THE EXODUS ROUTE AND RED SEA

CROSSING POINT

Exodus 13:17-18

Introduction• The actual route of the exodus is unknown• We only know with certainty 3 of nearly 50 places between Egypt and

Jordan• Rameses (Goshen)• Ezion-Geber (modern Elat)• Mt. Nebo

• Of the wildernesses mentioned we only know for certain the Wilderness of Shur was in Midian

• We are not told for certain where the Red Sea crossing point was• By looking at the geography of the region we can figure out the best

possible route and crossing point• The possible route and crossing point must be

• Scriptural• Possible• Logical

• Most of this information is based on research by Steve Rudd

Scriptural Considerations

• Southern route not eastern – Ex. 13:17-18• The Red Sea is the Gulf of Aqaba – Ex. 23:31; Num

21:4; Deut 2:1; Judges 11:16; 1 Kings 9:26• The Gulf of Suez is referenced only once: Ex 10:19

• Water deep enough to create a wall of water (Ex. 14:21-22) and drown Pharoah’s army (Ex. 14:28)• Crossing far enough away from Goshen to justify

bitter complaint in the wilderness – Ex. 14:11-12• Minimum 3 day journey – Ex. 5:3

• Crossing point guaranteed security from Egypt• They sang and rejoiced in their deliverance and freedom

Order Of Travel• Rameses, Goshen • Wilderness• Succoth • Etham• Camp by the sea• Other points referenced• Pi-hahiroth• Migdol• Baal-zephon

• Red Sea

Rameses (Goshen)

• The exodus starting point – Ex. 12:33• Archeology has confirmed location at modern

day Tel el Dab’a (Avaris)• Pelusiac branch of Nile flowed past the site

giving access to the Mediterranean• The town lay on the land route to Canaan, the

famous Horus Road

The Wilderness of Egypt• “As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the

wilderness of the land of Egypt” - Ezekiel 20:36• Notice these two passage that say they went

through a wilderness before crossing the Red Sea: "For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh" Judges 11:16; "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• The wilderness is the Sinai Peninsula

Succoth• "Then the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses and camped in

Succoth." Numbers 33:5• Unknown location• In Hebrew, Succoth means: "block, stop the approach, shut off,

cover" (TWOT, 1492)• Since most of the exodus names were given by the Israelites as

they traveled, this name obviously refers to a place that would "block, stop the approach, shut off" easy access by the Egyptian army.

• The 200 mile coastal plain on the east side of the Gulf of Suez is flat and wide except for the 10 mile section of medium difficulty, hilly terrain. Israel camped on the southern side of these low mountains on the coastal plain that continues to the crossing point. The Hebrews would feel protected from the Egyptians when they stopped here because the difficult terrain to the north would slow down the army.

Below is the purposed location of Succoth on the southern edge of the mountain range on the coastal flat: By Steve Rudd

Below is the coastal plain south of Succoth at modern Al Tur:

Etham

• “Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness” – Ex. 13:20• Pharaoh said: "They are wandering aimlessly in the

land; the wilderness has shut them in." Ex 14:3• Unknown location• The mountains that trapped Israel are 300 meters

high. These mountains "shut them in" and are the end of the 200 mile coastal plain, "on the edge of the wilderness" (Ex 13:20).

Other Points Referenced

• "They journeyed from Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which faces Baal-zephon, and they camped before Migdol." Numbers 33:7• "Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp

before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea." Exodus 14:2• Points of reference to find the camp• Unknown locations

Pi-hahiroth

• The word "Pi-Hahiroth" means "mouth of water". The present day geography shows a "mouth like looking" isthmus at the intersection between the two Gulfs, just south of the Straits of Tiran.

Baal-zephon

• Baal-zephon is located at Mt. Tiran on Tiran Island, Saudi Arabia.• "Baal-zephon" means literally: "lord of the north". (Baal =

lord + zephon = north.)• "The god Baal-zephon is mentioned in Ugaritic, Egyptian,

and Phoenician writings as a sea and storm god." (Tyndale Bible dictionary)• Baal-zephon would have been a clearly visible marker across

the Red Sea. • The language of the Bible makes it clear that it was on the

opposite shore of the Red Sea: "camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it". (Ex 14:2)

Migdol at the Straits of Tiran

• The word "Migdol" in Hebrew means "watchtower".• It refers to one of many Egyptian military lookout posts

scattered across Egypt.• The existence of the Egyptian migdol's is confirmed by

archeology.• The elevation of the Migdol at the Straits of Tiran is 500 meters. • Three way intersection of the Red Sea, gulf of Suez and gulf of

Aqaba was one of the most important• From the vantage point on the ridge of mountains near the sea,

you could get a view for 30 miles each way. It was of huge military and defensive importance.

Red Sea Crossing at the Straits of Tiran

• The Gulf of Aqaba is a very deep channel of water ranging from 800-1800 meters in the middle. However at the Straits of Tiran, there is a natural land bridge so the deepest point the Israelites would encounter is only 205 meters.

• The crossing at the Straits of Tiran is 11 miles long and a natural land bridge provides for an 800 meters wide pathway the full distance of the crossing.

• The slope of descent is far more important than the depth. The Straits of Tiran, as we see them today pose absolutely no problem for a crossing by 2 million people since the slope is shallow and the depth is no more than 600 feet. (205 meters).

Problems with Other Routes & Crossing Points

Bitter Lakes Crossing

Bitter Lakes Crossing

• Too shallow for wall of water• No wilderness before the crossing• Too close to Goshen• The army would not have passed through the

sea but just go around on land

Port of Suez Crossing

Port of Suez Crossing

• Too close to Goshen• Too close to a major Egyptian sea port• Army would go around• No need to rejoice because they are still in

Egypt

Conclusion

• The southern route along the east coast of the Gulf of Suez

• The crossing point at the Straits of Tiran• Scriptural, possible, and logical• Does this really matter?• What matters is the power of God, his

miracles, and his providential care• Invitation