Wilderness of Sin and Wilderness of Zin

Two Wildernesses with the Same Name

The Old Testament refers to two wildernesses with different Hebrew names. The first is Sin (סִין), a place Israel passed through early in the Exodus. The second is Tsin (צִן), or Zin, the region around Kadesh that served as the setting for the later period of the wilderness wanderings.

In Korean Bible translations, the New Korean Revised Version renders both places with the same name, whereas the New Korean Standard Version distinguishes the second place with a different spelling (Jin gwangya). Because of the identical rendering, readers of the former sometimes mistakenly assume that the two events took place at a single location.

The First Wilderness of Sin: Where the Manna Fell

• Exodus 16: Israel set out from Elim and came to the Wilderness of Sin, which lies between Elim and Mount Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving Egypt. When the people complained that they had nothing to eat, God sent quail in the evening and manna every morning (Manna and Quail). With this provision came the command to gather a double portion on the sixth day and to rest on the seventh. The passage is often cited as an early instance in Scripture of the Sabbath ordinance being applied to daily life.
• Exodus 17:1: Israel departed from this wilderness and went to Rephidim.
• Numbers 33:11–12: The itinerary lists it as an encampment between the Red Sea and Dophkah.

The Second Wilderness: The Region of Kadesh

• Numbers 13:21: The twelve spies set out from here to search out the land of Canaan.
• Numbers 20:1–13: While the people were staying at Kadesh, Miriam died. When the people contended because there was no water, Moses was told to speak to the rock, but instead he struck the rock twice with his rod. Because of this, Moses and Aaron were told that they would not enter Canaan. The place was called Meribah, meaning "strife" (Numbers 27:14; Deuteronomy 32:51).
• Numbers 34:3–4; Joshua 15:1–3: The wilderness is presented as the southern border of the Promised Land and of the tribe of Judah.

Numbers 33:36 describes this wilderness as "the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh." For this reason it is understood to be nearly the same region as Kadesh-barnea. However, Numbers 13:26 also associates Kadesh with the Wilderness of Paran, so interpretations differ regarding the boundary between the two wildernesses. The location of the first wilderness depends on where Mount Sinai is placed, and there are likewise several theories concerning the location of Kadesh.

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

The events in these two wildernesses are representative scenes of Israel's complaining and God's provision during the forty years in the wilderness. Jesus took up the manna narrative and called himself "the bread of life" (John 6:35). Paul called the food in the wilderness and the water from the rock "spiritual meat" and "spiritual drink," and said that the rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:3–4). Hebrews 3 quotes Psalm 95 to warn against the disobedience of the wilderness generation.

Interpretation and Points of Debate

• Moses' offense: Numbers 20:12 gives the reason: "Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel." Interpreters differ on where to place the emphasis: on striking the rock contrary to the command, on displaying anger before the people, or on unbelief itself.
• Later traditions: Jewish tradition reportedly includes a story that, by Miriam's merit, a well of water followed Israel through the wilderness and ceased when she died. The text of Numbers simply records Miriam's death and the lack of water in succession, without stating a causal connection between them.
• The nature of the manna: Some scholars explain the manna in connection with natural phenomena, such as secretions from desert plants. Many church traditions, following the text, read it as God's miraculous provision.

In the Korean Church

In Korean Protestant preaching, the manna passage set in the first wilderness is commonly used in sermons on "daily bread," on grace given day by day, and on the meaning of rest. The Meribah incident in the second wilderness is frequently cited as a text cautioning leaders about obedience and anger.