RED SEA / KEDEM GUIDE
Aqaba
Aqaba · Red Sea
Scripture names Elath and Ezion-geber near the head of the Gulf of Aqaba, but their exact relationship to modern Aqaba remains archaeologically debated.
Travel and visit times are estimates. Check access and opening arrangements before travel.
1 Kings 9:26 (Gulf context)
Aqaba is Jordan's only port city, set on the Red Sea at the country's southern tip. The blue Gulf of Aqaba opens between desert mountains, joining the memory of ancient ports with a modern centre of trade and marine travel.
Biblical context
First Kings 9:26 says Solomon built ships at Ezion-geber near Elath on the Red Sea shore in Edom; Deuteronomy 2:8 also names Elath and Ezion-geber. Scripture does not name the modern city of Aqaba, and the exact locations of the ancient ports remain debated.
History and tradition
The area served as a port linking Red Sea shipping with overland routes from antiquity onward. Remains of the early Islamic city of Ayla, a Mamluk fort, and sites of modern Arab history survive alongside Jordan's present port and marine tourism centre.
Pilgrim reflection
First Kings 9 records Solomon's maritime enterprise without identifying the modern city of Aqaba. Read the passage in its wider context and attend to its themes of wisdom, rule, and responsibility.
On-site notes
Summer heat is intense, so visit outdoor heritage sites in the morning or near sunset. Do not stand on or touch coral while snorkelling, and allow about an hour by road when combining Aqaba with Wadi Rum.
What to bring
Swimwear, a towel and change of clothes, water shoes, sunscreen, a dry bag, and optional personal snorkelling gear.