Exodus 15:27

Elim. The next place of encampment has since ancient times been identified with the Wadi Gharandel, about 7 mi. south of ‘Ain Hawarah. This spot, with its plentiful supply of comparatively good water and its luxuriant groves of palms, tamarisks, acacias, and its tall grass, is even now one of the principal halting places between Suez and Sinai. The archeologist, Flinders Petrie, found a good supply of water in the valley both times he crossed it, first in December of 1904 and again in March of the following year, even though the winter had been very dry and rain had not fallen for several weeks (Researches in Sinai [1906], p. 12).

They encamped there. Since the Wadi Gharandel is joined by two comparatively more fertile valleys, the Wadi Useyt and the Wadi Tayibeh, it is possible that the Israelites used this opportunity for pasturing their cattle and resting them for several days before continuing on their journey. Mention is not made here of an encampment at Marah (see vs. 23-26), though it is so listed in Num. 33:8. The people probably halted at Marah no longer than necessary. Moses, who had traversed these regions before and knew every well and stream, probably assured the Israelites that they would find a fertile valley only a few miles beyond Marah.