The Red Sea Crossing Based upon “The Exodus Revealed ” A video production by Discovery Media Productions available through Jews for Jesus, and distributed by RPI/Campus Crusade for Christ Also distributed by Questar, Inc. And other information from And other information from and and

The Red Sea Crossing Where did Moses and the children of Israel cross the Red Sea? Was it a shallow crossing? Was it really a “Reed Sea”? Is there any clear indication in Scripture where this took place? Let’s examine the background of the story.

Forty years before the Exodus, when Moses left Egypt, he fled to Midian.  When  When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. Exodus 2:15

The Red Sea Crossing In Midian, Moses eventually encountered God on Mt. Sinai, also called “Horeb, the mountain of God.”  Now  Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Exodus 3:1

The Red Sea Crossing That's where God tells Moses He wants him to free His people. God told Moses to bring the Israelites back to worship Him on this mountain.  Exodus  Exodus 3:12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

The Red Sea Crossing That mountain, called Horeb, is Mt. Sinai. It is in Arabia.  "After  "After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. …He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us. Acts 7:30, 38

The Red Sea Crossing The traditional mountain called Sinai was so named by a group of Catholic monks who had been run out of Egypt proper in the 3rd century AD. They traveled into the wilderness of what is now called the Sinai Peninsula to the base of this mountain. It reminded them of where Moses encountered God. So, they called it Mt. Sinai.

However, the whole Sinai Peninsula was then, and is now, Egypt. It was where Egypt had its copper and turquoise mines. There was a large military presence there as well. The Sinai Peninsula would not not have been a good place for Moses to hide.

The Red Sea Crossing The real Mt. Sinai could not possibly be in the Sinai Peninsula because Moses was tending the flock of Jethro in Midian when God spoke to him there (Mt. Sinai). We know where Midian is today. It's the same place as it was then: Western Arabia.

Sinai and Horeb are the same mountain. PaulPaul describes Mt. Sinai as being in Arabia.  Now  Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. Galatians 4:25 Josephus describes Mt. Sinai as the highest of mountains near the city of Madian. The Greek geographer Ptolemy identified Madian as being in the Arabian Peninsula. Near the modern city of Al Baad.

The Red Sea Crossing So, now we have determined the children of Israel headed to Arabia, not to what we call the Sinai Peninsula.

They left Rameses.  The  The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. Exodus 12:37 Israelites left Rameses and camped at Succoth. They left Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert. Numbers 33:5&6

The Red Sea Crossing Rameses, in the Exodus account, is a location, not a person. It means “Door of two roads.” In this case, it means you take either the road to Canaan, or the road across the wilderness to Arabia.

God took them across the desert.  When  When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." Egypt." Exodus 13:17

The Red Sea Crossing There were two to three million people And livestock And wagons And personal belongings And treasures they got from the Egyptians when they left. (Exodus 11:2-3)

And yet, they traveled rapidly…  With  With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves. Exodus 12:39  Seven  Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. Exodus 13:6

The Red Sea Crossing Scriptures indicate they traveled 7 days, 24 hours a day:  And  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. Ex13:21 (ESV) And, there is reason to believe God assisted their flight.  “You  “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. …” Exodus 19:4

The Red Sea Crossing Then God set a trap for Pharaoh.  Then  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea.” Exodus 14:1-2 God wanted Pharaoh to think the children of Israel were lost in the wilderness so He took them off the normal road to Arabia.

The Red Sea Crossing God wanted to punish Pharaoh. God wanted to glorify His name.  “…But  “…But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So the Israelites did this. Exodus 14:4b

The Red Sea Crossing Pharaoh will think the people are hemmed in.  “Pharaoh  “Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’” desert.’” Exodus 14:3

The Red Sea Crossing So, the Red Sea Crossing site has to be Aplace where Pharaoh would think the Children of Israel were lost in the wilderness. Aplace where the Children of Israel were hemmed in by the sea. Aplace that could trap 2-3 million people. Aplace a minimum of 7 days travel from the starting point. Aplace where the crossing would be opposite a known site of worshippers of Baal (not an Egyptian god). Aplace where Pharaoh and his entire army could be drowned.

Let’s look at the map for a moment and try to get some bearings.

If you’ve got a Bible with maps, names like Pi Hahiroth, Baal-Zaphon, and Etham have question marks following them. And yet God tells us where Etham and Pi Hahiroth are, but we have to do a little work to identify them. Baal-Zaphon’s location is known today. If you’ve got a Bible with maps, names like Pi Hahiroth, Baal-Zaphon, and Etham have question marks following them. And yet God tells us where Etham and Pi Hahiroth are, but we have to do a little work to identify them. Baal-Zaphon’s location is known today. ? ? ?

The Red Sea Crossing Let’s see… Where is Pi Hahiroth? Where could two million people with accessories camp where they would be hemmed in? Before they crossed the Red Sea? And where Pharaoh would think they were lost? Let’s see… Where is Pi Hahiroth? Where could two million people with accessories camp where they would be hemmed in? Before they crossed the Red Sea? And where Pharaoh would think they were lost?

The Red Sea Crossing Well, that told us a bit about where it probably wasn’t. Let’s try something else… There also has to be a body of water nearby large enough to drown the entire Egyptian army. Well, that told us a bit about where it probably wasn’t. Let’s try something else… There also has to be a body of water nearby large enough to drown the entire Egyptian army. ? ? ?

The Red Sea Crossing It had to be at least seven days journey from Rameses (Goshen, the Delta). Which is more likely a seven day trip? — Especially considering 24x7 travel and God’s help? It had to be at least seven days journey from Rameses (Goshen, the Delta). Which is more likely a seven day trip? — Especially considering 24x7 travel and God’s help? ? ?

The Red Sea Crossing The Bible tells us… They camped at Succoth, and they camped at Etham. (Numbers 33:5-6) The starting point and the ending point before something significant happened. It tells us Etham is on the edge of the desert. (Numbers 33:6) Since they started on the Western edge of the desert, why would we think Etham is there? The Bible tells us… They camped at Succoth, and they camped at Etham. (Numbers 33:5-6) The starting point and the ending point before something significant happened. It tells us Etham is on the edge of the desert. (Numbers 33:6) Since they started on the Western edge of the desert, why would we think Etham is there?

The Red Sea Crossing The Bible also tells us… Pi Hahiroth faces, or is opposite, Baal-Zephon. (Numbers 33:7) Note: Some versions incorrectly say “to the east of” Baal-Zaphon. We know where ruins called Baal-Zephon are today. The Bible also tells us… Pi Hahiroth faces, or is opposite, Baal-Zephon. (Numbers 33:7) Note: Some versions incorrectly say “to the east of” Baal-Zaphon. We know where ruins called Baal-Zephon are today.

The Red Sea Crossing So, if Baal-Zaphon is here, let’s work backward… They encamped opposite Baal-Zaphon between Migdol and the sea. They turned back from the normal route to go toward Pi Hahiroth They camped at Etham. They camped at Succoth. So, if Baal-Zaphon is here, let’s work backward… They encamped opposite Baal-Zaphon between Migdol and the sea. They turned back from the normal route to go toward Pi Hahiroth They camped at Etham. They camped at Succoth.

The Red Sea Crossing Is there anything significant about this spot directly across from Baal-Zaphon? Yes! Incredibly significant! It’s called the Nuweiba Peninsula. A huge sandy beach. It currently is the site of two resort towns with many hotels. Let’s take a closer look… Is there anything significant about this spot directly across from Baal-Zaphon? Yes! Incredibly significant! It’s called the Nuweiba Peninsula. A huge sandy beach. It currently is the site of two resort towns with many hotels. Let’s take a closer look…

The Red Sea Crossing The children of Israel would have taken the path of Wadi Watir. This is ahigh walled canyon, 18 miles long that opens out at Nuweiba against the Red Sea.

Here’s an aerial shot of Wadi Watir.

The Red Sea Crossing The Wadi Watir…

The Red Sea Crossing Opening out into Nuweiba Peninsula

The Red Sea Crossing Remember, this is still Egypt! There is even an ancient Egyptian fortress at the north end of the Nuweiba Peninsula; an clear indication that this land was still considered Egypt.

Two to three million people, all hemmed in with no place to go.

The Gulf of Aqaba is about 11 miles wide at this point. “But the Gulf of Aqaba is very deep, almost 5000 feet for most of its length.” “Even if there were no water, crossing it would be extremely difficult.” Yes, that’s true, but at just this point in the gulf…

There is an underwater land bridge with a floor of around 200 feet.

It consists of sand so fine, once water is removed, it dries quickly, and is easy to walk upon.

Whether the sand was there before God divided the water, or whether God built it up as part of the same miraculous work, we do not know.

In any case, I think 11 miles wide and 200 feet deep is enough to drown Pharaoh and his army, don’t you?

Are any artifacts found there? Yes! In virtually every place in the world, coral grows in shapeless masses. However, at Nuweiba, coral grows in angles and curves…

Why is coral growing in this unlikely shape? Could it be an axle and spokes of a wheel?

The Red Sea Crossing Here’s a demonstration of oddly shaped coral with the possible original shapes sketched in.

Now here’s something really amazing. On the Arabian side of the Gulf of Aqaba near Baal-Zaphon, there appears to be a gold chariot wheel! Coral does not grow on gold.

The Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea just as God’s Word says. Pharaoh and his army drowned in the Red Sea just as God’s Word says. Here we have a physical location that is consistent with the testimony of God’s Word. The Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea just as God’s Word says. Pharaoh and his army drowned in the Red Sea just as God’s Word says. Here we have a physical location that is consistent with the testimony of God’s Word.

The Red Sea Crossing You see, the Bible is real history. “...let God be found true, though every man be found a liar...” Romans 3:4 “Thy word is true from the beginning…” Psalm 119:160a