Bible Dictionary
PARAN, EL-PARAN
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.
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.