Zin

Zin was a wilderness region forming the southeastern boundary of the land of Canaan and adjoining the wilderness of Paran. It is first mentioned when the twelve spies sent from Kadesh-barnea traversed it (Num. 13:21); the southern border of the promised land ran through it (Num. 34:3–4). Kadesh (Kadesh-barnea) lay within the wilderness of Zin (Num. 27:14; 33:36).

The wilderness of Zin is to be distinguished from the wilderness of Sin (the Desert of Sinai, between Elim and Sinai, Ex. 16:1). Zin corresponds to the northeastern portion of the Sinai Peninsula, roughly the modern Desert of et-Tih east of the Gulf of Suez. It was in this region that Miriam died and was buried, and where the congregation quarreled with Moses over water at Meribah-kadesh (Num. 20:1–13), leading to the exclusion of Moses and Aaron from the promised land.