wilderness of sin Summary and Overview

THE WILDERNESS OF SIN , , a region between Elim and Rephidim. Ex 16:1; Ex 17:1; Num 33:11-12. Here the Israelites were first fed with manna and quails. The wilderness extends 25 miles along the east shore of the Red Sea, from Wady Taiyibeh to Wady Feiran; it is now called the plain of el-Markha. It is barren, but has a little vegetation, and when the rainfall was larger and the drainage from the mountain descended more gradually, instead of sweeping everything before it as now, it may have afforded fair pasturage. Travellers report seeing numerous quails upon this plain in modern times.

Which Israel reached after leaving the encampment by the Red Sea (Numbers 33:11). Their next stage was Rephidim. frontEXODUS.) Exodus 16:1; Exodus 17:1. Sin wilderness is the desert sandstone tract, Debbet er Ramleh, extending across the peninsula from wady Nasb in a S.E. direction between the limestone district of et Tih and the granite of the central formation, Sinai. The journey from Elim, or even from the Red Sea, could be performed in a day. The Egyptians working the copper mines at Sarbut el Khadim would keep the route in good order. Israel moved by detachments; and only at the wilderness of Sin "all the congregation" assembled for the first time. (See PARAN.) Distinct from the wilderness of Zin. frontSIN (1).)