KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

Supports, one of the stations of the Israelites, situated in the Wady Feiran, near its junction with the Wady esh-Sheikh. Here no water could be found for the people to drink, and in their impatience they were ready to stone Moses, as if he were the cause of their distress. At the command of God Moses smote "the rock in Horeb," and a copious stream flowed forth, enough for all the people. After this the Amalekites attacked the Israelites while they were here encamped, but they were utterly defeated (Exodus 17:1, 8-16). They were the "first of the nations" to make war against Israel (Numbers 24:20).

Leaving Rephidim, the Israelites advanced into the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 19:1, 2; Numbers 33:14, 15), marching probably through the two passes of the Wady Solaf and the Wady esh-Sheikh, which converge at the entrance to the plain er-Rahah, the "desert of Sinai," which is two miles long and about half a mile broad. (See SINAI; MERIBAH.)

beds; places of rest

A camping place of Israel in the forty years of wandering.
Exodus 17:1; Exodus 17:8; Exodus 19:2; Numbers 33:14-15

(Exodus 17:1,8; 19:2) The name means rests or stays , i.e. resting places. The place lies in the march of the Isr'lites from Egypt to Sinai. Its site is not certain, but it is perhaps Wady Feiran , a rather broad valley about 25 miles from Jebel Musa (Mount Sinai). Others place it in Wady es Sheikh , an eastern continuation of Feiran, and about 12 miles from Sinai. Here the Isr'lites fought their first battle and gained their first victory after leaving Egypt, the Amalekites having attacked them; here also the people murmured from thirst, and Moses brought water for them out of the rock. From this murmuring the place was called "Massah" and "Meribah."