Bible Locations

En-gedi, "spring of the young goat," is an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea, where a spring falls from the cliffs, creating waterfalls and palms in the desert. It was a town of Judah in the wilderness district (Joshua 15:62). David hid from Saul in "the Desert of En Gedi," and in a cave there, he cut off a corner of Saul's robe instead of killing him (1 Samuel 24). Moabites and Ammonites came against Jehoshaphat through Hazazon Tamar, "that is, En Gedi" (2 Chronicles 20:2). The Song of Solomon praises its henna vineyards, and Ezekiel pictures fishermen there. Archaeologists found a Chalcolithic temple from around 3500 BC and an Iron Age town at Tel Goren. A synagogue mosaic from the 500s AD includes a curse on anyone who reveals "the town's secret," probably how they made their valuable balsam perfume. Today it's a nature reserve.