Wilderness of Paran
A place in the Bible
A large wilderness south of Canaan, on the way between Egypt and the promised land. In the Douay-Rheims it is called “Pharan.”
What happened here
- Ishmael: he grew up in the wilderness and became a skilled archer. He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother Hagar found him a wife from Egypt.
- The people of Israel: after leaving Hazeroth, the people camped in the wilderness of Paran.
- The scouts: from there Moses sent twelve men to explore the land of Canaan.
Today
It was south of Canaan, in the north of the Sinai Peninsula.
Where it appears in the Bible
Genesis 21:20-21; Numbers 12:16; Numbers 13:3
What the Bible says
Genesis 21:20-21
20And God was with him: and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became a young man, an archer. 21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Pharan, and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt.
Numbers 12:16
And the people marched from Haseroth, and pitched their tents in the desert of Pharan.
Numbers 13:3
Moses did what the Lord had commanded, sending from the desert of Pharan, principal men, whose names are these:
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Genesis 21:21; Numbers 12:16; Numbers 13:3