The Exodus route in Saudi Arabia
Northwest Saudi Arabia, around Tabuk and the Gulf of Aqaba, is the ancient land of Midian. Some researchers propose that the Exodus passed through it, and that Jabal al-Lawz and Jebel Maqla are the biblical Mount Sinai. Most scholars favour the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. This map shows the sites in the order of our journey, and the table below compares both views. It is a proposal, not a proof.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © CARTO. Route line is schematic.
The stops, in order
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1
Red Sea crossing point Exodus 14
A stretch of the Gulf of Aqaba coast that some researchers propose as the place of the sea crossing.
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2
Elim oasis Exodus 15:27
An oasis with wells and palms, proposed as Elim: twelve springs and seventy palm trees.
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3
Split Rock Exodus 17
A monolith split by a vertical fissure, traditionally linked to water from the rock at Horeb.
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4
Amalekite fight hill Exodus 17:8-13
The hill near Split Rock proposed for the battle with the Amalekites.
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5
Jebel Maqla Exodus 19
The mountain that some researchers identify with Mount Sinai (Horeb).
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6
Moses' altar and the 12 pillars Exodus 24:4
An altar and a row of stones at the foot of the mountain, proposed as the altar with twelve pillars.
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7
Graveyard Exodus 32:28
A large burial area near the mountain that some link to the account in Exodus 32.
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8
Golden Calf altar Exodus 32
A rock-art site with bull carvings, proposed as the setting of the golden calf episode.
Also in Midian: Moses' well (Midian) (Exodus 2:15-21). A well in Midian traditionally linked to Moses and the daughters of Jethro.
Two views compared
| Arabian proposal (Midian) | Traditional view (Sinai Peninsula) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain | Jabal al-Lawz or Jebel Maqla, Tabuk province | Jebel Musa, near Saint Catherine, Egypt |
| Sea crossing | Gulf of Aqaba | Suez region |
| Cited in support | Galatians 4:25 places Sinai in Arabia; Moses lived in Midian; a cluster of sites near the mountain | Centuries of Christian pilgrimage and the monastery of Saint Catherine |
| Disputed | Dating of structures, and whether any link to the Exodus can be shown | Lack of firm evidence for the pilgrimage tradition before the 4th century |
See it with a local guide
Walk in Moses' Footsteps
Three days through Midian with certified local guides and multilingual biblical consultants. Tell us your dates and we will plan it with you.
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