East Sea

The East Sea, also called the Eastern Sea, refers in the Old Testament to the Dead Sea, which lies on the eastern border of Canaan. It is called the East Sea in distinction from the Mediterranean (the "Western Sea" or "Great Sea") to the west. Joel 2:20 uses it in the context of the northern army being driven into the eastern and western seas. Ezekiel 47:18 employs it as a geographic boundary in the description of the restored land.

The Dead Sea — also called the Salt Sea (Genesis 14:3), the Sea of Arabah (Deuteronomy 3:17), and the Sea of the Plain — lies approximately 1,400 feet below sea level, making it the lowest body of water on earth. Its extreme salinity supports no fish life, giving it the character of a natural symbol of desolation in prophetic literature. Ezekiel's vision of healing waters flowing eastward from the restored temple and sweetening the Dead Sea (Ezekiel 47:8–9) therefore carries dramatic restorative imagery.