Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
David P. Larsen
Well written as always by S. Michael Houdmann. If we take scripture seriously there can be no realistic doubt that Mt. Sinai is in 'Arabia'.
Bruce Morgan
I have watched the video by Robert Cornuke, and his journey retracing the Israelites' escape from Egypt is very convincing, from the crossing of the Red Sea via an underwater land bridge (which still exists today) through to all of the evidence for Marah, Elim, and finally the physical evidence on and around Jabab al Lawz itself.
Definitely worth a look.
Leslie Coutinho
Exodus 4:19: And the Lord said unto Moses in Mid’-i-an, "Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life."
The Israelites dwelt in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years. Moses, as he grew up, knew he was the son of the Israelites. When he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Pharaoh heard and sought to slay Moses, who then fled and dwelt in the land of Mid’-i-an. (Exo 2:11-12,15/12:40) The land of Mid’-i-an, was named after the sons of Abraham’s third wife, Ke-tu’-rah, who were sent “eastward unto the east country.” She bare him Zim’-ran, Jok’-san, Me’-dan, Mid’-i-an, Ish’-bak and Shu’-ah, and Jok’-san begat She’-ba, and De’-dan. Mount Sinai is situated on the mountains where Moses came to the “Land of Midian,” located to the east, on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba (also known as the Red Sea), which is part of the Arabian Peninsula. Moses then dwelt in the land of Midian and was then given the daughter of the priest of Midian, who looked after the flock, taking them to the mountain of God to Horeb. (Gen 25:1-6/Exo 2:15-16,21,3:1)
The Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire. God, the Father, then called out to him from the midst of the bush and said unto him to bring the children out of Egypt. (Exo 3:2,4,10) After all the plagues in Egypt, Pharaoh let the Israelites go, the Lord then spoke to Moses to camp before Pi-ha-hi’-roth between Mig’-dol and the Red Sea before Egypt, for Pharaoh would say the children of Israel had become “entangled in their land,” for the wilderness had shut them in. When Pharaoh drew nigh to the children of Israel, the Lord then said to Moses, "Speak unto the children of Israel to go forward, and lift thy rod which I have given thee, stretch out thy hand over the sea and divide it." Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and made the sea a dry land, dividing the waters of the sea. (Exo 12:31,13:18,14:1-3,8,16,21) Moses then brought the Israelites from the Red Sea and went out into the wilderness of Shur to E’-lim, to the wilderness of Sin, to Reph’-i-dim, and came to the desert of Si’-nai. (Exo 15:22/16:1/17:1/19:1-2)
God led them not through the way of the land of Phi-lis’-tines that was near, but through the wilderness of the Red Sea, in the third month, they came into the wilderness of Si’-nai. This was the “wilderness of Shur” when Hagar conceived, by Abram, who dwelt in the plain of Mam’-re. Sarah was despised, and she fled away into the wilderness of Shur. Moses’ father-in-law came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he encamped at the mount of God, and then went his way into his own land. (Gen 13:18,16:7/Exo 15:22,18:5,27) Moses was then called up on the mount and was given the tables of stone with the law and commandments which God the Father had written. When he came down from the mount, his anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables and brake them near the mount. (Exo 24:12,31:18,32:19) The Angel of the Lord (Lord Jesus) that was sent before him then said (Exo 23:20) unto Moses, "Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first which thou brakest," and the Lord then said unto him, "Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel." (Exo 34:1,27/John 5:46)
Galatians 4:24-25: Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Si’-nai, which gendereth to bondage, which is A’-gar. For this A’-gar is mount Si’-nai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.