The locations of Dophkah and Alush are unknown. These places are only mentioned here in the Bible.

And encamped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink: Compare Exo 17.1. The exact location of Rephidim is unknown, but it was probably near Mount Sinai (see Exo 19.2). It was probably a wilderness oasis where water was usually found, but for some reason the Israelites could not get water there. Instead of the people, Good News Translation says simply “them” for naturalness.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .