A location in the wilderness of Etham where the Israelites encamped shortly after crossing the Sea of Reeds on their way from Egypt to Canaan; here bitter water was made drinkable.
About Marah
A spring (a natural source of water coming up from the ground) where the water was too bitter to drink. Marah was the first place where the Israelites camped after they crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:23; Numbers 33:8–9). Today, many scholars believe Marah was located at a place now called 'Ain Hawarah. It is a pool of bitter water on the eastern coastal plain of the Gulf of Suez. It is about 70.8 kilometers (44 miles) southeast of Suez, and eight kilometers (five miles) northwest of 'Ain Gharandel. It is south of Wadi Amarah, a dry riverbed whose name might come from the ancient name Marah.
See also Wilderness Wanderings.
Key References
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.)
They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
All Scripture References (5)
Exodus (3)
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why it was named Marah.)
And Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log. And when he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened. There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them,
Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the waters.
Numbers (2)
They set out from Pi-hahiroth and crossed through the sea, into the wilderness, and they journeyed three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah.
They set out from Marah and came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.