The
Red Sea Crossing
Where Did the Israelites Cross the Red
Sea?
The Exodus route of the Israelites
continues to be a topic of great interest and many debates.
It is not uncommon to see different routes shown in the maps
provided in various Bibles. For example, some have suggested
the Mediterranean Sea as the Red Sea crossing point, others
believe it was at various lakes in Egypt, and still others who
think the Red Sea was crossed as far south as the southern tip
of the Sinai Peninsula. The primary reason we see this diversity
is because the locations of most of the places mentioned in
the Bible along the route are still unresolved.
This study examines the Biblical
account to determine the most likely route the Israelites could
have taken. Scientific modeling techniques were utilized to
locate the best possible crossing point by modeling the population
size of the Israelites and distances they could travel from
camp to camp. The modeling utilized computer based Geographical
Information System (GIS) databases and incorporated the Bible
(primary information filter), historical data, digital maps
and terrain data combined with satellite imagery.
Journey Begins
Day 1
Day 2
Day3 -Red Sea Crossing
Day 4 - Marah
Day 5 - Seventy Palms
Day 1
Rameses is where the journey
begins. Interestingly, we know that most of the Hebrew slaves
would have lived in the land of Goshen. It is worth noting that
Rameses is also located in the land of Goshen:
Genesis 47:11 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren,
and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best
of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
Referring to the previous map,
it is about 25 miles from Rameses to Succoth. It would appear
to make better sense if Succoth was the assembly point for the
Israelites rather than Rameses. In order to have their personal
belongings, they would need to leave from their homes. Moses
and the elders of Israel would have been in the city of Rameses
during their negotiations for freedom. Journeying from their
homes in the land of Rameses, they are given items needed for
their journey (including gold and silver) by the Egyptians (Ex
12:35). It is interesting that the Egyptians gave them these
things because the Hebrews found favor with them (Ex 12:36).
They journey to Succoth with their belongings. This was the
first day's journey of the Exodus (see
next map).
Exodus 13:18 ...And the children of Israel went up in orderly
ranks out of the land of Egypt.
It is important to understand how many Israelites we are dealing
with and how far they could be expected to travel in 1 day.
The Bible tells us (Ex 12:37) there were about 600,000 able
bodied men on foot (this figure probably represents those from
age 20 to 40 who could be expected to fight in battle). It would
also be reasonable to assume there were an equal number of women
and some number of children as well. In addition, many of them
probably still had parents living. A reasonable and conservative
number for the entire Israelite population would be around 2
million people.
How far is a day's journey for the Israelites?
(See Orderly
Israelite Rank Models)
Day 2
Which way did they go?
The Wilderness Way - Exodus 13:17
(1) 17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people
go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines,
although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the
people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
18So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the
Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks
out of the land of Egypt.
When the Israelites departed Succoth, Exodus chapter 13 says
they didn't go the way of the Philistines (which would be the
most logical - coastal route), but instead went around by way
of the wilderness of the Red Sea. Therefore, a reasonable conclusion
is they went south (rather than north). When they assembled
into orderly ranks at Succoth, an assumption was made that they
planned to head east toward Canaan, for the general direction
of their departure. Also, there may have been an ancient canal
to the south of them from Succoth, which may have prevented
them from turning south at that point. Most important, we don't
see them taking commands from God regarding direction until
they depart Etham (the next leg of their journey).
The Edge of Wilderness - Exodus 13:20
20So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham
at the edge of the wilderness. 21And the LORD went before them
by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in
a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and
night. 22He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or
the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
For the second day's journey, they journeyed from Succoth to
Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness (Ex 13:20). It
was assumed that Etham was located east of Succoth (refer to
map) at
the beginning or edge of the wilderness as it says in Ex 13:20.
This distance is certainly obtainable in a day's journey.
Day 3 - The Red Sea
Crossing
Now we begin day 3 of the journey. On day 3 the Lord commands
Moses to turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth between Migdal
and the sea (Ex 14:2).
The locations of these places are unknown. In addition, we find
out in this passage that Baal Zephon is near by. Unfortunately,
its location is unknown as well. Then in Numbers
33:7 they are told to "turn back". (see
map) In attempting to follow the scriptures, a 120 - degree
maneuver is made in order to "turn back" (but not
back the other way as in a 180-degree turn). Following this
course, they head toward the western banks of the Great Bitter
Lake, which would put the sea on their left. This appears to
be the best fit for the information provided in the Bible. Great
Bitter Lake would then be the Red Sea crossing point. This journey
to the western banks of Bitter Lake is about 12 miles which
could be obtained in a day's journey from Etham. (Although Etham's
location is uncertain, the models indicate a range of 11 to
13 miles as being the most likely.)
Map of third
day's journey
There are many circumstances in life in which we cannot see
God's purpose. This is one of them. By obeying God's command
to turn back, reaching the Promised Land seems hopeless. However,
God is about to work one of His best known miracles in the Bible.
But, in order to work this great miracle for them, He must get
them into the right predicament. God hardened Pharaoh’s
heart (Ex 14:4)
so that he launches an all out attack on the Israelites. The
Israelites are cornered and there is no escape. If they try
to go further south they run into rough terrain. The Bitter
Lake is to their east and to their west is the Nile River. Although
only an assumption, Pharaoh’s army probably is approaching
from the north. He took six hundred choice chariots and also
all the chariots of Egypt (Ex
14:7). This would be his entire arsenal, those that were
ready for war and his reserves. Each chariot had a commander
(Ex 14:7). Pharaoh’s army overtook them while they were
camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth (Ex
14:9). The Israelites would be on the western banks of the
Great Bitter Lake, and this becomes the place of God's great
deliverance.
Into the midst of the sea on the dry ground
Exodus 14: 19-31
19And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel,
moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from
before them and stood behind them. 20So it came between the
camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a
cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to
the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that
night.
21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD
caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night,
and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.
22So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on
the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their
right hand and on their left. 23And the Egyptians pursued and
went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses,
his chariots, and his horsemen.
24Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked
down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire
and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. 25And
He took off[1] their chariot wheels, so that they drove them
with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from
the face of Israel, for the LORD fights for them against the
Egyptians."
26Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over
the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on
their chariots, and on their horsemen." 27And Moses stretched
out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the
sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing
into it. So the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of
the sea. 28Then the waters returned and covered the chariots,
the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the
sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. 29But the
children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the
sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand
and on their left.
30So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31Thus Israel
saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the
people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant
Moses.
The Red Sea Crossing
The Scriptures say (Ex 14:21) the Lord used a strong east wind
during the night to dry the seabed in order to permit travel.
The Israelites probably began their crossing in the morning
of the fourth day of their journey. Based upon the models used,
it would have taken them about 14 - 18 hours to complete the
crossing. The Egyptians wouldn't have begun their charge into
the seabed (as God permitted) until after the Israelites completed
their crossing (or at least far enough ahead of the Egyptians
that they would not have been a threat). This would probably
have placed the Egyptian charge just after dawn on day 5 (Ex
14:24). Scripture says they saw the bodies of dead Egyptians
washed up on the sea shore (Ex
14:30).
There has been much debate as whether the Israelites crossed
the Red Sea or the Reed Sea. For more information about this
see:
Was it the Sea of Reeds
or the Red Sea?
Day 4 - Marah
After crossing the sea they entered into the Wilderness of
Shur and began a three-day journey to a lake with bitter water
that is referred to as Marah.
Exodus 15:22-26 Bitter Waters Made Sweet
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went
out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in
the wilderness and found no water. 23Now when they came to Marah,
they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter.
Therefore the name of it was called Marah.[1] 24And the people
complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"
25So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree.
When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.
There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there
He tested them, 26and said, "If you diligently heed the
voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight,
give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will
put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the
Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."
Marah appears to be a lake or some body of water that is bitter
tasting. It is here that Moses is commanded to cast a tree into
the water and it becomes drinkable. It would be easy to assume
this to be Great Bitter Lake or Little Bitter Lake (as the names
imply). However, the Bible says it is three days journey from
where they emerged from crossing the sea. (refer
to imagery).
Day 5 - Seventy Palms
Exodus 15:27
27Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells
of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the
waters.
From Marah they journey to a place called Elim (1 day's journey).
This place appears to be an oasis in the desert having 70 palms
and 12 wells of water. The enhanced infrared satellite
imagery reveals an oasis location that is a day's journey
from Marah along the Red Sea route.
For further
reading see Finding Elim
Conclusion
The Passover, the
plagues upon Egypt, the Red Sea Crossing and other events in
Exodus rank among the greatest miracles performed in the Bible.
God makes it clear that His reasons for the plagues was to demonstrate
His wonders in the Land of Egypt (Ex
11:9).
Most of the locations mentioned in Exodus still remain unknown.
Even the location of Mount Sinai (which mountain) where the
Ten Commandments were received is still debated among Bible
Scholars today. Based on the assumptions that the locations
of Rameses and Succoth are correct, Great Bitter Lake seems
to be the most likely place that the miraculous parting of the
Red Sea occurred. This is also further reinforced by the ancient
legends that the Bitter Lakes were once connected to the Red
Sea. After crossing the sea on dry land, the Israelites went
3 days journey to Marah and then on to Elim (one day's journey).
They continued on toward Mount Sinai where God would provide
Moses and the Israelites the Ten Commandments.
