En-gedi
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(spring of the kid) (Josh. 15:62) — a city on the western shore of the Dead Sea, in the wilderness of Judah (Ezek. 47:10). Its original name was Hazazon-tamar, according to the testimony of Josephus, owing to the abundance of palm trees in its vicinity; he also states plainly that En-gedi, or Engaddi, was located 300 stadia from Jerusalem. Today, in the valley of Engaddi, stands the celebrated Laura of St. Sabbas. Nearby were once famous gardens and vineyards, long renowned. “My beloved is unto me as a cluster of henna in the vineyards of En-gedi,” says the bride of her beloved in the Song of Songs (1:14 [1:13]); but now, owing to the indolence and negligence of its inhabitants, this region has neither palms, nor vineyards, nor balsam shrubs — only cucumbers and a little barley are cultivated by the Bedouin who wander there. In the time of Moses the Amorites dwelt here (Gen. 14:7).