Paran: Abounding in foliage, or abounding in caverns,
(Genesis 21:21) a desert
tract forming the north-eastern division of the peninsula of Sinai,
lying between the 'Arabah on the east and the wilderness of Shur on
the west. It is intersected in a north-western direction by the Wady
el-'Arish. It bears the modern name of Badiet et-Tih, i.e., "the
desert of the wanderings." This district, through which the children
of Israel wandered, lay three days' march from Sinai
(Numbers 10:12,33)
From Kadesh, in this wilderness, spies (q.v.) were sent to spy the
land
(Numbers 13:3,26) Here, long afterwards, David found refuge from Saul
(1 Samuel 25:1,4)
