 Chronicles 20:2 this was Engedi on the western ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

David's Anger
... Twice he has Saul in his power: once in the cave at Engedi, once at the camp at
Hachilah, and both times he refuses nobly to use his opportunity. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon iii davids anger.htm

Baptism unto Repentance
... we are speaking, an extraordinary sect, known as the Essenes, was scattered throughout
Palestine, but had its special home in the oasis of Engedi; and with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/vi baptism unto repentance.htm

The Beatific vision.
... Perhaps he had composed it in the night, as he lay either in the cave of Adullam
or Engedi, hiding from Saul among the cliffs of the wild goats; and meant to ...
/.../kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xxvii the beatific vision.htm

The Hope of Future Bliss
... with the hope of future bliss.; As for me," says the patriarch, casting his eyes
aloft; As for me," said the hunted chieftain of the caves of Engedi""As for ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the hope of future bliss.htm

Christ's Estimate of his People
... place, all the scenery is in the land of Canaan, none of it in Egypt; and besides
that, all the places that Solomon speaks of, such as Engedi, Lebanon, Amana ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/christs estimate of his people.htm

More and More
... comfort and delight. When an exile he had made the rocky fastnesses of Adullam
and Engedi resound with the name of Jehovah. In after ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/more and more.htm

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