There is a wilderness outside of Egypt. There is insufficient information in the Book of Mormon to locate the wilderness in relation to any other places. Researchers locate it on the Sinai Peninsula.
Commentaries (
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I NEPHI 5:117 [17:32]: And after they had crossed the river Jordan, he did make them mighty, unto the driving out the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the land of promise and the river Jordan. The term 'they' refers to Moses and the people of Israel. The term 'land' refers to the land of promise. Moses and the people with him had been in the wilderness outside of Egypt, so the journey through the wilderness put Moses and his people on the opposite side of the river Jordan than the land of promise. This verse also illustrates the consistency of using the term 'cross' to indicate water.
I NEPHI 5:118 [17:33]: And now do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
Commentary: This verse references the place of the land of promise, river Jordan, and the wilderness outside Egypt. This verse names the land across the river Jordan from the wilderness outside Egypt as the land of promise.
I NEPHI 5:133 [17:41]: Wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of Egypt, and he did straighten them in the wilderness with his rod, for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straightened them because of their iniquity.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Egypt and the wilderness outside Egypt. The term 'he' refers to Moses. The term 'they' refers to the children of Israel. There is a wilderness somewhere outside the land of Egypt.
I NEPHI 5:137 [17:42]: Nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Egypt, the land of promise, and the wilderness outside Egypt. The term 'they' refers to the children of Israel. The term 'his' refers to Moses. The phrase 'into the land of promise' names the land of promise, that the land of promise is outside of Egypt, and also identifies that the route of travel to the land of promise is through the wilderness outside of Egypt.
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