Elim Aelim
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
— name of the seventh camp of the Israelites after leaving Egypt, near the Red Sea, between Marah and the wilderness of Sin. The word Elim means “terebinths,” or “palm trees,” and we know that the Israelites found here 70 date palms and 12 springs of water (Exod. 15:27; 16:1; Num. 33:9, 10). There is an opinion that Elim is the present-day Wadi Gharandel. The guidebook known under the name of Antoninus the Martyr (A.D. 570) testifies that at that time Elim was called Surandela, a name resembling that of Gharandel.
In the opinion of others, Elim is to be sought at Wadi Useit, not far from Gharandel. Still others suppose that both Useit and Gharandel are meant by this name. At Wadi Gharandel palm trees and shrubs still grow to this day, and there is a permanent spring and stream of clear water, which serves almost the whole surrounding area. This circumstance, together with the situation of the place, is sufficient evidence in favor of the view that the Elim of the Pentateuch was located in this locality.