ELATH. - A city on the Elamite Gulf (Heb. 'Elath and 'Elâth). It is first mentioned in Deut. 2:8 as a stopping-place of the Hebrews, who, coming from Sinai, passed through it in order to avoid the hostility of the Edomites, who occupied the Mountains of Seir. In the time of King Salomope the locality assumed special importance, because in its vicinity, namely at Asiongaber “on the shore of the Red Sea, in the region of Edom” (I Reg. 9:26; cf. II Par. 8:17), a naval base was established for trade with Arabia, and perhaps even with distant India. The undertaking must have lasted only a short time. Only in the time of King Azaria (769–738) was the base reconquered and reactivated (II Reg. 14:22).
It appears that in the meantime the city had been occupied by the Edomites, perhaps immediately after the death of Salomone, who continued the supremacy established by David (II Sam. 13–14), or during the revolt against King Ioram (849–842 B.C.; cf. II Reg. 8:20–23).
Given its strategic position, the region was subsequently occupied by the Nabateans, under whom the port does not seem to have been very efficient. The Romans garrisoned it; the presence of the Tenth Fretensian Legion is documented. As a naval base E. was used again in the Middle Ages by the Arabs and the Crocinti. Ancient onomastic sources call it Alla or Aclana. At present, ruins may be noted near the end of the depression beginning at the Dead Sea, 1 km west-northwest of 'Aqabah.