Etzion Gever (Eilat)

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Eilat was built about 50 years ago on a wasteland called Umm Rashrash. The first attempt at civilian settlement in Eilat was attempted in December 1949 when the United Kibbutz movement set up a camp on shore. Pictured to the left are the municipal offices in Eilat in 1950.

Eilat is located several kilometers west of the ancient site of Etzion Gever, the location of the port used in King Solomon's time for his trade and mining industries (Kings I 9;26).

Etzion-Gever is mentioned in other places in the Bible as well: During the wandering travels of the Israelites in the desert, the city of Etzion-Gaver is listed as the thirty-first place of encampment (Numbers 33;35-36). Later, the region, including Eilat (Eilah) remained in Edomite hands until King David conquered Edom in the beginning of the 9th century BCE (Samuel II 8;14). It was then used by Solomon and other rulers as mentioned above. It was lost to the Edomites for a short period (Kings II 8;20-22), reconquered by King Uzziah (Kings II 14;21-22), and then ultimately lost when the Kingdom of Judah was attacked by Aram (Kings II 16;5-6).

During the 1948 War of Independence, Eilat was siezed without a fight. The Israeli flag was hoisted over Eilat on March 13 1949. According to the United Nations partition plan, Eilat was to be the southernmost tip of the fledgling Jewish state.

Eilat in 1995: Today Eilat has 37,000 residents, its own airport, seaport, and is visited by over one and a half million tourists per Sea Fortress in Eilat year. Within forty years one can see the incredible metamorphosis from wasteland to thriving tourist resort.