Location Of The Biblical Mount Sinai

[meanderer1]

SCIENTIST PUTS MOUNT SINAI IN SAUDI
Monday 14 April 2003 08:43am


A British scientist is making two claims about Jewish history this that could surely spark furious discussion.

Colin Humphreys of Cambridge University has concluded science backs traditional beliefs that the Israelites' exodus from Egypt was led by Moses as the Bible and the Haggadah ritual tell it.

But he says that Mount Sinai, where scripture says Moses received God's Law, is located in Saudi Arabia, not Egypt's Sinai Peninsula - moving a key site for Judaism into the nation where Islam was founded.

Humphreys' theories come at a time when his close, literal reading of the Book of Exodus is far out of fashion among Conservative and Reform Jews, though it may be welcomed by Orthodox Jews and conservative Christians.

He details his ideas in a new book, The Miracles of Exodus: A Scientist's Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories (HarperSanFrancisco).

The 61-year-old academic brings a solid intellectual reputation in his own fields of physics and materials science to the table, though admittedly amateur status in archaeology and Bible scholarship.

Humphreys doesn't feel his lack of expertise is a problem: He believes it gives him an open mind. "I am not preconditioned to accept standard interpretations," he says.

Other scholars have proposed that Sinai was in Arabia.

But Humphreys' claim is distinct because he reckons the holy mount must have been an active volcano, since it shook and emitted fire and smoke (Exodus 19:18). And he has carefully examined records ancient and modern to fix the site.

His candidate: Present-day Mount Bedr in north-western Saudi Arabia, since there were no ancient volcanoes in what was later named the Sinai Peninsula. Humphreys also thinks that near Mount Bedr, Moses experienced God's call at the "burning bush". He suggests the mysterious phenomenon was caused by flammable natural gas or volcanic gas escaping from a small vent in the ground.

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd 2003, All Rights Reserved.

 

[Mythopoeika]

Humphreys also thinks that near Mount Bedr, Moses experienced God's call at the "burning bush". He suggests the mysterious phenomenon was caused by flammable natural gas or volcanic gas escaping from a small vent in the ground.

...and perhaps the visions were hallucinations brought on by breathing in the noxious fumes?

 

[maximus otter]

Bible archaeologists ‘find Mount Sinai where God handed Moses the Ten Commandments’ as they reveal four bombshell clues​

Archaeologists have claimed to have located the holy mountain where the Bible says God gave Moses two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

They believe features and archaeological remains on the site in Saudi Arabia directly line up with the passage in the holy tome, some of which are fenced off as protected areas by the Saudi theocratic regime.

Ryan Mauro, who is a Middle East expert, told the Sun: "One of the main reasons certain scholars claim that the Exodus is a myth is because little to no evidence for what the Bible records has been found at the traditional Mount Sinai in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

"But what if these scholar s have actually been looking in the wrong spot?Move over into the Arabian peninsula and you find incredibly compelling evidence matching the Biblical account."

The real holy site, he says, is in the northwestern province of Saudi Arabia and there is strong evidence to prove this.

The researchers then went on to identify Jabal Maqla, a peak within the Jabal al-Lawz mountain range, as Mount Sinai. The Bible said God descended on Mount Sinai as a fire. And they claim the mountain, with its clearly blackened peaks, suggests this is the site.

Jabal Maqla

In the Book of Exodus Moses holds out his walking stick and God parts the waters and they manage to flee. The story goes that the water then came rushing back in and crushed the pursuing troops. The foundation believes Nuweiba Beach is the most likely crossing point because studies have found land paths below the water. They argue this evidence found by Swedish scientist Dr Lennart Moller reveals the remnants of the fleeing army.

It is claimed they found what they believe were the shapes of chariots which were encased in coral, although the metal and wood was long since dissolved.

Across the Red Sea, there is said to be evidence that is allegedly a possible match for the Biblical campsite Elim, noted to have 12 wells and 70 palm trees with a dozen of the water sources remaining today.

On the path to the suspected Mount Sinai is a towering split rock sitting upon a large hill. The rock and hill beneath show signs of massive amounts of water erosion — yet this is in an area that receives very little rainfall.

Mr Mauro said: “We believe this distinct landmark could be the rock that God commanded Moses to strike which water then gushed forth from, miraculously providing for the Israelite population."

https://www.the-sun.com/news/3774807/bible-archaeologists-mount-sinai-god-moses-commandments-2/

maximus otter

 

[maximus otter]

Bible archaeologists ‘find Mount Sinai where God handed Moses the Ten Commandments’ as they reveal four bombshell clues​

Archaeologists have claimed to have located the holy mountain where the Bible says God gave Moses two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

They believe features and archaeological remains on the site in Saudi Arabia directly line up with the passage in the holy tome, some of which are fenced off as protected areas by the Saudi theocratic regime.

Ryan Mauro, who is a Middle East expert, told the Sun: "One of the main reasons certain scholars claim that the Exodus is a myth is because little to no evidence for what the Bible records has been found at the traditional Mount Sinai in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

"But what if these scholar s have actually been looking in the wrong spot?Move over into the Arabian peninsula and you find incredibly compelling evidence matching the Biblical account."

The real holy site, he says, is in the northwestern province of Saudi Arabia and there is strong evidence to prove this.

The researchers then went on to identify Jabal Maqla, a peak within the Jabal al-Lawz mountain range, as Mount Sinai. The Bible said God descended on Mount Sinai as a fire. And they claim the mountain, with its clearly blackened peaks, suggests this is the site.

Jabal Maqla

In the Book of Exodus Moses holds out his walking stick and God parts the waters and they manage to flee. The story goes that the water then came rushing back in and crushed the pursuing troops. The foundation believes Nuweiba Beach is the most likely crossing point because studies have found land paths below the water. They argue this evidence found by Swedish scientist Dr Lennart Moller reveals the remnants of the fleeing army.

It is claimed they found what they believe were the shapes of chariots which were encased in coral, although the metal and wood was long since dissolved.

Across the Red Sea, there is said to be evidence that is allegedly a possible match for the Biblical campsite Elim, noted to have 12 wells and 70 palm trees with a dozen of the water sources remaining today.

On the path to the suspected Mount Sinai is a towering split rock sitting upon a large hill. The rock and hill beneath show signs of massive amounts of water erosion — yet this is in an area that receives very little rainfall.

Mr Mauro said: “We believe this distinct landmark could be the rock that God commanded Moses to strike which water then gushed forth from, miraculously providing for the Israelite population."

https://www.the-sun.com/news/3774807/bible-archaeologists-mount-sinai-god-moses-commandments-2/

maximus otter

 

[blessmycottonsocks]

Bible archaeologists ‘find Mount Sinai where God handed Moses the Ten Commandments’ as they reveal four bombshell clues​

Archaeologists have claimed to have located the holy mountain where the Bible says God gave Moses two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.

They believe features and archaeological remains on the site in Saudi Arabia directly line up with the passage in the holy tome, some of which are fenced off as protected areas by the Saudi theocratic regime.

Ryan Mauro, who is a Middle East expert, told the Sun: "One of the main reasons certain scholars claim that the Exodus is a myth is because little to no evidence for what the Bible records has been found at the traditional Mount Sinai in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

"But what if these scholar s have actually been looking in the wrong spot?Move over into the Arabian peninsula and you find incredibly compelling evidence matching the Biblical account."

The real holy site, he says, is in the northwestern province of Saudi Arabia and there is strong evidence to prove this.

The researchers then went on to identify Jabal Maqla, a peak within the Jabal al-Lawz mountain range, as Mount Sinai. The Bible said God descended on Mount Sinai as a fire. And they claim the mountain, with its clearly blackened peaks, suggests this is the site.

Jabal Maqla

In the Book of Exodus Moses holds out his walking stick and God parts the waters and they manage to flee. The story goes that the water then came rushing back in and crushed the pursuing troops. The foundation believes Nuweiba Beach is the most likely crossing point because studies have found land paths below the water. They argue this evidence found by Swedish scientist Dr Lennart Moller reveals the remnants of the fleeing army.

It is claimed they found what they believe were the shapes of chariots which were encased in coral, although the metal and wood was long since dissolved.

Across the Red Sea, there is said to be evidence that is allegedly a possible match for the Biblical campsite Elim, noted to have 12 wells and 70 palm trees with a dozen of the water sources remaining today.

On the path to the suspected Mount Sinai is a towering split rock sitting upon a large hill. The rock and hill beneath show signs of massive amounts of water erosion — yet this is in an area that receives very little rainfall.

Mr Mauro said: “We believe this distinct landmark could be the rock that God commanded Moses to strike which water then gushed forth from, miraculously providing for the Israelite population."

https://www.the-sun.com/news/3774807/bible-archaeologists-mount-sinai-god-moses-commandments-2/

maximus otter

You have to put up with a lot of ads to watch the video, but it was interesting.

This coral-encrusted shape could, conceivably, be the remains of wheels and an axle on their side. I'm not sure what else could cause coral to grow in that unnatural shape. Would be pretty well impossible to date though.

 

[Nosmo King]

You have to put up with a lot of ads to watch the video, but it was interesting.

This coral-encrusted shape could, conceivably, be the remains of wheels and an axle on their side. I'm not sure what else could cause coral to grow in that unnatural shape. Would be pretty well impossible to date though.

View attachment 45969

I agree it does look like it could be a set of wheels and axle, I'm not sure coral would grow quickly enough to encase the structure before it disintegrated though, coral grows very slowly, but it can form weird and wonderful shapes.

 

[EnolaGaia]

I agree it does look like it could be a set of wheels and axle, I'm not sure coral would grow quickly enough to encase the structure before it disintegrated though, coral grows very slowly, but it can form weird and wonderful shapes.

Agreed ... Such formations are common with 'table coral' species within the genus Acropora. Long-lived table corals exhibit that same horizontal development atop a more or less vertical 'stalk' structure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acropora

 

[Lb8535]

So this makes how many times someone has "found" Mt Sinai? Can't help thinking that it relates to the 21st century tourist economy.

The information is provided by The Doubting Thomas Foundation. The foundation does not reveal it's leadership on its website - this is very unusual. The Ryan Mauro quoted appears to be some kind of leader there and is the (it says, not "a") security analyst supporting the Clarion Project. The Clarion Project purports to identify and provide information on extremist activity world-wide but the data it provides appears (because I may not have access to all of it) restricted to islamic extremists (it doesn't like them). The Clarion project is funded by Sheldon Adelson and a donor-advised fund restricted to libertarian projects. And the DT Foundation is now selling tours of this new site.

Always follow the money.

 

[Victory]

No slight on @maximus otter but That Sun article is not "news".

The site in Saudi Arabia has been known about for some time, it is just presented in a way that The Sun tries to claim it as their story.

The location of Mount Sinai has been debated by Jewish scholars for centuries.

My reading points towards the Saudi site as more likely than the Sinai site, based on the route that the Exodus took as described in the book of Exodus.

There are also the pillars found by Ron Wyatt over 20 years ago, one on the Eastern shore of Nuweiba in Egypt, one of the Western shore of Saudi Arabia.
These are said to have been built by King Solomon to commemorate the crossing of the Red Sea with the route leading Moses through modern Saudi Arabia, though we do not know if the pillars are definitely from King Solomon.

 

[maximus otter]

Is That a Burning Bush? Is This Mt. Sinai? Solstice Bolsters a Claim​

One day last week, hundreds of Israeli adventurers headed deep into the wilderness to reach Mount Karkom, determined to get closer to answering a question as intriguing as it is controversial: Is this the Mount Sinai of the Bible, where God is believed to have communicated with Moses?

Mount Sinai’s location has long been disputed by scholars both religious and academic, and there are a dozen more traditional contenders, most of them in the mountainous expanses of the Sinai Peninsula across the border in Egypt.

But Mount Karkom’s claim has gained some popular support because of an annual natural phenomenon that an intrepid group of archaeology and nature enthusiasts had come to witness for themselves.

In 2003,a local Israeli guide and ecologist happened to be atop Karkom’s vast plateau one day in late December around the time of the winter solstice, when he came upon a marvel.

At midday, with the sun low in the sky on one of the shortest days of the year, he peered across a deep ravine and spotted a strange aura of light, flickering like flames, emanating from a spot on a sheer rock face.

It was sunlight reflected at a particular angle off the sides of a cave, but the discovery soon made its way to Israeli television and was fancifully named “the burning bush.” Perhaps this, some said, was the supernatural fire that, according to the Book of Exodus, Moses saw on the holy mountain when God first spoke to him, and where he would later receive the Ten Commandments as he led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Updated to add this YouTube video, showing the (rather unimpressive, IMHO) phenomenon. FF to about 5:20 for the TL, DR:

https://dnyuz.com/2021/12/31/is-that-a-burning-bush-is-this-mt-sinai-solstice-bolsters-a-claim/

maximus otter

 

[CarlosTheDJ]

I've been to the Egyptian Mount Sinai (and adjacent monastery) and there was a feeling of 'importance' about the place, similar to how I felt at the pyramids at Giza.

I'm an old cynical pragmatist and I still felt...something.

Probably just the weight of history. But still.

 

[Lb8535]

I've been to the Egyptian Mount Sinai (and adjacent monastery) and there was a feeling of 'importance' about the place, similar to how I felt at the pyramids at Giza.

I'm an old cynical pragmatist and I still felt...something.

Probably just the weight of history. But still.

The countryside in that area lends itself to that feeling. I remember thinking how much closer the night sky looked than it did back home. The same is true of the four corners area in the SW. Must have something to do with the area generating stronger mythologies than other places.