Uncovering Ancient Israelite Wanderings in Sinai

In recent weeks, we read from the Torah the chapters of the Book "Bamidbar." These chapters recount the Israelites' 40-year journey through the Sinai Desert, starting from their departure from Egypt to their entry into the Land of Israel. According to the scriptures, approximately 2 million Israelites were on this journey, with the census indicating 600,000 men over the age of 20, which suggests a total population including women and children.   

Several archaeological discoveries support biblical stories such as the Great Flood, the Ten Plagues, and the Parting of the Red Sea. In this article, we reveal findings in the Sinai Desert that testify to the Israelites' prolonged stay.

Archaeologists generally agree that there was a notable settlement in the Sinai Peninsula and southern Negev in ancient times. However, they have not found satisfactory explanations for several perplexing discoveries. "The existence of such remnants demands an explanation we cannot ignore."

Archaeologists' Mysteries of Sinai Findings:

A. Research shows this area was historically arid, posing the question of how human settlements could survive without water. "We have no answer to how these communities survived so far from water sources."

B. The source of food for these people remains a mystery. Millstones were found in abundance, indicating food was ground, but the question remains: where did the food come from?

Some speculated they were engaged in agriculture, but evidence shows they rarely cultivated the land, as "sickle blades, indicating farming activity, were found in negligible quantities." Importation of food wasn't feasible, as "small items found hint at trade but hardly suggest a substantial trade network."

C. Another astonishing fact is the minimal grain remnants, implicating a lack of evidence for groundwork, despite the presence of grinding stones. "Despite grinding stones in homes, grain traces are scarce."

D. Why did people choose to live in such a desolate place? Archaeologist Beit-Arieh admits: "The settlement spread has great intensity yet lacks historical explanation."

E. The mystery deepens considering that the nearby Be'er Sheva Valley, more suitable for habitation, was unoccupied, and no contemporary sites were found in the Arava despite water sources. Hyman notes: "Without geopolitical impetus, the settlement bloom in Negev and Sinai is incomprehensible." But what were the geopolitical circumstances?

F. Archaeologists found that sites were often prepared for habitation but abandoned without use. Remarkably, evidence shows "the site inhabitants left peacefully." Why would they leave without using the prepared sites? "This recurring phenomenon in Negev and Sinai remains unexplained."

Solving the Archaeological Mysteries

There is little doubt that the puzzling settlements are indeed the sites of the Israelites during their Sinai wanderings. Findings like these are archaeological evidence of their existence there, concurred by several researchers.This solving of mysteries aligns well with the scriptural narrative:

A. Scripture acknowledges the desert's harshness, stating "there was no water to drink," yet it mentions Israel's miraculous water source from "the Well of Miriam" - a massive rock that continued to provide water miraculously, traveling with them.

B-C. Their sustenance came from manna, dropped from the heavens, which "they ground in mills or crushed in mortars" as explained in the Torah. This miraculous food didn't stem from agriculture or trade, accounting for the absence of grain remnants.

D-E. The Divine command led them to the desert for reasons beyond political maneuvers. "Thus spoke Hashem: "I remember your youth's devotion, your love as a bride, your following me through the desert, a land not sown."F. The Israelites never knew how long they'd stay in any location, dependent on a cloud, "and as the cloud lifted from upon the tent, the Sons of Israel would travel". Sometimes they'd only camp for a brief moment before moving on, "whether from evening until the morning, or a month, or days". This explains their seemingly abrupt departures from settlements without settling in.

Location and Form of Settlements

The settlements coalesce into two main clusters: one in South Sinai, near Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa), close to Saint Catherine. The other in the northern Sinai Peninsula, bordering the Negev in Israel, near Kadesh Barnea, "Archaeological surveys in the Kadesh Barnea area point to notable settlements."It's noteworthy that north of Mount Sinai, settlements were sparse, though there was "a remarkable number of encampment sites."

These sites perfectly align with the biblical account of the Israelites' desert encampment locations: Post-Revelation (50 days after leaving Egypt), they dwelt approximately one year in South Sinai near Mount Sinai. Afterward, they moved north to the Northern Sinai Peninsula. Initially camping in "Kadesh Barnea," on Israel's Negev border, from where spies were sent to scout the land. Due to the spies' sin, they returned to wander Mount Seir's region, also in northeastern Sinai, for 38 years. Throughout 19 of these years, they didn't stay long in one place, forever wandering, "and led them in the wilderness," explaining why mainly encampment sites were found, spending the other 19 years near Kadesh.

If doubts linger regarding these residential findings' connection to the Israelites' desert dwelling, consider this: "The presence of wood within rooms indicates it was used to roof the structures." Walls were stone while roofs were branches, aligning precisely with the Torah's description of the Israelites' desert dwelling: "For in booths I made the Israelites dwell when I led them from the land of Egypt." Rabbi Akiva, in the Talmud, concurs this means actual booths.

Adapted from research by Daniel Moshe Levi and Yosef Rothstein, "The Bible and Archaeology – Tradition versus Science." (Full sources are available at "Judaism Net")