Lexical Summary Elim: Elim Original Word: אֵילִם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Elim Plural of 'ayil; palm-trees; Elim, a place in the Desert -- Elim. see HEBREW 'ayil NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originpl. of ayil Definition "terebinths," a place in the desert NASB Translation Elim (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֵילִים], always אֵילִם proper name, of a location (= place of terebinths or other great trees, see Di Genesis 14:6 & Exodus 15:27 (12 fountains & 70 palms)) 2nd station of Israel in desert after passing sea Exodus 16:1 (twice in verse); Numbers 33:9,10; אֵי֫לִמָה Exodus 15:27; Numbers 33:9; probably = Wady Gharandel compare RobBR i. 100, 105. Topical Lexicon Geographic Setting and Physical Character Elim was an oasis in the north-western sector of the Sinai Peninsula, most plausibly identified with Wadi Gharandel, the first perennial water source east of the modern Suez Gulf. Scripture twice emphasizes its natural resources: “twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees” (Exodus 15:27; Numbers 33:9). The wording suggests not merely scattered palms but a verdant grove, large enough to shelter the entire company of Israelites after the arid trek from Marah. Placement in the Exodus Itinerary Elim follows Marah and precedes the Wilderness of Sin in the march from the Red Sea to Mount Sinai. Exodus 15:27–16:1 and Numbers 33:9–10 arrange the stages: • From the Red Sea crossing to Marah (bitter water) The pattern—bitter, sweet, wilderness—forms a theological backdrop for Israel’s schooling in dependence on the LORD. Elim stands as the refreshing interlude between two testing grounds. Symbolism of Twelve Springs and Seventy Palms Twelve and seventy echo representative numbers already familiar in Genesis. Twelve springs correspond to Israel’s twelve tribes, underscoring individual provision, while seventy palms evoke the seventy persons of Jacob’s family who entered Egypt (Genesis 46:27). Together they hint that the covenant people, grown into a nation, still enjoy God’s meticulous care for every tribe and, by extension, every household. Theological Insights 1. Divine Sufficiency after Discipline Israel’s experience at Marah proved that the LORD could make bitter water sweet; Elim shows He can provide abundance outright. Grace does not merely neutralize hardship; it overflows. 2. A Pattern of Rest Embedded in Pilgrimage The oasis appears just before the manna narrative (Exodus 16). Physical rest precedes spiritual instruction, underlining the biblical rhythm of relief before responsibility, mirrored later in the Sabbath principle. 3. Community over Individualism The whole congregation camps together (Exodus 15:27). The oasis is not privatized; it is a corporate blessing that reinforces unity before the covenant at Sinai. Ministry Lessons • Shepherding involves leading people to rest stops as well as through trials. Faith communities need Elim moments—retreats, seasons of replenishment—to survive Marah experiences. Later Biblical Echoes Though Elim itself is not mentioned outside the Pentateuch, its imagery informs later prophets who envision abundant water and flourishing palms in the coming restoration (Isaiah 35:1–2; Ezekiel 47:12). Revelation 7:17 blends similar motifs—springs of living water and palm branches—drawing the wilderness oasis into eschatological fulfillment. Historical and Archaeological Notes Wadi Gharandel lies about sixty miles southeast of Suez and contains a large spring feeding date palms and tamarisks, matching the biblical description. Early Christian pilgrims, including those guided by the fourth-century “Pilgrimage of Egeria,” identified the site as Elim. No conclusive inscriptions have surfaced, yet the physical geography corresponds better than any competing location, lending circumstantial support to the traditional route. Summary Elim is the divinely supplied oasis that turns the desert journey into a testimony of God’s lavish provision. Nestled between harsh tests, it embodies the promise that the LORD “leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:2). For believers, Elim foreshadows the greater refreshment found in Christ, the source of “living water” who sustains His pilgrim people until they reach the ultimate rest. Forms and Transliterations אֵילִ֑מָה אֵילִ֔מָה אֵילִ֖ם אילם אילמה וּ֠בְאֵילִם ובאילם מֵֽאֵילִ֔ם מֵאֵילִ֑ם מאילם ’ê·li·māh ’ê·lim ’êlim ’êlimāh eiLim eiLimah mê’êlim mê·’ê·lim meeiLim ū·ḇə·’ê·lim ūḇə’êlim UveeilimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 15:27 HEB: וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ אֵילִ֔מָה וְשָׁ֗ם שְׁתֵּ֥ים NAS: Then they came to Elim where KJV: And they came to Elim, where [were] twelve INT: came to Elim where both Exodus 16:1 Exodus 16:1 Numbers 33:9 Numbers 33:9 Numbers 33:10 6 Occurrences |
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