Makhtesh Ramon in the Wilderness of Zin

Mitzpe Ramon is situated on a cliff overlooking Makhtesh (Crater) Ramon. According to Alon, the crater is…

“about 30 km [18.64 miles] long, up to 8 km [5 miles] wide and some 400 m [1,312 ft.] deep. Its outer rim reaches about 1,000 m [3,280 ft.] above sea level. The crater floor has been hollowed down to its earliest geological strata” (Israel National Parks & Nature Reserves, 420).

Ibex enjoy the view at Mitzpe Ramon in the Wilderness of Zin. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Makhtesh Ramon is located within the region known as the wilderness (Hebrew midbar, desert) of Zin. The children of Israel lived in this region during the period we commonly call the wilderness wandering. From here the spies were sent to spy out the promised land.

So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. (Numbers 13:21 ESV)