elim Summary and Overview

trees, (Ex. 15:27; Num. 33:9), the name of the second station where the Israelites encamped after crossing the Red Sea. It had "twelve wells of water and threescore and ten palm trees." It has been identified with the Wady Ghurundel, the most noted of the four wadies which descend from the range of et-Tih towards the sea. Here they probably remained some considerable time. The form of expression in Ex. 16:1 seems to imply that the people proceeded in detachments or companies from Elim, and only for the first time were assembled as a complete host when they reached the wilderness of Sin (q.v.).

(strong trees), #Ex 15:27; Nu 33:9| the second station where the Israelites encamped after crossing the Red Sea. It is distinguished as having had "twelve wells (rather 'fountains') of waster, and three-score and ten palm trees." It is generally identified by the best authorities with Wady Garundel, about halfway down the shore of the Gulf of Suez. A few palm trees still remain, and the water is excellent.

E'LIM (trees), the second station of Israel after crossing the Red Sea. Ex 15:27; Num 33:9. It had 12 wells and 70 palm trees, and has been identified with Wady Gharandel, which is the first pleasant spot in the wilderness after leaving 'Ayun Musa. The water is the best on the whole route from Cairo to Sinai. A few palm trees still remain. Others locate Elim a little farther south, Elim, Sinai (Wady Gharandel. After a Photograph by Frith.) in Wady Useit or in Wady Taiyibeh. It certainly must have been in this neighborhood of running brooks, feathery tamarisks, wild acacias, and stately palm trees.

("strong trees".) Probably the lovely valley of Gharandel. In the rainy season a torrent flows through to the Red Sea. The water is in most seasons good, and even the best on the journey from Cairo to Sinai. Israel found at Elim 12 wells (i.e. "natural springs") and 70 palmtrees, and encamped by the waters; their stage next after Marah, now Huwara. A few palms still remain, dwarfs and trunkless, gnarled tamarisks and acacias, the sole relics of the grove that once flourished on this oasis of the W. side of the peninsula. Israel stayed here a long time; for they did not reach the wilderness until two and a half months after leaving Suez, finding water and pasture abundant in the intermediate district. Laborde makes wady Useit to be Elim, the second wady which Israel going from N.W. to S.E. along the coast would reach after Gharandel. Lepsius makes the fourth wady, reached by Israel, namely, wady Shubeikeh, in its lower part Taiyibeh, to be Elim (Exodus 15:27; Numbers 33:9.)