engedi Summary and Overview

fountain of the kid, place in the wilderness of Judah (Josh. 15:62), on the western shore of the Dead Sea (Ezek. 47:10), and nearly equidistant from both extremities. To the wilderness near this town David fled for fear of Saul (Josh. 15:62; 1 Sam. 23:29). It was at first called Hazezon-tamar (Gen. 14:7), a city of the Amorites. The vineyards of Engedi were celebrated in Solomon's time (Cant. 1:4). It is the modern 'Ain Jidy. The "fountain" from which it derives its name rises on the mountain side about 600 feet above the sea, and in its rapid descent spreads luxuriance all around it. Along its banks the osher grows abundantly. That shrub is thus described by Porter: "The stem is stout, measuring sometimes nearly a foot in diameter, and the plant grows to the height of 15 feet or more. It has a grayish bark and long oval leaves, which when broken off discharge a milky fluid. The fruit resembles an apple, and hangs in clusters of two or three. When ripe it is of a rich yellow colour, but on being pressed it explodes like a puff-ball. It is chiefly filled with air...This is the so-called 'apple of Sodom.'" Through Samaria, etc. (See APPLE T0000273.)

("fountain of the kid or goat".) A town W. of the Dead Sea (Ezekiel 47:10), in the wilderness of Judah (Joshua 15:62). "The wilderness of Engedi" is explained as" the rocks of the wild goats" (1 Samuel 24:4). Abounding in caves on the road to Jerusalem where David found Saul. Originally Hazazon Tamar, "the felling of the palm," palm groves being then around though now none remain (2 Chronicles 20:2). About the middle of the western side of the sea. The fountain Ain Jidy is about 500 ft. above the plain and Dead Sea, and 1500 ft. below the top of the cliffs, bursting from the limestone rock down the deep descent amidst banks of acacia, mimosa, and lotus. The temperature at the spring head on a cool day Conder found 83 Fahr. (Israel Exploration, August, 1875.) When full it crosses the plain direct to the sea; but most of the year it is absorbed in the dry soil. The four kings of whom Chedorlaomer was chief attacked the Amorites here, and were in turn attacked by the five kings of Canaan in the adjoining vale of Siddim. The route of the Moabites and Ammonites invading Jehoshaphat was by Engedi, and still the marauding hordes from Moab pass round the S. of the Dead Sea along the western shore to Ain Jidy, and then westward wherever hope of plunder presents itself. The Song of Solomon (Song of Solomon 1:14) celebrates Engedi's vineyards and clusters of "camphire," i.e. hennah flowers, white and yellow softly blended, wherewith Jewish maidens decked themselves.