Elparan

Elparan is a southern wilderness landmark named in the account of Chedorlaomer's campaign in the days of Abram. The name combines the divine element El with Paran, the wilderness south of Canaan, and marks the turn-point of the eastern coalition's march.

At the Edge of the Wilderness

The narrative of the four kings traces their advance down the line of Edom and identifies the people they smote along the way. The trail reaches its furthest extent at this site: "and the Horites in their mountain, Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness" (Ge 14:6). Elparan stands at the southern boundary of the campaign — the point at which Chedorlaomer and his allies, having struck the Horites in the mountain country of Seir, halted at the verge of open desert before turning back to engage the cities of the plain.