Sinai

Also called: Wilderness of Sinai, Sinai Peninsula

First named: Exodus 16:1

Wilderness Sinai Wilderness Exodus/Wilderness

Traditional identification: The traditional location in the southern Sinai Peninsula (near modern Jebel Musa) is the most widely held identification, but several other sites in the peninsula and even in northwest Arabia have been proposed; Scripture itself gives no coordinates.

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The wilderness region Israel reached about three months after leaving Egypt, where they camped for roughly a year at the foot of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-2; Numbers 10:11-12). It was here that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law, established the covenant with Israel as a nation, and gave detailed instructions for the tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrificial system (Exodus 19-40; Leviticus). Aaron's golden calf, Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized fire, and the tabernacle's construction and dedication all take place here — making Sinai the setting for most of Exodus's second half and all of Leviticus.

References: Exodus 16:1; Exodus 19; Numbers 10:11-12

People connected to Sinai

Aaron (M) — consecrated Israel's first high priest here, and made the golden calf
Exodus 28:1; Exodus 32:2-4
Abihu (M) — an ordained priest here, struck down for offering unauthorized fire
Leviticus 10:1-2
Hoglah (F) — a daughter of Zelophehad, numbered among Israel here
Numbers 26:33
Ithamar (M) — Aaron's youngest son, ordained priest here, who oversaw the Levites' work
Exodus 38:21
Jethro (M) — came to Moses here and advised appointing capable men as judges over Israel
Exodus 18:5; Exodus 18:13-24
Joshua (M) — Moses's aide, who guarded the tent of meeting here and went partway up the mountain
Exodus 24:13; Exodus 33:11
Korah (M) — a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron here and was swallowed by the earth
Numbers 16:1-33
Mahlah (F) — a daughter of Zelophehad, numbered among Israel here
Numbers 26:33
Milcah (F) — a daughter of Zelophehad, numbered among Israel here
Numbers 26:33
Moses (M) — received the Law and the covenant from God here
Exodus 19:20; Exodus 24:12
Nadab (M) — an ordained priest here, struck down for offering unauthorized fire
Leviticus 10:1-2
Noah (F) — a daughter of Zelophehad, numbered among Israel here
Numbers 26:33
Shelumiel (M) — leader of the tribe of Simeon, who helped Moses number the people here
Numbers 1:6
Tirzah (F) — a daughter of Zelophehad, numbered among Israel here
Numbers 26:33
Zipporah (F) — Moses's wife, brought to him here by her father Jethro
Exodus 18:2-5

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