FOURTEEN DISCOVERIES THAT
CONFIRM THE BIBLE
For centuries now, Bible
scholars have been puzzled as to where the real Mount Sinai is located.
Most people are unaware of the fact that not one shred of evidence has
been discovered to prove that what is called "Mount Sinai"
in the Sinai Peninsula is indeed the famed mountain of Exodus. Several
proposed sites for the real Mount Sinai have been suggested by biblical
scholars, but there is no archaeological evidence to support any of
the claims. In fact, the only reason at all that a mountain in the Sinai
Peninsula is called "Mount Sinai" is because around 500 A.D.,
a fortuneteller guessed this to be its location. Tradition is the only
evidence that exists.
It's important to use the entire Bible as a guide for the search. Galatians
4:25a explains, "Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia."
Paul is clearly saying that Mount Sinai is in Arabia, which has always
been east and south of Palestine, the area of present-day Saudi Arabia.
Exodus 3:1 states that Mount Sinai is in the ancient land of Midian:
"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." There are two important
issues here. First, Midian is in present-day Saudi Arabia. Second, at
the traditional site of Mount Sinai, there is no evidence of the back
side of a desert; it is surrounded by rocky, mountainous peaks. By contrast,
Mount Jabal al Lawz, located in Midian, is on the far side of a vast
desert. Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian. Exodus 2:15a says,
"When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses
fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian." Egypt was not a
safe place for Moses to hide. He would not have fled to the Sinai Peninsula,
where Pharaoh had turquoise and copper mines which were protected by
a strong military presence. Moses fled to Midian, east of the Gulf of
Aqaba. The Bible says that he went out of Egypt, and makes several references
to Moses returning to Egypt from the land of Midian. As Exodus 4:19
tells us, "Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, 'Go back to
Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.'" All of
these passages clearly point to present-day Saudi Arabia as the area
to which Moses fled and subsequently met God at the burning bush. Bible
references and archaeological evidence were combined to suggest an interesting
new theory regarding the Exodus and the location of the real Mount Sinai.
However, a site inspection was necessary to determine if other evidence
could be found to support it. Saudi Arabia's closed borders made it
impossible for a team of scholars and archaeologists to enter the country.
As a result, two men, Bob Cornuke and Larry Williams, surreptitiously
slipped into the country, traced what appears to be the Exodus route,
and climbed the mountain which many scholars now consider to be the
real Mount Sinai.
Here is a brief account of their adventure, their findings and how these
relate directly to the Bible.
RED SEA CROSSING SITE
The Bible says in 1 Kings 9:26, "King Solomon also built ships
at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath in Edom, on the shore of the Red
Sea." This verse gives us some interesting clues. Solomon had his
port at Elath, on the Gulf of Aqaba. The NIV Study Bible references
this verse as follows: "Red Sea. The Hebrew for this term, normally
read as Yam Suph ('sea of reeds'), refers to the body of water through
which the Israelites passed at the time of the Exodus. It can also be
read, however, as Yam Soph ('sea of land's end'), a more likely reading
when referring to the Red Sea, and especially... to its eastern arm,
the Gulf of Aqaba." This could mean that the "sea of land's
end," at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, was the site of the Israelites'
If the Israelites had crossed in the Sea of Reeds area, as some suggest,
it would have to be in the Bitter Lakes region, north of the Gulf of
Suez. This is not consistent with what Exodus 15:10 records about how
Pharaoh's soldiers died: "But You blew with your breath, and the
sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters." The
Bitter Lakes is a marsh with no mighty waters. At the tip of the Sinai
Peninsula, however, there are ocean depths that go down 2,000 feet or
TRADITIONAL MOUNT SINAI
Bob Cornuke visited the traditional Mount Sinai, located in a rocky,
mountainous region of the Sinai Peninsula. The only area where the Israelites
could have possibly camped was a small, flat valley area adjacent to
the mountain, allowing for only 1 square yard per person (assuming that
over 2 million people were involved in the Exodus). Despite extensive
archaeological research throughout the region, nothing shows evidence
of any large civilization ever occupying this area.
UNDERWATER LAND BRIDGE
Cornuke then traveled to the tip of the Sinai Peninsula and explored
under the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba. A land bridge was discovered
just below the surface of the water. This unusual underwater formation
was possibly walked upon by the Israelites as they crossed through the
parted waters of the Red Sea.
BITTER SPRINGS OF MARAH
Bob Cornuke and Larry Williams traveled to the area across from the
tip of the Sinai Peninsula, using the Bible as a map to help find evidence
of the Exodus route. They traveled inland 30 kilometers to a group of
springs. Exodus 15:22-23a says: "Then Moses led Israel from the
Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled
in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could
not drink its water because it was bitter."
THE 70 PALMS AND 12 SPRINGS
Cornuke and Williams then traveled toward Mount Jabal al Lawz and came
to several clear water springs. The area also had a grove of palm trees.
Exodus 15:27 states, "Then they came to Elim, where there were
twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the
CAVES OF MOSES
While at the springs, Cornuke and Williams found some caves being excavated
by Saudi archaeologists. A worker at the site said writings found in
the caves indicated that the prophet Musa (Moses) had come through this
area with his nation of people.
CHARRED PEAK AND MELTED ROCK
Continuing to Mount Jabal al Lawz, the men found the top of the mountain
to be black, as if the rocks had been burned. When broken open, the
melted rocks revealed non-volcanic granite inside. Exodus 19:18a says,
"Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended
on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace."
Further investigation found large piles of rocks in a semicircle around
the front of the mountain, spaced about every 400 yards. Measuring about
5 feet tall and 20 feet across, these piles could be the boundary markers
placed by Moses, as mentioned in Exodus 19:23b: "Put limits around
the mountain and set it apart as holy."
GOLDEN CALF ALTAR
In the flat area at the base of the mountain, Cornuke and Williams found
large boulders which had been placed together, creating a formation
30 feet across and 30 feet tall, which could be the altar where the
golden calf was constructed. On the rocks were etched ancient drawings
of a bull god as described in Exodus 32:4a: Aaron "took what they
handed him and made...an idol cast in the shape of a calf."
ALTAR OF 12 PILLARS
At the foot of the mountain, they found a V-shaped altar. Each arm was
approximately 60 feet long and 20 feet wide. Next to it were several
toppled pillars in sections of about 22 inches in diameter and 20 inches
tall. Exodus 24:4b records that Moses "built an altar at the foot
of the other mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the
twelve tribes of Israel."
SPLIT ROCK AT HOREB
A massive split rock on the west side of Mount Jabal al Lawz shows evidence
of gushing water from within, with jagged rocks below worn smooth by
an abundant water flow. Exodus 17:6 records God's instructions to Moses
when the Israelites were dying of thirst in the wilderness: "I
will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and
water will come out of it for the people to drink."
CAVE OF ELIJAH
High on the mountain was a cave by which Elijah may have stood to hear
God's voice, as described in 1 Kings 19:8b, 13b: "He reached Horeb,
the mountain of God ... and stood at the mouth of the cave." This
expedition yielded compelling new evidence to suggest that Aqaba is
the crossing point for the Exodus route, and that Mount Jabal al Lawz
is the real Mount Sinai.
THE BIBLE IS ACCURATE
This expedition yielded compelling new evidence to suggest that Aqaba
is the crossing point for the Exodus route, and that Mount Jabal al
Lawz is the real Mount Sinai. The significance lies in the fact that
the Bible is again shown to be true and accurate. Critics who claim
that the Bible does not coincide with known history and geography are
again shown to be wrong - once the facts surface. The Bible story is
real. The implications are incredible. God descended on Mount Sinai
in flames like a furnace. He spoke to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments
as the laws for living life. He communicated His love for us, though
we are unworthy. He gave us the opportunity to come into a personal,
caring relationship with the God of all creation. He gives us meaning
and purpose in life. Though the exploits of Bob Cornuke and Larry Williams
read like a modern-day "Indiana Jones" tale, the more important
adventure is in the discovery that we can personally make through our
own reading of the Bible - God's message to mankind of faith, hope and
love. It reveals His plan for reconciliation. Our most important discovery
is how to come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This
is the best adventure of all.