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Dizahab

DIZAHAB (dī'za-hăb). A place located in the region of Sinai, or possibly farther north where Moses gave his farewell address to the Israelites (Deut.1.1).


DI-ZAHAB dīz’ ə hăb (דִ֥י זָהָֽב, LXX καταχρύσεα, abundance of gold, or sufficiency of gold; but more prob. דִ֥י זָהָֽב means possessor of gold). A locality listed along with Paran, Tophel, Laban, and Hazeroth to specify the place where Moses delivered the messages of the Book of Deuteronomy to Israel (Deut 1:1). The exact location of Di-zahab has not been established. The identification with Mina al Dhahab by Burkhardt as well as the identification with Me-zahab (Gen 36:39) by Sayce are no longer accepted. The context suggests a location in the E of the Arabah. The other locations which are named provide no assistance since they are also unknown. The name itself has been explained in Jewish tradition as having some connection with the golden calf which was destroyed by Moses. Another suggestion is that it was an area abounding in gold. The latter has led to the possible identification with edh-Dheibeh.

Bibliography

M. Seligsohn, “Di-Zahab,” Jewish Encyclopedia (n.d.), IV, 628.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

di’-za-hab, diz’-a-hab di-za-habh; Septuagint Katachrusea, (literally, "abounding in gold"):

The name occurs in a list apparently intended to fix definitely the situation of the camp of Israel in the plains of Moab (De 1:1). No place in the region has been found with a name suggesting this; and there is no other clue to its identification. Some names in the list are like those of stations earlier in the wanderings. Thinking that one of these may be intended Burckhardt suggested Mina edh-Dhahab, a boat harbor between Ras Mohammad and `Aqaba. Cheyne gets over the difficulty by accepting a suggestion of Sayee that Di-zahab corresponds to Me-zahab (Ge 36:39); this latter he then transforms into Mitzraim, and identifies it with the North Arabian Mucri (Encyclopedia Biblica, under the word). The changes, however, seem greater than can be justified.