Place Old Testament
Punon
Punon was one of the places where the Israelites camped during their wilderness wanderings, located between Zalmonah and Oboth. Mentioned in 2 verses across 1 book, first at Numbers 33:42.
Why it matters. A stopping place for the Israelites in the wilderness
- Primary passages
- Location
- 31.497, 35.783 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Punon
Punon was a stopping place for the Israelites during their wilderness journey, mentioned only in the list of encampments in Numbers 33. The Israelites arrived at Punon after departing from Zalmonah and before moving on to Oboth (Num. 33:42-43). The exact location of Punon is uncertain, but it is believed to have been situated in the region of Edom, east of the Jordan River. According to the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus and early Christian scholars Eusebius and Jerome, Punon was identified with Phaeno (or Phinon), a site known for its copper mines and located between the ancient cities of Petra and Zoar. However, this identification remains speculative due to the lack of conclusive archaeological evidence. The biblical record does not provide any details about the events that occurred during the Israelites' stay at Punon, but its inclusion in the itinerary highlights the numerous stages and challenges the Israelites faced during their 40-year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 2 verses across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.