Exodus 16:1

They took their journey. From Elim, perhaps in the Wadi Gharandel, where the Israelites probably spent several days, or possibly even weeks, the journey was resumed. According to Num. 33:10, where a more complete itinerary is presented than in Exodus, the next halting place was the Red Sea. This seems to have been in the wide plain el-Markka, which borders on the Red Sea and lies on the regular route to the Egyptian copper mines at Wadi Magara.

The wilderness of Sin. Various opinions exist in regard to the location of the Sin desert. Some commentators have suggested that the name was given to this region because of multitudes of thorny bushes, whose name in Heb., seneh, is similar. Others think that this name, as well as that of Sinai itself, was derived from the name of the moon-god, Sin, who was worshiped on the Sinai Peninsula. The desert of Sin has been variously identified with (1) the dry, barren coastal plain of el-Qaa, north of the present port city of Tor, (2) the copper mine valley Wadi Magara, (3) the plain Debbet er-Ramleh, north of Jebel Musa in the heart of the Sinai Peninsula, and (4) the oasis Feiran. The two last-named localities deserve less consideration than the first two since they are rather far south.

The second month. Israel had been on their way exactly one month (see ch. 12:2, 6, 11, 12; Num. 33:3). Since only seven camping places (Num. 33:5-11) and one journey of three days through a wilderness (Ex. 15:22) are mentioned, it is evident that there must have been prolonged stays at various places, or many campsites that are not mentioned, or both.