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PARAN.—El Pârân, ‘the oak or terebinth (LXX [Note: Septuagint.] ) of Paran’ (Gen_14:6), is probably identical with Elath, the ancient seaport on the Gulf of Akabah. Perhaps in this region should be sought ‘Paran’ of Deu_33:2, Hab_3:3 (Driver, ‘Deut.’ [ICC [Note: CC International Critical Commentary.] ], 392). Palmer (Desert of the Exodus, p. 510) identifies it with Jebel Magrah, c [Note: circa, about.] . 29 miles S. of ‘Ain Kadîs. If Deu_2:8 refers to a place in Moab, no trace of it has yet been found. A city may be intended in 1Ki_11:13, lying between Edom and Egypt, which cannot now be identified. The exiled Ishmael settled in the ‘Wilderness of Paran,’ evidently S. of Beersheba (Gen_21:21). Israel’s first march from Sinai brought them to this wilderness (Num_10:12). Within it lay Taberah, Kibroth-hattaavah, Mazeroth, Kadesh, and what is called the ‘Wilderness of Zin.’ The spies went from the ‘Wilderness of Zin’ (Num_13:21), in which lay Kadesh (Num_20:1, Num_27:14, cf. Num_33:36), and this again is identified with the ‘Wilderness of Paran’ (Num_13:26). It corresponds to the great limestone plateau of et-Tîh, stretching from the S. of Judah to the mountains of Sinai, having the Arabah on the E. and the desert of Shur on the W. Hither David fled after Samuel’s death (1Sa_25:1. LXX [Note: Septuagint.] B here gives Maan = Heb. Ma‘ôn. See Smith, ‘Samuel’ [ICC [Note: CC International Critical Commentary.] ], 220 f.).
W. Ewing.