EN GEDI [en GEH dee] (spring of a kid) — an oasis on the barren western shore of the Dead Sea about 54 kilometers (35 miles) southeast of Jerusalem (see Map 3, B–5). It lay on the eastern edge of the rugged Wilderness of Judah, which contained many hideouts where David sometimes hid when he was fleeing from King Saul (1 Sam. 23:29–24:1).

En Gedi was watered by a hot spring yielding an abundance of fresh water that burst forth hundreds of feet above the base of a large cliff. Its ancient name was Hazezon Tamar or Hazazon Tamar (“pruning of palms”), indicating the presence of date palms there. Vineyards also prospered at En Gedi (Song 1:14).

In Abraham's day, CHEDORLAOMER conquered the Amorites who occupied this spot (Gen. 14:7).

Photo by Gustav Jeeninga

The spring at En Gedi, where David hid from King Saul (1 Sam. 24:1).