Bible Dictionary
Zin
A wilderness region south of Judah, containing Kadesh and bordering Edom. Israel’s spies explored the land from this region, and Moses sinned there at the waters of Meribah.
Definition
Zin was a wilderness region south of Judah, adjoining Edom and including Kadesh. It was a succession of upland or terraced desert areas between the southern Dead Sea region, the Arabah, and the plateau of the Tih. It is distinct from the wilderness of Sin.
Biblical Usage
The spies explored the land northward from Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Israel’s history at Kadesh in this region included Moses’ offense at the waters of Meribah, which prevented him from entering the promised land.
Historical Background
The wilderness of Zin bordered Judah at the southernmost part of its territory. It is identified in the supplied material with uplands north and northwest of the wilderness of Paran, then occupied by the Azazimeh Arabs.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A low palm-tree, the south-eastern corner of the desert et-Tih, the wilderness of Paran, between the Gulf of Akabah and the head of the Wady Guraiyeh (Num. 13:21). To be distinguished from the wilderness of Sin (q.v.).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(flat), the name given to a portion of the desert tract between the Dead Sea, Ghor, and Arabah on the east, and the general plateau of the Tih which stretches westward. The country in question consists of two or three successive terraces of mountain converging to an acute single at the Dead Sea’s southern verge, toward which also they slope. Kadesh lay in it, and here also Idumea was conterminous with Judah; since Kadesh was a city in the border of Edom. [See Kadesh, Kadeshbarnea]. (Numbers 13:21; 20:1; 27:14; 33:36; 34:3; Joshua 15:1)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(1) A town in the extreme South of Judah, on the line separating that province from Edom, named between the ascent of Akrabbim and Kadesh-barnea (Nu 34:4; Jos 15:3). It must have lain somewhere between Wady el-Fiqra (the ascent of Akrabbim?) and `Ain Qadis (Kadesh-barnea); but the site has not been recovered.</p><p>(2) The Wilderness of Zin is the tract deriving its name from the town (Nu 34:3). It is identified with the wilderness of Kadesh in Nu 33:36; while in other places Kadesh is said to be in the wilderness of Zin (Nu 20:1; 27:14; De 32:51). We may take it that the two names refer to the same region. The spies, who set out from Kadesh-barnea, explored the land from the wilderness of Zin northward (Nu 13:21; compare 32:8). It bordered with Judah "at the uttermost part of the south" (Jos 15:1). In this wilderness Moses committed the offense which cost him his hope of entering the promised land (Nu 27:14; De 32:51). It is identical with the uplands lying to the North and Northwest of the wilderness of Paran, now occupied by the `Azazimeh Arabs.</p><p>W. Ewing</p>