THE ROUTE OF THE EXODUS

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A Paper Presented to Dr. Deron J. Biles Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary __________________

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Oldts 3313-I

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by Clinton Gray November 20, 2010

THE ROUTE OF THE EXODUS The Exodus narrative begins by recalling the life of Joseph and his brothers. The story shares the growth of their descendants which has produced a large nation. Four hundred and thirty years the people lived in Egypt and at the end of that time span they began their journey to the Promised Land. God leads his people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.1 This one scripture passage has sparked heated debate over the biblical route of the Exodus. Why would God have the Israelites go the long way around? Despite multiple theories, Gods word provides truth while brightly showing His authority and leadership. The writing that follows will provide information about the different views on the route of the Exodus and why Gods leadership is important in the Exodus route. Route Theories in Summary The first theory to be discussed is the Northern Route Theory. This theory advocates a route from the northern delta across land that separates the Mediterranean Sea and the Bitter Lakes. The biblical narratives certainly indicate that Israel left the Nile Delta region, traveled along the edge of the desert and crossed a body of water called the yum sup.2 This theory proposes that the body of water that was crossed was

Exodus 13:18. I Have used the NIV translation throughout this paper, unless otherwise noted. P. Enns, Exodus Route and Wilderness Itinerary, In Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker.
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2 the sea of reeds and not the Red Sea. The interpretation of the yum sup literally means reeds and is taken from the Egyptian word for papyrus.3 The northern route would put this sea of reeds at either Lake Mensaleh or Lake Sirbonis and would look to Mt. Gebel Halal, Gebel Yaallaq or Gebel Maghara as Mount Sinai.4 Several strengths for this view are the large oasis at Kadesh-banea and the identification of Migdol, Succoth and Baal Zephon in the northeastern sector of the Delta.5 Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon (Exodus 14:2). The major weakness that is apparent in this view is that God wanted his people to not take the northern route. The northern route, also called the way of the sea, would bring them into a possible battle with the Philistines. God wants to protect his people so He has them avoid this area completely.6 The Central Theory is the next possible route of the Exodus. This theory has two distinct facets. The first facet deals with the idea of Mt. Sinai being in northwestern Arabia. This idea allows for the Red Sea crossing to be at the top of the Gulf of Aqabah assuming that the Israelites turned south to Arabia. An Arabian site is proposed on the strength of two propositions. First, it is assumed that the theophany on Sinai requires an

(Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2003), 275.

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Ibid, 275. Tommy Brisco, Sinai Peninsula and the Exodus. SJT 20 (1977): 29. Ibid, 29.

Peter Enns, Exodus, The NIV Application Commentary, ed. Terry Muck (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000) 269.

3 active volcano on the basis of the description given in Exodus 19:16. Since Sinai has had no active volcanoes in historical memory, northwestern Arabia would be the nearest area displaying this phenomenon. Second, since the father-in-law of Moses, Jethro, is termed a Midianite, it is noted that the Midianite original home was in northwestern Arabia.7 Exodus 19:16 says: there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain but this does not indicate that Mt. Sinai was volcanic. This adds an area of weakness in this view making the argument volcano dependent. The second facet of the Central Theory deals with the Hebrews taking a southeast route out of the Nile Delta and has them headed toward the Bitter Lakes to an area on the Gulf Suez. The place where they crossed may have been near the location of the Bitter Lakes, now part of the Suez Canal. God used a strong east wind to dry up the sea.8 From here they move northeast and pass Mt. Gebel Sinn Bishr a possible Mt. Sinai location. This theory does not have as many holes in it but does pose a problem with Mt. Gebel Sinn Bishr as having no holy distinction. The final theory is the Southern Route Theory. This is the traditional view that is most widely supported. The route taken by the Israelites out of Egypt mirrors that taken by fleeing slaves in the Nineteenth Dynasty so as to avoid manned outposts. There is documentation for the stationing of royal horses and chariotry in the Nile Delta.9 This view is in direct correlation with Gods instruction and takes the Israelites out of

Brisco, SJT 30.

Henry Halley Hampton, Halleys Bible Handbook with the New International Version, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000) 143.
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Pamela Barmash, The Exodus of Egypt. JBL 122 (2003): 752.

4 immediate danger by taking them south on a route that was not militarily fortified by the Egyptian army. The people, so recently set free from their years of bondage were not physically or psychologically ready to fight an enemy and might have returned to Egypt.10 The southern theory has the Israelites staying close to the Gulf of Suez and heading down close to Elim and eventually on to Mt. Horeb. The Red Sea crossing in this theory would be at the northern tip of the Gulf of Suez and makes a possible Mt. Sinai location to be the nearby Mt. Gebel Musa. The southern route theory is probably the most biblically accurate of all the theories discussed and it is strongly supported by most Christian scholars. In order to give any of these theories concrete validity, we need to know the exact location of the Red Sea crossing and the precise location of Mount Sinai. This information is still a mystery even though it is commonly understood that Mount Sinai is located in the Sinai Peninsula.11 Modern Christianity may never see the answers to these theories but the lack of accurate information or the ability to validate existing sites does not take away from biblical truth. Our ignorance of the exact modern locations for places mentioned in Exodus does not in itself change either the message of the book or the confidence we may have in its historical reliability.12 Moses wrote the Exodus narrative to pass along to the next generations what God had done for His people. This

F.B. Huey, Jr., Exodus Bible Study Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Lamplighter Books, 1977) 62.
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Enns, 277.

Douglas K. Stuart, Exodus: The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2006), 24.

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5 story is a powerful reminder of how God is faithful in the lives of all who follow Him. God Leads the Way The departure of the Israelites from Egypt highlights the power of God and brings to light the love that He had for His people. In oppression, the children of Israel cried out to God for help and He answered those cries by sending Moses to lead them out of their bondage. Yahweh is passionate about His people and wants to lead them to the land that was promised to the descendants of Abraham. In Exodus 18, God leads his people by two pillars. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night. The Pillar of Cloud helps shield the Israelites from the sun and gives them clear direction during the daylight hours. This powerful symbol helps prove to them that God is both stable and visible. The Pillar of Fire protects the people at night as it gives them focus and light in the darkness. The fire points them in the right direction and shows the Israelites that God is available all the time.13 During this time, the people are not only a physical journey, but also on a spiritual journey. The spiritual journey mirrors the physical journey in that the Israelites must learn to fully trust and depend on Him. Gods way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way, yet we may be sure that he leads them the best way, and so it will appear when we come to our journeys end.14 Although, the Israelites were traveling in a country that they did not know, they had no reason to fear or that they would go astray in

Walter Brueggemann, The Book of Exodus, in vol. 1 of The New Interpreters Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck (Nashville: Abingdon, 1994), 789. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1997), 92.
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6 the desert.15 God indeed shepherds his people and guides them on their journey to Mt. Sinai. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake (Psalm 23:1-3). It is important to note, that when God leads his people on a journey, He will protect them from all pursuers. The Egyptians pursued them and all Pharaohs horses and chariots and horseman followed them into the sea. . . .Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea (Exodus 14:23,26). God led his people to the edge of the Red Sea and did not leave them there to be destroyed by the pursuing Egyptian army. From the darkness caused by the intercepting cloud, it is probable that they were not aware on what ground they were driving: they heard the sound of the fugitives before them, and they pushed on with the fury of the avengers of blood, without dreaming that they were on the bared bed of the sea.16 It is very evident that God destroyed the Egyptian pursuers and revealed to the unbelieving masses that Yahweh protected His people and delivered them from the hands of their enemies.

The Importance of the Exodus Journey The Exodus was an incredible event. God reveals himself to Moses and calls him

U. Cassuto, A Commentary on the Book of Exodus, trans. Israel Abrahams, (Jerusalem: The Magnes Press, The Hebrew University, 1987), 158. Rev. Robert Jamieson, et al., Commentary Practical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1962), 66-67.
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7 to deliver the Israelites out of captivity to the land of Canaan. In Jewish history, this is one of the greatest events that help shape an infant nation. The priority for God is to deliver His people from over 400 years of bondage and the priority for the Israelites is to yield to the leadership of God. What is significant about the Exodus journey is what is revealed about the character of God. God proves himself to be a great provider. In Exodus 15: 27, God leads the people to twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. God provided water to drink and refuge from the heat of the desert. This scripture is followed with complaining and grumbling of the Israelites because of the bitter water at Marah. This story reveals a second characteristic of God. He is patient. Even though, the people began to complain and grumble, God remained patient with them and provided sweet water that before was bitter. A third characteristic of God is that He is powerful. The narrative invites silence before this stunning reversal of the process of power. This outcome is no ordinary turn of affairs, to be explained by any human stratagem or by any natural phenomenon.17 God reveals his awesome power by the reality of the Red Sea miracle and by keeping the Egyptians at bay during the exodus flight. The exact route of the Exodus may never be revealed, but the important aspects of Gods leadership and character have been highlighted because of the Biblical Exodus.18

Walter Brueggemann, The Book of Exodus, in vol. 1 of The New Interpreters Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck (Nashville: Abingdon, 1994), 795.

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R. Larry Overstreet , Exegical and Contexual Facets of Israels Red Sea.

8 What the cross of Christ is to the Christian, the exodus was to the Israelite: yet we know neither the exact date nor the exact place of the crucifixion, any more than Israel knew the exact date or location of Sinai. The very existence of these problems in our minds only shows that we show we are scientificallyminded Westerners.19 Conclusion There are many different Exodus Route theories and possible locations of the Red Sea and Mt. Sinai. The importance of finding the exact route and location of these events however should not be our entire focus. The most important aspect concerning the Exodus route is that God reveals himself to the Israelites in incredible ways and provides His leadership to them for their journey. God placed His hedge of protection around them for their comfort and well-being. Gods characteristics find more prominence as the pillars of cloud and fire direct them along the way. So, which Route Theory is best? Which one holds the greatest merit? This author advocates that you allow God to point you in the right direction and allow His leadership to take control of your life and He will reveal himself to you. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).

MST 14, no. 1 (2003): 64.

R. Allen Cole, Exodus: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 16.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books Brueggemann, Walter, The Book of Exodus, in vol. 1 of The New Interpreters Bible, ed. Leander E. Keck (Nashville: Abingdon, 1994), 789. Cassuto, U., A Commentary on the Book of Exodus, trans. Israel Abrahams, (Jerusalem: The Magnes Press, The Hebrew University, 1987), 158. Cole, R. Allen, Exodus: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973), 16. Enns, P., Exodus Route and Wilderness Itinerary, In Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker. (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2003), 275. Enns, Peter, Exodus, The NIV Application Commentary, ed. Terry Muck (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000) 269. Halley, Henry Hampton, Halleys Bible Handbook with the New International Version, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000) 143. Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1997), 92. Huey,F.B. Jr., Exodus Bible Study Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Lamplighter Books, 1977) 62. Jamieson, Rev. Robert, Fausset, Rev. A. R., Brown, Rev. David., Commentary Practical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1962), 66-67. Stuart, Douglas K., Exodus: The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2006), 24.

10 Articles Barmash, Pamela, The Exodus of Egypt. JBL 122 (2003): 752. Brisco, Tommy, Sinai Peninsula and the Exodus. SJT 20 (1977): 29. Overstreet, R. Larry, Exegical and Contexual Facets of Israels Red Sea. MST 14, no. 1 (2003): 64.