Desert of Paran

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"Paran" redirects here. For the town in southern Israel, see Paran, Israel.

The Desert of Paran or Wilderness of Paran (Hebrew מדבר פארן Midbar Par'an), is quite likely the place where the Israelites spent part of their 40 years of wandering. King David spent some time in the wilderness of Paran after Samuel died (I Samuel, 25:1). It is also the place where Abraham's wife Hagar and his first son Ishmael were taken (Genesis 21) and it features in the opening lines of the Book of Deuteronomy.

Although the exact location of the desert is unknown many contend that the Desert of Paran is in reference to the Negev Desert based on various biblical sources. Modern day maps show Paran as being the desert directly north of the Gulf of Aqaba.

"These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan--that is, in the Arabah--opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. (From the NIV Bible, Deuteronomy 1:1)"

"Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. (From the NIV Bible, Numbers 10:12)"

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http://www.baseinstitute.org/features/mtsinai.htm In Encyclopedia Biblica it is clearly stated (undre the heading 'Paran') that Paran is Arabia and quite fascinatingly in the same reference Eusebius and Jerome are quoted to have said that Paran is in Arabia southward where the Saracens (arbs) are.