Elath (in Josephus AElane, in Roman geography Elane, now Ailah), a seaport of ancient Idumaea, on the shore of the eastern or Elanitic gulf of the Red sea, now the gulf of Akabah. It was a part of David's conquest from the Edomites; was a place of great importance in Solomon's time, as the port in which he built and fitted out his ships for bringing gold from Ophir; was captured by the revolted Edomites in the reign of Joram, after having been in the possession of the Israelites 150 years; was retaken by Uzziah, who fortified it anew, peopled it with his own subjects, and restored the trade to Ophir; was afterward taken by Resin, king of Damascus, who in turn was deprived of it by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, from whose time it was never recovered by the Jews. Later it fell under the power of the Romans, became the residence of a Christian bishop, and submitted to the Moslems, its governor paying them an annual tribute. In 1116 it was taken by King Baldwin of Jerusalem, and in 1067 was again wrested from the Christians by Saladin. Edrisi describes it as a small town frequented by Arabs, and forming an important point on the route between Cairo and Medina. Elath adjoined Eziongeber; and Akabah now occupies the site of one or both of these ancient towns.