Why Mount Horeb is not in Saudi Arabia and why the crossing of the Sea of Reeds did not occur at the Gulf of Aqabah

Abstract

Resumen: In recent years, this author has been repeatedly asked by his readers about the equation of Mount Horeb with Mount Jebel al-Lawz (in North Arabia) and about the crossing of the Red Sea at Nuweibeh, which has been advocated above all in popular scientific circles. He has therefore decided to discuss here, why he does not share this view. Undoubtedly, the topic requires a more extensive discussion. On the other hand, the discussion offers further evidence for the working hypothesis advocated by this author and his co-author Uwe Zerbst1, since it shows that the traditional arguments for the localization of Horeb in Sinai and of Yam Suph on the eastern border of the Egyptian Nile Delta are clearly compatible with the postulated early date of Exodus and Conquest (also shared by J. Bimson and D. Rohl2), even if this has been queried by proponents of the late date, such as James Hoffmeier and Kenneth Kitchen.