It is also called Hazazon-Tamar, or _city of palm trees_, 2
Chron. xx, 2, because there was a great quantity of palm trees in the
territory belonging to it. It abounded with Cyprus vines, and trees that
produced balm. Solomon speaks of the “vineyards of Engedi,” Cant. i, 14.
This city, according to Josephus, stood near the lake of Sodom, three
hundred furlongs from Jerusalem, not far from Jericho, and the mouth of
the river Jordan, through which it discharged itself into the Dead Sea.
There is frequent mention of Engedi in the Scriptures. It was in the
cave of Engedi that David had it in his power to kill Saul, 1 Sam. xxiv.
The spot where this transaction took place, was a cavern in the rock,
sufficiently large to contain in its recesses the whole of David’s men,
six hundred in number, unperceived by Saul when he entered. Many similar
caves existed in the Holy Land. Such were those at Adullam and Makkedah,
and that in which Lot and his daughters dwelt after the destruction of
Sodom. Such also is that described by Mr. Maundrell, near Sidon, which
contained two hundred smaller caverns. Many of these were natural
cavities in the limestone rock, similar to those in Yorkshire and
Derbyshire, and in the Mendip hills in Somersetshire; and others,
excavations made by the primeval inhabitants, for defence, or for
shelter from the sun; and which subsequently served as retreats for
robbers, as they are at this day. Josephus has given an interesting
account of these caves, and the manner in which the robbers were taken
by Herod. And Dr. E. D. Clarke has described similar retreats in the
rocks near Bethlehem; others, between Jerusalem and Jericho, are
mentioned by Mr. Wilson. Into such caves the Israelites frequently
retired for shelter from their enemies, Judg. vi, 2; 1 Sam. xiii, 6;
xiv, 11; a circumstance which has afforded some striking and terrific
images to the prophets, Isaiah ii, 19; Hosea x, 8; Rev. vi, 15, 16.
Chron. xx, 2, because there was a great quantity of palm trees in the
territory belonging to it. It abounded with Cyprus vines, and trees that
produced balm. Solomon speaks of the “vineyards of Engedi,” Cant. i, 14.
This city, according to Josephus, stood near the lake of Sodom, three
hundred furlongs from Jerusalem, not far from Jericho, and the mouth of
the river Jordan, through which it discharged itself into the Dead Sea.
There is frequent mention of Engedi in the Scriptures. It was in the
cave of Engedi that David had it in his power to kill Saul, 1 Sam. xxiv.
The spot where this transaction took place, was a cavern in the rock,
sufficiently large to contain in its recesses the whole of David’s men,
six hundred in number, unperceived by Saul when he entered. Many similar
caves existed in the Holy Land. Such were those at Adullam and Makkedah,
and that in which Lot and his daughters dwelt after the destruction of
Sodom. Such also is that described by Mr. Maundrell, near Sidon, which
contained two hundred smaller caverns. Many of these were natural
cavities in the limestone rock, similar to those in Yorkshire and
Derbyshire, and in the Mendip hills in Somersetshire; and others,
excavations made by the primeval inhabitants, for defence, or for
shelter from the sun; and which subsequently served as retreats for
robbers, as they are at this day. Josephus has given an interesting
account of these caves, and the manner in which the robbers were taken
by Herod. And Dr. E. D. Clarke has described similar retreats in the
rocks near Bethlehem; others, between Jerusalem and Jericho, are
mentioned by Mr. Wilson. Into such caves the Israelites frequently
retired for shelter from their enemies, Judg. vi, 2; 1 Sam. xiii, 6;
xiv, 11; a circumstance which has afforded some striking and terrific
images to the prophets, Isaiah ii, 19; Hosea x, 8; Rev. vi, 15, 16.