New Findings For Moses Parting The Waters Of The Sea Of Reeds

 Nadene Goldfoot

The question of some is about Moses parting the waters.  Could that have happened? Some scientists and researchers propose that the biblical description of the water parting could be a natural phenomenon known as wind setdown. 

 Wind setdown is a meteorological phenomenon where sustained, strong winds push surface water away from the upwind shore of a shallow body of water. This temporarily lowers the water level, exposing dry land on the upwind side while piling water up on the downwind shore. 

 Scholars and historians often debate the exact geographical body of water meant by the original Hebrew term in the Book of Exodus, Yam Suph.  The Red Sea vs. The Reed Sea: While traditionally translated as the "Red Sea" (such as the Gulf of Suez or the Gulf of Aqaba), Yam Suph literally translates to "Sea of Reeds". This implies a shallower body of water, possibly a system of lakes, marshes, or coastal lagoons in northern Egypt, which would be more responsive to the wind phenomena described in scientific models.  And talking about wind;  Our hurricanes today:Strongest by Wind Speed: ⁠Hurricane Patricia reached peak sustained winds of 215 mph (345 km/h) in the Eastern Pacific on October 23, 2015.  The Atlantic basin records are held by both ⁠Hurricane Allen (1980) and ⁠Hurricane Melissa (2025), both of which peaked at 190 mph (305 km/h).  Hurricane Patricia made landfall  in Mexico, and its damage was mainly limited to sparsely populated agricultural areas as a result of flooding and winds. Agricultural and infrastructure damage was estimated at over $300 million. Violent winds tore roofs from structures and stripped coastal areas of their vegetation.  Research by meteorologist Carl Drews at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) demonstrated that a strong, sustained east wind (blowing at 63 mph for 12 hours) could push a large volume of water back into a lagoon or river branch.

The Mechanics: This shift in fluid dynamics could expose a land bridge or mud flat for several hours, allowing people to cross. When the wind stopped, the water would rush back. Drews' computer simulations align with the physical requirements for a crossing but point to shallow marshlands or lakes in the Nile Delta region rather than the deep, open ocean. The Nile River empties into the Mediterranean Sea, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Moses was 80 years old when he was told to go back to Egypt and free his people, the Israelites, from today's pharaoh, a different man of his youth. Moses had killed an Egyptian taskmaster who was violently beating a Hebrew slave. Seeing no one around, Moses struck the guard, killed him, and hid the body in the sand. You can read the full text of this biblical event in Exodus 2:11-15.He was probably around 40 years old then.  The very next day, Moses tried to stop two Hebrew men from fighting. When he questioned the aggressor, the man snapped back, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you going to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Realizing his crime had been discovered, Moses panicked. Pharaoh learned of the murder and tried to have him killed, forcing Moses to flee for his life. Moses escaped to the land of Midian, where he settled down as a shepherd for forty years before God called him back to Egypt through the burning bush.

                              The Land Of Goshen

Israelites had settled in the Nile Delta with Joseph leading them to the pharaoh and the land from Judah.  In the Bible, the Land of Goshen was the fertile region in the eastern Nile Delta of Egypt where the Israelites were given permission to settle. It served as a place of safety and growth, but later became the site of their enslavement before the Exodus.  While "Avaris" is never mentioned explicitly by name in the biblical text, it is widely identified by archaeologists and biblical scholars as the ancient name for Raamses (or Rameses).   Avaris (modern Tell el-Dab'a) was an ancient city located in the eastern Nile Delta, in the exact region the Bible calls the land of Goshen.The Isrsaelites settled in Egypt’s Nile Delta in the city of Avaris, where they were identified as the Hyksos people by other researchers,  a major group of immigrants who also lived in this city.  They did so well tending their sheep that they multiplied faster  than Egyptians, scaring the pharaoh who thought they could turn on them and take over, which the Hyksos managed to do at some point. That's when they were taken as slaves.  From what I have read, it seems they were slaves but still living in their own quarters in Avaris of the Nile Delta that could have also been home of the Sea of Reeds.  Goshen was where they were found living.                      

                            Moses found in the bullrushes

Remember that Moses's mother let him float down the river

      Jochebed became the wet-nurse, nursing him for his mother, the princess.

 in a reed basket in the water to hide him when the pharaoh's daughter found him floating in the water and kept him, raising him as her son. He grew up, educated with the other royal boys.  He eventually sees his birthmother and family when he returns to Egypt.  His mother was Jochebed and father was Amram, and he had older siblings; Aaron and Mirium, who watched him being taken by the Princess.  

               Here Moses is aided by Aaron when he asked the pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves.  That didn't go over very well.  The strongest argument was the snakes each had with Moses throwing down his staff that became a snake, eating up the pharaoh's snake.  

Moses told pharaoh of what would happen to him if he didn't free the slaves.                     

                                                        

The time was about  1446 BCE/AD, or 3,472 years ago.   Moses takes 603,550 slaves; Israelites and others on the Exodus which took 40 years.  He will arrive back in Canaan once again but be buried outside the wall.  Joshua finished the Exodus with 601,730 as they lost 1,820 in the trip from old age, ill health, and being attacked even though babies were born on the trip.  Judah was the largest tribe standing with 76,500.  They had lost 1,900.  Simeon was the smallest with 22,200. 

Reference:

Bible called Tanach, containing Torah, Prophets, Writings, 24 book, Mesorah Publications, Ltd, The Stone Edition

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