Zered (Hastings' Dictionary)
The torrent- valley {Tinhat) of Zered is named in the itinerary of Israel's journey- ings, Nu 21'= (15 Zaper, A Zdpe, Luc. ZipcB), immedi- ately prior to their crossing of the Amon, and in Dt i" as the point that marked the close of the 38 years' wanderings. It is probably either the Sail Sdidch (Kiiolici), the principal conlhient of the Anion frnm tin' S K. i liurcklianit Sijru'ii. (i:'>:i), or tlie ll'((//y Ktriik ((m-s.. Uitz., Kcil. Dillm., ti. A. Smith, liubl).
The objection to the Wady el-A/isd (Wetzstein in Del. Genesis*, 567 f.; Tristram, Land of Mnah, 49 f.) is that this wady must have formed tlie S. boundary of Moab on the side of Edom, whereas lye-abarim, the station before the cross- ing of the'Zered, is shown by Nu 21" to have been in the wilderness to the E. of Moab (see Driver, Deut. 38).
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Zered
Zered ze'-red (zeredh; Codex Vaticanus Zaret; Codex Alexandrinus Zare; the King James Version, Zared (Nu 21:12)): This is the nachal or "torrent valley" given as the place where Israel encamped before they reached the Arnon (Nu 21:12). In De 2:13 f, the crossing of the brook Zered marks the end of the 38 years' desert wanderings. It has often been identified with Wady el-`Achsa, which runs up from the southeastern corner of the Dead Sea. A fatal objection to this is that the host had entered the wilderness to the East of Moab before they crossed the Zered (Nu 21:11), while Wady el-`Achsa must have formed the southern boundary of Moab. We may conclude with certainty that one of the confluents of Wady Kerak is intended, but which, it is impossible now to say. ⇒See a list of verses on ZERED in the Bible. W. Ewing ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.
Smith's Bible Dictionary on Zered
(osier brook), (2:13,14) or Za’red, (Numbers 21:12) a brook or valley running into the Dead Sea near its southeast corner, which Dr. Robinson with some probability suggests as identical with the Wady el-Ahsy . It lay between Moab and Edom and is the limit of the proper term of the Israelites’ wandering. (2:14)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia