Ebal
Stony. (1.) A mountain 3,076 feet above the level of the sea, and 1,200 feet above the level of the valley, on the north side of which stood the city of Shechem (q.v.). On this mountain six of the tribes ( Deut. 27:12 , 13 ) were appointed to take their stand and respond according to a prescribed form to the imprecations uttered in the valley, where the law was read by the Levites (11:29; 29:4, 13). This mountain was also the site of the first great altar erected to Jehovah ( Deut. 27:5-8 ; Josh. 8:30-35 ). After this the name of Ebal does not again occur in Jewish history. (See GERIZIM .) (2.) A descendant of Eber ( 1 Chr. 1:22 ), called also Obal ( Gen. 10:28 ). (3.) A descendant of Seir the Horite ( Gen. 36:23 ).
Eber
Beyond. (1.). The third post-duluvian patriach after Shem ( Gen. 10:24 ; 11:14 ). He is regarded as the founder of the Hebrew race (10:21; Num. 24:24 ). In Luke 3:35 he is called Heber. (2.) One of the seven heads of the families of the Gadites ( 1 Chr. 5:13 ). (3.) The oldest of the three sons of Elpaal the Benjamite (8:12). (4.) One of the heads of the familes of Benjamites in Jerusalem (22). (5.) The head of the priestly family of Amok in the time of Zerubbabel ( Neh. 12:20 ).
Ebronah
Passage, one of the stations of the Israelites in their wanderings ( Num. 33:34 , 35 ). It was near Ezion-geber.
Elath
Grove; trees, ( Deut. 2:8 ), also in plural form Eloth ( 1 Kings 9:26 , etc.); called by the Greeks and Romans Elana; a city of Idumea, on the east, i.e., the Elanitic, gulf, or the Gulf of Akabah, of the Red Sea. It is first mentioned in Deut. 2:8 . It is also mentioned along with Ezion-geber in 1 Kings 9:26 . It was within the limits of Solomon’s dominion, but afterwards revolted. It was, however, recovered and held for a time under king Uzziah ( 2 Kings 14:22 ). Now the ruin Aila.
Enchantments
(1.) The rendering of Hebrew latim_ or _lehatim , which means “something covered,” “muffled up;” secret arts, tricks ( Ex. 7:11 , 22 ; 8:7 , 18 ), by which the Egyptian magicians imposed on the credulity of Pharaoh. (2.) The rendering of the Hebrew keshaphim , “muttered spells” or “incantations,” rendered “sorceries” in Isa. 47:9 , 12 , i.e., the using of certain formulae under the belief that men could thus be bound. (3.) Hebrew lehashim , “charming,” as of serpents ( Jer. 8:17 ; comp. Ps. 58:5 ). (4.) Hebrew nehashim , the enchantments or omens used by Balaam ( Num. 24:1 ); his endeavouring to gain omens favourable to his design. (5.) Hebrew heber ( Isa. 47:9 , 12 ), “magical spells.” All kinds of enchantments were condemned by the Mosaic law ( Lev. 19:26 ; Deut. 18:10-12 ). (See DIVINATION .)
Ezion-geber
The giant’s backbone (so called from the head of a mountain which runs out into the sea), an ancient city and harbour at the north-east end of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Akabah, near Elath or Eloth ( Num. 33:35 ; Deut. 2:8 ). Here Solomon built ships, “Tarshish ships,” like those trading from Tyre to Tarshish and the west, which traded with Ophir ( 1 Kings 9:26 ; 2 Chr. 8:17 ); and here also Jehoshaphat’s fleet was shipwrecked ( 1 Kings 22:48 ; 2 Chr. 20:36 ). It became a populous town, many of the Jews settling in it ( 2 Kings 16:6 , “Elath”). It is supposed that anciently the north end of the gulf flowed further into the country than now, as far as ‘Ain el-Ghudyan, which is 10 miles up the dry bed of the Arabah, and that Ezion-geber may have been there.