1. WHAT MOUNTAIN IS PROBABLY THE “MOUNT SINAI” MENTIONED IN EXODUS?
WHY IS THIS THE MOST PREFERRED?
Jebel Musa Mountain is the chosen Mount representing Mount Sinai and this is chosen and preferred by diverse scholars because of the magnificent presence of some granite development and arrangement of this massif or geographical formation which explains a block of the earth’s crust bounded by faults and shifted to form peaks of a mountain range.
Again the presence of the extensive plain at its base attests the premise that Jebel Musa is the same site for Mount Sinai.
2. TRACE THE ROUTE OF THE EXODUS AND GIVE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED AT A PARTICULAR PLACE.
After they beheld the overthrow of the Egyptians, they moved to the Desert of Shur. This journey from Jibel Musa to Shur was a forty mile journey; probably the Israelites embarked on this journey without stopping. A nine mile journey was made again till they reached a desert place called el Ati and it was there and then they approached the bitter waters of MARAH.
Waters of Marah: The Israelites were obviously tired and thirsty so there, they chided against Moses and God showed Moses what to do to quench the thirst of the Israelites. Marah was an oasis with bitter and undrinkable water three days journey from the Red Sea crossing into the Desert of Shur. (Exodus 15:22-25) Moses sweetened the water by throwing into it a piece of wood.
From the desert of Shur, they came to Elim which was situated between the deserts of Shur and the wilderness of sin.
ELIM: This was an oasis of 12 springs and seventy palm (Exodus 15:27). While no time lapse is defined, the way the Bible reads the most time lapsed was between Marah and Elim. We don’t know how long they camped at Elim but I’m betting they were traveling anywhere from 30 to 60 days to get there. Here, they encamped by the waters of Elim. This site has at least twelve rivers to satisfy the big crowd and their families.
The Desert of Sin: After leaving Egypt the Israelites left Elim to wander the Desert of Sin (Exodus 16: 1). The wilderness of sin lies between Elim and Sinai. During these wanderings God delivered manna and quail for their nourishment after they have greatly murmured against Moses and Aaron.
Rephidim: From the wilderness of Sin, they came to Rephidim where they started their chidings again against Moses because they were thirsty. No water here. Moses strikes a rock with his shepherd’s staff and water springs forth. Or, did that happen at Mt. Horeb (Mt Sinai)? (Exodus 17:5-7) But first, before Moses scouts ahead to find the water-rock, they must battle the Amalekites.
Defeating the Amalekites: The Amalekites saw a threat from this huge Israelite population. To quash the threat they assembled their armies and followed the Israelites to Rephidim. During the battle Moses held high his shepherd’s staff with help from Aaron and Hur ands this brought a great victory for them, but when his hands were heavy and he let down his arm, the Amalekites prevailed (Exodus 17:8-13)
Mt. Sinai: It took them three months, to the day from leaving Egypt, perhaps a ten-day journey from Rephidim, to arrive at the foot of Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 19:1-2)
bernard kuffuor