GarColga

During an online discussion, a fundy brought up the fact that some inscriptions found in the Sinai seem to verify the Exodus. I have never heard of these before, though I am hardly an expert. I found the translations on a webpage:

<a href="http://www.bibleprobe.com/exodus.htm" target="_blank">http://www.bibleprobe.com/exodus.htm</a>

I notice that the translation is from a book by Grant Jeffrey who is some kind of 'Bible Code' goofball, I think, and the page also contains some material from Ron Wyatt, which makes me even more suspicious.

Can anyone tell me anything about these inscriptions?

[ October 21, 2002: Message edited by: GarColga ]</p>

WRW Mattfeld

Your suspicions are correct. This is a misunderstanding of the archaeological evdience found in the Sinai. For the archaeological evidence from which the Exodus narratives were extrapolated cf. the following url

<a href="http://www.bibleorigins.net/ExodusTimnaSerabitelKhadim.html" target="_blank">http://www.bibleorigins.net/ExodusTimnaSerabitelKhadim.html</a>

Exodus Memories of Southern Sinai
(Linking the Archaeological Data to the Biblical Narratives)


All the best, Walter
Walter R. Mattfeld, M.A. Ed.

P.S. the article explains the "Proto-Sinaitic" writing or inscriptions identified as being Israel's that you were curious about.

GarColga

Thanks, but that is way over my head.
After reading it I have no idea how to use this information in my discussion. It's not clear to me how the translation of the inscriptions is refuted.

[ October 21, 2002: Message edited by: GarColga ]</p>

Boro Nut

Yes indeed they do. It only remains to verify that one of the 600,000 departing Jews was indeed named Kilroy for it to be universally accepted.

Boro Nut

WRW Mattfeld

Archaeologists have made copies of EVERY inscription found to date in the Sinai and have written scholarly monographs on the subject.

The earliest inscriptions are in hieroglyphs, of the Egyptian Pharaohs who came to mine Turqouise in the vicinity of Serabit el Khadim in the Southern Sinai (Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom). During the New Kingdom, in this area, are found what are called ProtoSinaitic inscriptions, dated usually to the 15th century BCE. These were made by South Canaanite miners who worked the mines with/for the Egyptians. Still later Nabatean inscriptions appear of the Hellenistic age (the Nabatean capital being Petra in modern Jordan). Still later, Greek, Latin and Jewish inscriptions appear (in Hebrew), then Arabic inscriptions.

The description of Moses parting the Sea, as inscribed on the rocks is pure rubbish, no such inscription exists. The earlier works, from the 1700's and 1800's cited for these inscriptions are NOT reliable, as Hieroglypics and ProtoSinaitic writings were not translateble by the writers of these early books.

Scholars insist on hard physical eveidence, pottery debris, left in the camps of the wandering Israelites and according to most scholars, there is none (the Exodus being dated to the Late Bronze Age ca. 1580-1200 BCE).

The other claims cited in that article have been proven SPURIOUS by informed archaeologists.

Celsus

Sorry to interject, but this has to be the funniest thing I've read in a long while. <img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />