The Sinai Peninsula has always been Egyptian territory.
"For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'" Exodus 14:3
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When was Israel "out of Egypt"? Only when they crossed the Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran! The modern Sinai Peninsula has always been controlled by Egypt as far east as the Wadi el-Arish. |
Introduction:
1. Josephus said the Sinai Peninsula was Egyptian territory:
a. "The lot of Simeon (inside Judah), which was the second, included that part of Idumea [Edom] which bordered upon Egypt and Arabia." (Josephus, Antiquities 5.82)
2. The modern Sinai Peninsula has always been Egyptian territory and under Egypt’s control:
a. The Sinai Peninsula is called "The Wilderness of Egypt".
b. The Sinai Peninsula was not some “unclaimed” land like the center of the Atlantic Ocean.
c. The Sinai Peninsula was not “international land” like “intentional waters”.
d. The Sinai Peninsula was not some "desert ocean" no one controlled or claimed."
e. The Sinai was not a caravan crossroads and a no man's land".
f. The Sinai Peninsula was not some fuzzy waste land that nobody wanted or controlled.
g. Some mistakenly view the Sinai Peninsula as unclaimed, ungoverned land that no country controlled. If you ask them to name the country or King who controlled the Sinai at the time of the Exodus, they answer "I don't know" or "no one" or "it was a barren waste land nobody wanted" or "it was a caravan crossroads between nations".
3. See study of Timna. "Although there is sufficient evidence in Egyptian sources for Ramesside (1250 BC) military campaigns in the Negev, Edom and the Arabah, the Hathor Temple of Timna provides the first archaeological evidence for actual and lengthy Egyptian control of this area." (Timna, Beno Rothenberg, 1969 AD) .
4. Bitter lakes and Port of Suez crossing were controlled by Egypt and cannot be the Red Sea crossing point.
a. The Bitter Lake's were so close to Goshen (30 km) it was the Hebrew's fishing hole on their days off. A huge freshwater lake like the Bitter lake, would surely be controlled by Egypt on all sides. The shallow bitter lakes are the choice of Bible skeptics who attempt to explain the crossing of the Red Sea without any miracles.
b. The North Suez crossing is equally unlikely since the Hebrews would not waste any time rejoicing on the far side, they would keep running at full speed. After all they were only 10 km away from one of Egypt's largest shipping terminals and only 100 km from Goshen. You would not rejoice, you would run!
c. To the average Hebrew, freedom from Egypt only came when they crossed the Straits of Tiran and entered modern Saudi Arabia which was the only crossing point that provided geographic security from Pharaoh.
d. When you see how close the Bitter lakes and North Suez crossing are to populated Egypt and then consider the Egyptians controlled mines all the way to Timna which is north-east of Elat, it becomes impossible that Israel was out of Egypt's control after crossing at the Bitter lakes or port of Suez.
e. The crossing point of the Red Sea was the Straits of Tiran.
A. The Sinai Peninsula is the Wilderness of Egypt:
1. The Sinai Peninsula is called "The Wilderness of Egypt":
a. "I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt" Ezekiel 20:36
2. Two passage say they went through a wilderness before crossing the Red Sea:
a. "For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh" Judges 11:16
b. "Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt." Exodus 13:18
3. This wilderness of Egypt proves that Israel did not cross the Red Sea at the Bitter Lakes or the Port of Suez.
a. There is no wilderness area between Goshen and the Bitter Lakes or the Port of Suez because these were heavily travelled areas.
b. The major caravan route started at Goshen (Tel e;-Dab’a) and passed directly by the Bitter Lakes up the coastline.
c. Several Egyptian Migdol fortresses have been excavated near the Suez Canal east of Goshen.
d. The Port of Suez was a major commerce and military hub.
B. Bible descriptors of “in Egypt” vs. “out of Egypt”:
1. The land of Goshen was considered as being “in Egypt”:
a. "These are the journeys of the sons of Israel, by which they came out from the land of Egypt by their armies, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron." (Numbers 33:1)
b. "They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12:39–41)
c. “You shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ “And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt." (Exodus 13:8–9)
2. The land of Goshen is “outside” of land of Egypt:
a. "So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen." (Genesis 50:7–8)
b. "The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail." (Exodus 9:25–26)
3. The north end of the Gulf of Suez was “outside the territory of Egypt”
- "So the Lord shifted the wind to a very strong west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea [Gulf of Suez] not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt. " Exodus 10:19
4. One day after leaving Goshen during the exodus, Israel was “out of Egypt”
a. "Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” But Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us? “We must go a three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He commands us.” Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make supplication for me.” (Exodus 8:25–28)
b. "They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." (Exodus 12:39–41)
c. "‘You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent ordinance." (Exodus 12:17)
d. "And on that same day the Lord brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts." (Exodus 12:51)
e. "Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten." (Exodus 13:3)
f. "Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt." Exodus 13:18
g. "but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 16:6)
5. Three days from Goshen was “out of Egypt”
6. Israel was “in Egypt” before crossing the Red Sea:
a. "For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh" Judges 11:16
b. "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known." (Psalm 106:7–8)
c. “For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’" (Exodus 14:3)
d. “For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed." (Joshua 2:10)
e. "and he said to the sons of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’" (1 Samuel 10:18)
7. The Red Sea camp was “out of Egypt” the day before they crossed the Red Sea:
a. "Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:11–12)
b. "‘I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea." (Joshua 24:6)
8. Israel was “out of Egypt” after crossing the Red Sea:
a. "Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses." (Exodus 14:30–31)
b. "So Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians." (Exodus 18:10)
c. "Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods" (2 Kings 17:7)
B. Discussion of the meaning of the phrases, "land of Egypt" and "out of Egypt"
1. Phrase study: "out of Egypt"
- From a strictly language point of view, they were already out of Egypt while sleeping in Goshen before they left (Gen 50:7-8; Ex 9:25-26). They were already "out of Egypt" the first night they slept, 25 miles from Goshen. (Ex 12:51; 13:3; Deut 16:6) This of course, doesn't make any sense for those who press for the Bitter Lakes or the Gulf of Suez, since both of these areas are still clearly within Egypt in every sense. The Bitter Lakes are only 25 miles from Goshen and the Suez was only 60 miles. There was also a major Egyptian shipping port 5 miles from the proposed crossing point at the north tip of the Gulf of Suez. No one would rationally suggest that this was "out of Egypt". So it is clear, that from a civil point of view, they had "left Egypt", their civil residences, the moment they started walking. Understanding this, it is easy to understand this language while they stood on the shores of the Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran with the Egyptian army 1/4 mile away: "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?" Exodus 14:11. Ya! They sure were out of Egypt by the Red Sea... with the entire army of Egypt ready to kill them. Not until they crossed the Red Sea were they physically out of Egypt's reach.
- The most important moment they were free from Egyptian control is at the crossing of the Red sea. Arguing over Egyptian Territory in 1446 BC is irrelevant considering the fact that even at the Straits of Tiran at the Gulf of Aqaba was within striking distance for Pharaoh. Egypt had a migdol "military watchtower" permanently manned with lookouts at the three-way intersection of waterways at the Straits of Tiran. While Pharaoh's lookouts watched, Israel marched past "Midgol" to Etham, only to be boxed in and turn back again and camp right in front of the military watchtower (the migdol). Word was sent to Pharaoh by messenger pigeon that Israel was shut into the wilderness and they were trapped by the mountains and the sea. On day 25, pharaoh sent his army to their watery destruction while Israel escaped to the shores of the wilderness of Shur near Midian and on to Mt. Sinai 22 days later.
2. Phrase study: "land of Egypt"
- The term "land" designates the local town where they slept at night in their own houses: Gen 50:7-8 "So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father's household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. " ; Exodus 9:25-26 "The hail struck all that was in the field through all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no hail."
- "So the Lord shifted the wind to a very strong west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea [Gulf of Suez] not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt. " Exodus 10:19
- Quite often in the Bible the expression "land of" denotes local towns within the same country: The "land of Goshen" and "land of Egypt" are both within the Country of Egypt and under Pharaoh's control: Gen 50:7-8; Ex 9:25-26, Num 33:1. In these three verses "land of" denotes local "states or provinces" within the country of Egypt. Today we would say, "He left the land of Tennessee to live in the land of New York.
- In the same way we notice that the land of Goshen was a city suburb within the country of Egypt. The Hebrews and Egyptians were living in two distinct city areas yet both were called "lands". The Land (local district) of Goshen was within the Land (Country) of Egypt. But the term "land of Egypt" also denotes the local city suburbs where the Hebrews did not live, as opposed to the land of Goshen. So the terms here are used to designate local tribal type boundaries not distinct countries.
- This verse shows that three days in the wilderness was not within the land of Egypt. But even here "out of Egypt" means, away from the visual presence of the Egyptians when they do their sacrificing. "Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God within the land." But Moses said, "It is not right to do so, for we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone us? "We must go a three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He commands us." Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Make supplication for me." " Exodus 8:25-28
- At the shores of the Red Sea the people cried: "Then they said to Moses, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?" Exodus 14:11. This verse is used by some to say they were still in Egypt at the Red Sea. In fact the Psalmist clearly tells us that they were still in Egypt: "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known. " Psalm 106:7-8. Exodus 14:11 is simply saying that they had left the city where they lived in comfort and are in a desolate part of that same country. Just another example of the same phraseology that they left Egypt the moment they were outside the city limits of Goshen.
C. Wadi el-Arish is the border of Egypt:
1. Scripture says the wadi el-Arish was the border of Egypt:
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Text |
Northern border: Euphrates |
Southern border: Wadi el-Arish |
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Gen 15:18 |
as the great river, the river Euphrates |
from the river of Egypt |
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1 Ki 8:65 |
from the entrance of Hamath |
to the brook of Egypt |
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2 Ki 24:7 |
to the river Euphrates |
from the brook of Egypt |
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2 Chr 7:8 |
from the entrance of Hamath |
to the brook of Egypt |
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Isa 27:12 |
from the flowing stream of the Euphrates |
to the brook of Egypt |
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2 Chr 9:26 |
from the Euphrates River |
as far as the border of Egypt |
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1 King 4:21 |
from the River |
to the border of Egypt |
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Jer 2:18 |
to drink the waters of the Euphrates |
to drink the waters of the Shihor? |
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Ex 23:31 |
to the River Euphrates |
from the wilderness |
2. Ancient literary sources confirm border of Egypt is at the Wadi el-Arish, the River of Egypt in Gen 15:18
a. 670 BC: Esarhaddon’s 10th campaign says the Brook of Egypt had no water! (ANET 292, Esarhaddon)
b. 250 BC: The Septuagint (LXX): substitutes "the brook of Egypt" in Isa 27:12 for Rhinocorura,
c. 150 BC: Polybius: Rhinocorura is the border of Egypt (Polybius, Histories 5:80)
d. 100 BC: Judith 1:9: River of Egypt is not the Pelusiac branch of the Nile
e. AD 110: Josephus: Simeon borders Egypt (Sinai Peninsula) and Arabia (Petra); Rhinocurura is in Egypt
f. AD 325: The Onomasticon by Eusebius
g. AD 400: Jerome: Raphia is near the border of Egypt (Jerome, commentary on Daniel 11:10-14)
h. AD 542: Madaba Map: States in Greek that Egyptian border is between Raphia and Rhinocorura
3. Details: Brook of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) is the border between Israel and Egypt.
Conclusion:
- The Sinai Peninsula has been under the military control of Egypt from the time of Abraham 2000 BC, until the Exodus in 1446 BC right down to the time Rome annexed it in 106 AD.
- The phrase, "out of Egypt" is used both at the city limits of Goshen and at the shores of the Red Sea, yet both were within the military control of Egypt. The “land of Egypt” is distinguished from the “land of Goshen”, yet both are inside of Egypt proper.
- The Bible clearly says that Israel was still in Egypt when they rebelled on the shores of the Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran. "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known. " Psalm 106:7-8
- Since the Sinai Peninsula is "in Egypt", only a crossing at the Straits of Tiran would truly complete the exodus from Egypt. The Red Sea crossing at the Bitter lakes or the North end of the Gulf of Suez is only 100 km from the throne of the Pharaoh and Israel would not feel safe after crossing.
- A Mt. Sinai located at Mt. Musa where St. Catherine's Monastery was built in 527 AD, becomes equally impossible. Mt. Sinai is in north Saudi Arabia at Mt. Lawz.
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
