Wilderness & Deserts

• The Wilderness of SinaiWildernessidentification debated

  The granite desert of the peninsula where Israel spent the years between Egypt and the promise: manna, water from the rock, the covenant.

  Wilderness & DesertsThe Sinai PeninsulaExodus 16:1-4

• The Wilderness of ZinWilderness

  The desert basin south of Canaan around Kadesh-barnea, where the spies' report was heard and the generation was turned back.

  Wilderness & DesertsThe region of Ein Qudeirat, north SinaiNumbers 13:21-26

• The Wilderness of ParanWilderness

  The high desert plateau of the central Sinai where Hagar wandered and where Israel camped on the march from Sinai to Kadesh.

  Wilderness & DesertsThe central Sinai plateau (et-Tih fringe)Genesis 21:20-21

• The Judean WildernessWilderness

  The barren rain-shadow east of Judah's ridge falling to the Dead Sea: David's refuge, John's preaching ground, and the place of Jesus' testing.

  Wilderness & DesertsThe Judean desertMatthew 4:1

• The Negev DesertDesert

  The dry southland below Beersheba: Abraham's wells, Hagar's flight, and the threshold of the promised land.

  Wilderness & DesertsThe NegevGenesis 21:14-16

Every entry begins with the biblical text. Where a site is debated, the entry says so. Browse the whole geography library or see these places on the atlas.