Page 31 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

the route of Abraham as he came from Ur to
Canaan as well as the traditional route of the Jews
from Egypt back to Canaan.

There has also been considerable scholarly debate
over precisely where the Israelites went after they
left Egypt. Overall, this debate is related to the
precise meaning of the Hebrew phrase yam suph,
which is often translated as “The Red Sea” (i.e.,
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the King James version). Some scholars have
argued that the phrase should be translated as
“Sea of Reeds.” These same scholars have claimed
the location of this Sea of Reeds was a lake that is
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now part of the Suez Canal system. Vos argues
against this view and for the traditional view that
the Sea should be understood as the Red Sea. His
reasoning for this is complex, but it is broadly
based on references to the Sea in the Old and
New Testament as well as archeological findings
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from this period. For the pastor, there is
probably little importance regarding which route
they took other than simply knowing where God
led the people during their wanderings. The
important point is that they followed God through
the Sinai Peninsula to the promised land. Knowing
the route is very important if one is looking for artifacts that show the historicity of the Old Testament.

Archaeological Evidence of Moses Crossing the Red Sea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=favI4Lwz5yw

For more information about the site of Mt Sinai in Saudi Arabia and where Israel crossed the Red Sea,
watch:
Finding the Mountains of Moses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjrxHqNy5CQ
The Real Mount Sinai Found in Saudi Arabia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24cLX3o56rk

The government, during the wilderness wandering

The Jewish people who took part in the exodus came from a totalitarian regime. They had operated
under an absolute ruler under the Pharaoh. The government transition for these newly freed people was
dynamic. In many ways, the government of the people of God during this period resembled “theocracy.”
A theocracy is a government by immediate divine guidance. The reason for saying this is that God

60 Voss, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs, 87.
61 Ibid.
62 Ibid.

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