Sin, Wilderness of

Which Israel reached after leaving the encampment by the Red Sea (Num 33:11). Their next stage was Rephidim. (See EXODUS.) Exo 16:1; Exo 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. (See SIN (1).)

The district lying between the Red Sea and Sinai, in some part of which the Israelites encamped. Exo 16:1; Exo 17:1; Num 33:11-12.

SIN, WILDERNESS OF (name probably derived from the moon-god Sin).—A region on the route of the Hebrews from Egypt to Mt. Sinai. It is usually identified with the plain lying S. of the Ras Abu Zenimeh. Upon the view held in many quarters that Mt. Sinai must be located somewhere in the Negeb, the wilderness of Sin was on the more direct route from Egypt to Kadesh, near to if not identical with the desert of Zin (Num 13:21; Num 20:1; Num 27:14; Num 33:36; Num 34:3, Deu 32:51, Jos 15:1-3). Cf. Zin.

H. L. Willett.

See WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.