Elim

Elim was an oasis on Israel's route from the Red Sea toward Mount Sinai, reached soon after the bitter waters of Marah. Scripture describes it simply and memorably: a place 'where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees,' and the people encamped there by the waters. After the testing at Marah, Elim was a place of rest and refreshment, a reminder that God's leading through the wilderness included shaded and watered places as well as hard ones. From Elim the whole congregation moved on into the wilderness of Sin, where God would begin to feed them with manna.

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Details

Region: Egypt
Modern Location: Western Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Often identified with Wadi Gharandel, though the site is uncertain.

Strongest connections in Scripture

Exodus 15 Exodus 16 Numbers 33

Key Passages

Twelve Wells and Seventy Palms

Exodus 15:27

After the bitter water of Marah, God leads His people to an oasis with water and shade to spare.

A²⁷nd they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

From Elim to the Wilderness of Sin

Exodus 16:1

Israel leaves Elim on the fifteenth day of the second month and enters the wilderness of Sin.

A¹nd they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

Elim in the Wilderness Journey

Numbers 33:9-10

The journey record remembers Elim's twelve fountains and seventy palm trees.

A⁹nd they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.

¹⁰ And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.

Did You Know?

Exodus calls Elim's water sources 'twelve wells of water,' while the journey record in Numbers calls them 'twelve fountains of water.'

Elim was the second named camp after the Red Sea crossing, following Marah.

Israel moved on from Elim into the wilderness of Sin on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving Egypt.

Key Chapters

Exodus 15 The Song of Moses 4 min read Exodus 16 Manna and Quail 6 min read Numbers 33 Stages of Israel's Journey 6 min read