SUR, or SHUR, (anc. geog.) a desert of Arabia Petraea, extending between Palestine and the Arabian Gulf; into which the Israelites, on their landing out of the Red Sea, first came, Exod. xv. 22. Again, Numb. xxxiii. 8. it is said, that from the sea they went three days journey into the Wilderness of Etham; whence some conclude that Etham and Shur are the same wilderness; or only differ as a part from the whole, Shur being the general name, and Etham that part of it lying nearest to Etham; thus contending, that the passage through the sea was straight forwards. Others, on the contrary, from the intent of the passage through the sea, namely, the drowning of the Egyptians, maintain, that they only took a circuit or compass in the sea, which as they entered into they also came out of, in the Wilderness of Etham. Now called Corondel, (Thevenot.)