Paran denotes a wilderness region south of Canaan, associated with Israel’s wanderings and with Ishmael and David. El-paran and Mount Paran are related place-names, probably connected with the southern wilderness and the region near the Gulf of Aqaba.
Definition
Paran is a wilderness region south of Canaan, associated with Israel’s wanderings, Ishmael, and David. El-paran and Mount Paran are related place-names connected in the source with the southern wilderness and the region near the Gulf of Aqaba.
Biblical Usage
The wilderness of Paran appears in the accounts of Israel’s wanderings. It provided a place for Ishmael after he was sent away from his father’s tent, and David went there after Samuel’s death. Mount Paran is named in Moses’ blessing and Habakkuk’s prophecy.
Historical Background
The wilderness is identified with the high limestone plateau of Ettih, extending from southwest of the Dead Sea to Sinai along the west side of the Arabah. El-paran may be associated with Elath, while Mount Paran has been located by proposals either north of Sinai or near the Gulf of Aqaba.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pa'-ran, (pa'ran, 'el-pa'ran; Pharan):</p><p>(1) El-paran (Ge 14:6) was the point farthest South reached by the kings. Septuagint renders 'el by terebinthos, and reads, "unto the terebinth of Paran." The evidence is slender, but it is not unreasonable to suppose that this is the place elsewhere (De 2:8; 1Ki 9:26, etc.) called Elath or Eloth ('el with feminine termination), a seaport town which gave its name to the Aelanitic Gulf (modern Gulf of `Aqaba), not far from the wilderness of Paran (2).</p><p>(2) Many places named in the narrative of the wanderings lay within the Wilderness of Paran (Nu 10:12; 13:21; 27:14; compare 13:3,16, etc.). It is identified with the high limestone plateau of Ettih, stretching from the Southwest of the Dead Sea to Sinai along the west side of the Arabah. This wilderness offered hospitality to Ishmael when driven from his father's tent (Ge 21:21). Hither also came David when bereaved of Samuel's protection (1Sa 25:1).</p><p>(3) Mount Paran (De 33:2; Hab 3:3) may be either Jebel Maqrah, 29 miles South of `Ain Kadis (Kadesh-barnea), and 130 miles North of Sinai (Palmer, Desert of the Exodus, 510); or the higher and more imposing range of mountains West of the Gulf of `Aqaba. This is the more probable if El-paran is rightly identified with Elath.</p><p>(4) Some place named Paran would seem to be referred to in De 1:1; but no trace of such a city has yet been found. Paran in 1Ki 11:18 doubtless refers to the district West of the Arabah.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>
