Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
SIN, WILDERNESS OF, a region between Elim and Rephidim. Ex 16:1; Ex 17:1; Num 33:11-12. Here the Israelites were first fed with manna and quails. The wilderness extends 25 miles along the east shore of the Red Sea, from Wady Taiyibeh to Wady Feiran; it is now called the plain of el-Markha. It is barren, but has a little vegetation, and when the rainfall was larger and the drainage from the mountain descended more gradually, instead of sweeping everything before it as now, it may have afforded fair pasturage. Travellers report seeing numerous quails upon this plain in modern times.