In the second year after Israel’s departure from Egypt—on the twentieth day of the second month—the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant. So the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai and traveled on from place to place until the cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.
Numbers 10:11-12
They marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the LORD, with the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant moving ahead of them to show them where to stop and rest.
Numbers 10:33
You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth-hattaavah.
Deuteronomy 9:22
They left the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah. They left Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
Numbers 33:16-17
From what I have given you already you are very aware that there are a number of dissonant elements which have to be taken into account when it comes to determining the route of the Exodus journey.
- There are multiple routes given across the many Bible atlases.
- Many of the place names and their locations vary across those same atlases.
- There are some places which have been located in some strange places on the map which seems nonsensical.
- There are some decisions that have been made seemingly without good reason which leave us perplexed.
- There are some theories which appear as questionable given the facts which lie behind them.
- There are facts which seem to blow some theories out of the water.
- The order of the places on the route don’t seem to fit all the biblical references.
It is my intention therefore to look at the six prime theories which have been suggested and measure them against the evidence. I intend to investigate the major theories in conjunction with the known facts. I will seek to provide a map for each of the theories. I will also evaluate each theory against a common set of parameters. However, this is a very ambitious undertaking on my part as many before me have failed for various reasons. There have been a long list of experts and non-experts better than I, who have looked into these things and have only manage to cast dispersion on other theories without necessarily categorically proving their own theory. Finally, there are several experts who claim this is a futile exercise because “any attempt to map the Exodus route is doomed to failure”, especially where the locations of the places following Sinai are concerned. There is just too much conjecture involved. The two prime exponents of this thinking are no less than William Dever and K.A. Kitchen. I will introduce you to many people who have attempted this task before me and perhaps like Don Quixote could only be said to have been tilting at windmills. I will try to be as methodical as I can and finally give you the shortcomings and the best educated guesstimates as to where the biblical places actually were. I have told you about the new E-Sword place locator device, however having tested it I find it to be inadequate for the task.
I promise to conclude with a methodical summary of the facts and the theories and the discrepancies that arise in the hope that at the very least my efforts will give you the facts as they stand at present and what I perceive to be the problem areas. At the very least I trust what I do will lay all the evidence before you so that you can decide what you think about the theories surrounding the route of the Exodus and come to your own conclusions.
Here then is a summary of the six main theories and the parameters involved with each so we may be able to compare them. I will work on developing a map which combines all of these routes into one in order to contrast them when I have finished. Given the number of proponents for some of these theories, you can imagine there are variations within theories for those who agree on the basic route. To create this table I have only used the locations of Pi-Hahiroth and Baal Zephon and the crossing point between them along with the relative positioning to Sinai. As I have shown you already there are multiple locations for these places and to this mix we have to add other elements which further confuse the picture. I have not taken into account the E-Sword locations in these layout. I will deal with the new E-Sword Place Locator after I have talked with Rick Meyers about it.
| Route | Proponents | Pi-Hahiroth | Crossing Point | Sinai |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean Coast | O Eissfeldt M Noth H Cazelles Y Aharoni M Avi-Yonah | North Coast | Lake Sirbonis Sea of Reeds | Jebel Helal |
| Northern Shur | E Naville M F Unger K A Kitchen J Hoffmeier | North of Bitter Lakes | Bitter Lakes | Jebel Helal (?) |
| Central Sinai | J Simons C Condor U Cassuto John David | At Bitter Lakes | Bitter Lakes Gulf Suez | Mt Horeb |
| South Central Sinai (Traditional Route) | E Robinson E H Palmer Keil & Delitzsch James Murphy J McQuitty David Livingstone (ABR) | Northern Gulf of Suez | Ras el-Adabiya Birket Misallat or (No Crossing Point) | Mt Horeb |
| South Eastern Nuweiba Route | Lennart Möller Ron Wyatt | Gulf of Aqaba | Nuweiba | Gebel al-Lawz |
| South Eastern Tiran Straits Route | R Knuteson J Irwin B Cornuke L Williams Steve Rudd | Gulf of Aqaba | Straits of Tiran | Gebel al-Lawz |
I have divided the last two routes in terms of the crossing point at the Gulf of Aqaba. Others trying to make sense of all of this have combined the two South Eastern Routes together as one with sub-groupings; I chose to separate them. There are other people who have waded into this quagmire but it is hard to determine exactly where they align so I have not mentioned them as proponents of any particular theory. There are also those whose input on specific locations or features will be helpful but who have not developed a theory on a particular Exodus Route. I have left them out at this point but will mention them as I try to evaluate the various theories.
I will look at each of these theories one by one in following Nuggets and will try to give you maps indicating the locations in question or at least make mention of the questions behind the theories. I have concluded many proponents in the past have wisely perhaps not attempted to map the locations. Or if they have as indicated on some Bible atlases, there are a lot of multiple choices given with question marks. That is evidence of the fact that confusion reigns on many locations. That is why as I noted above that William Dever and K.A. Kitchen suggest any attempt to map these locations is doomed to failure. Hence my approach is to deal with the theories in general categories.
Please regard this as an ambitious work in progress. Ask whatever you like and make whatever comments you like. Such questions and comments may serve to steer me in helpful directions.
this is some exercise Ian (the route taken) that even the experts are unable to agree. Pleased to see that you have chosen to separate the two South Eastern Routes it will provide for better examination and analysis. ‘There is always more.’
How deep is the slope and the deepest point of the Tiran Straits. Can we also assume than the depth that is now at the Nuweiba crossing was was formed later on by Seismic event?
Hi Sharon, Yes that has been a suggestion made by one I know. That is less likely than longshore drift. But the major obstacles are the substantial gap in the middle and the rough nature of terrain for the elderly Israelites to negotiate. I, for one, am more interested to see what develops into the future with the Nuweiba site. It seems to me most likely that the two basins either side of Nuweiba bridge must contain some interesting evidence. But up until now the divers are banned from removing anything from the sea bed. Like David Rohl, I would change my mind on the most likely site if substantial evidence could be found there. That is the place most likely to turn up convincing proof.
Thank You very much Ian for your reply. I am also now in favor of the crossing point at the Nuweiba cost. This place make more sense to me when we consider the geographical description of the location from the Bible and not only that, the names of the places that were given in the Bible, matches with the place names which have been recently identified by the researchers across this location. Places like Elim, Midian, Mount Sinai and so on. I am praying to God to open an opportunity for me to go and visit these places to see it myself. Thank you & may God Bless your ministry.
Happy to help Sharon. I have other focii to follow up on in Nuggets in the future. But for now I am concentrating on preparing to begin the Gem series on Revelation. A number of readers have responded with surprise or awe at the thought that I am going to gem Revelation. Yes I am very aware that it will be a challenge. But I am convinced now is the time to do it.
Hi Ian,
I just wanted to add some info as I travelled to these sites on the Saudi side six months ago.
We also had bedouin guides who were somewhat in the know.
On the other side of the crossing it is barren, but it is side by sources that there was a column that the government took away.
Some miles south from there is an inlet gorge/canyon that cuts east towards the Mount Sinai/Horeb area.
It contains 12 springs, to this day, which seems very much like the Biblical account. Small water streams just running through this area. Amazing.
From there is not far to the split rock area and of course not far further to the Mount site.
Everywhere near these are vast amounts of etchings on the rocks, as well as a large sacrificial area at the base of the mountain, a cave near the summit, and area that is made for a sacrificial area (maybe the golden calf site) and then also an area that is considered a grave area with standing stones and many artifacts that include flint heads just lying around.
Also Al-Bad, which is said to where Jethro lived, and therefore Moses would have lived. It is not that many miles south of Mount Sinai.
Then there is close by an area that has seen to be used for casting and has various stone casts left lying around.
This is all pretty untouched for thousands of years (the bedouins seem to respect the entire area and also talk of the area in relation to Moses).
Now, though, the Saudi government is closing down these sites after just opening them up for the last few years. Who knows why.
They are also building their winter olympic site just within about a mile of Mount Sinai.
There is so much there, it is remarkable that we can witness it all. It all seems to match so obviously when it has been obscured for so long.
There is always a timing to the will of our Father in Heaven. So we find things, share things and these are revealed at the right time, including your work.
Even now, some Jews are planning to sacrifice a red heifer at Passover time. End times indeed.
Blessings to you in Yahshua’s name.
Thanks for the additional corroboration of what I have written about related to the findings in this area. Much appreciated Jason.