Paran

PARAN, El-paran, or Pharan, a Desart of Arabia Petrea, to the South of the Land of Promise, and to the North-East of the Gulph Elanitis. Chedor-laomer and his Allies coming to make War with the Kings of Pentapolis, ravaged the Country as far as the Plains of Paran¹. Hagar being sent away from the House of Abraham, retired into the Wilderness of Paran, where she lived with her Son Ishmael². The Israelites having decamped from Sinai, came into the Desart of Paran³. ‘Twas from hence that Moses sent out Spies, to bring Intelligence concerning the Land of Promise; and consequently Numb. xiii. 3. Numb. xiii. 26.Kadesh is in the Wilderness of Paran, since it was from Kadesh these Men were sent. Moses seems Deut. xxxiii. 2.to place Mount Sinai in the Country of Paran when he says, that the Lord appeared to the Israelites upon the Mount of Paran. Habbakuk seems to say the same Hab. iii. 3.thing: Deus ab Austro veniet, & sanctus de monte Pharan. When David was persecuted by Saul, he withdrew into the Wilderness of Paran, near Maon and Carmel. Hadad Son of the King of Edom 1 Sam. xxv. 1, 2. 1 Kings xi. 18.was carried when a Child into Egypt. Those that conducted him came from the Eastern Parts of Idumea (or Edom) into the Country of Midian, from thence into the Country of Paran, and then into Egypt. The greatest Part of the Habitations of this Country were dug in the Rocks⁴, and ‘twas there that Simon of Gerasa gathered together all that he took from his Enemies.

Paran was a City of Arabia Petrea, situate at three Days Journey from the City of Elab or Ailat towards the East⁵. ‘Twas this City that gave Name to the Desart of Paran.

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