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Engedi - location profile

Location and Setting

Engedi is situated eleven miles north of Masada and approximately thirty-five miles southeast of Jerusalem on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert, midway along the western shore of the Dead Sea.
A severely-gorged mountain range six hundred feet above the Dead Sea acts as an aqueduct to bring an abundance of water to Engedi, producing the largest oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Irrigation provided by perennial springs encourages a lush and fruitful ecosystem.
The oasis is fed by four springs: David Spring in the channel of Nahal David, Shulamit Spring and Engedi Spring on the southern slope of Nahal David, and En Arugot in Nahal Arugot. The rainfall runoff that flows eastward from the Hebron Hills watershed toward the Dead Sea supplies the springs. These four springs are approximately 656 feet above the level of the Dead Sea.
The climate of the area accommodates plants from four geographical regions: Sudanian tropical plants, desert plants, Mediterranean plants, and Steppian plants. The latter two varieties grow nearer to the springs and streams. The warm climate, diverse vegetation, predominantly of date palms, and the supply of water attract many animals including the ibex, hyrax, leopard, and a variety of bird species, including vultures, eagles, and falcons.
Engedi provides ideal shelter for people and animals in its numerous caves and grand rock formations.

Evidence of terrace farming dates to the Iron Age. When the natural water supply was harnessed and utilized to irrigate crops, Engedi became an active settlement. Early in the biblical record, Engedi is referred to as Hazazon-tamar, meaning "the pruning of palms" (Gen 14:7; 2 Chr 20:2).
In this beautiful oasis with a natural camouflage of thick vegetation and numerous caves for shelter, King David found refuge from Saul (1 Sam 23:29). Engedi was where David spared Saul’s life, demonstrating his mercy, compassion, and obedience to God’s will (1 Samuel 24; 26).
Ammon, Moab, and Edom invaded Judah through Engedi at the time of Jehoshaphat’s reign, ascending to the hill country of Judah by way of "the ascent of Ziz" (2 Chr 20:16), a route that passed near Engedi.
In the Song of Solomon, the speaker uses descriptions of the flora and fauna of Engedi to depict the beauty of his lover (1:14).

Ellison, H.L. "En-gedi" The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible. Ed. Merrill C. Tenney. 5 vols. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1976.
Lockyer, Sr., Herbert, ed. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986.
Smith, William. The New Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1966.