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EN-GEDI

(Heb. ʿên geḏî)

An oasis listed as one of the towns of Judah which was of sufficient size to have support villages (Josh. 15:62). A perennial spring ca. 200 m. (655 ft.) above the Dead Sea supplies the water for the site. When David fled from Saul he sought refuge in the “strongholds” (apparently caves) of the region; there David insulted Saul by cutting off the hem of his robe (1 Sam. 23:29–24:5). During the reign of Jehoshaphat, a coalition of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites rallied at Hazazon-tamar, which is identified with En-gedi (2 Chr. 20:1-2); however, before they had a chance to confront Judah’s army the coalition forces destroyed each other (vv. 22-23).

En-gedi was known for its vineyards, date palms, and balsam (Cant. 1:14; Sir. 24:14; Josephus Ant. 9.1.2; Eusebius Onom. 86.18). Ezekiel’s vision of the temple (Ezek. 47:10) lists En-gedi along with En-eglaim as geographic landmarks for a river of fresh water flowing from the temple into the Dead Sea.

En-gedi has been identified with Tel Goren/Tell ej-Jurn (187096), located about halfway down the western shore of the Dead Sea. Excavations have uncovered a well-built cult center from the Chalcolithic period on a promontory overlooking the Iron Age tell. On the tell proper, remains have been traced to the end of the Iron Age (stratum V; ca. 630-582 b.c.). The buildings are situated around courtyards. The discovery of numerous large store jars and the plentiful balsam of the region suggest that the site was a center for the production of perfume. This stratum was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar ca. 582.

After the Exile the site was reoccupied during the Persian period (stratum IV) with a palatial dwelling of ca. 550 sq. m. (658 sq. yds.) with more than 23 rooms. This building was inexplicably destroyed ca. 400. Stratum III (Ptolemaic/Seleucid period) consisted of a fortified site which was destroyed probably in the conflict between the Hasmoneans and Herod.

The last major occupation (stratum II) occurred during the 1st century a.d. when the site was refortified with another citadel. Walls measured some 2 m. (6.5 ft.) thick. Various coins were discovered with this stratum (Agrippa I, Claudius, Nero, and coins of the second year of the First Revolt). Josephus indicates that during the rebellion against Rome the occupants of Masada raided En-gedi and massacred its inhabitants (BJ 4.7.2). After this destruction, stratum I consisted only of nonpermanent dwellings and agricultural terraces.

Nearby, a Roman bathhouse was built during the period between the First Revolt and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (ca. a.d. 132). After the Bar Kokhba Revolt a synagogue was built at the base of the tell and was rebuilt through several phases. It was destroyed in the 6th century.

Bibliography. D. Barg, Y. Porat, and E. Netzer, “The Synagogue at ʿEn-Gedi,” in Ancient Synagogues Revealed, ed. L. I. Levine (Jerusalem, 1981), 116-19; B. Mazar, T. Dothan, and I. Dunayevsky, “En-Gedi: The First and Second Seasons of Excavations, 1961-1962,” ʿAtiqot 5 (1966): 116-19; D. Ussishkin, “The Ghassulian Shrine at En-gedi,” Tel Aviv 7 (1980): 1-44.

Dale W. Manor

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

EN-GEDI

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)