Parting the Red Sea

	Detail of the British Admiralty map of the head of the Gulf of Suez

Ever since Cecil B. de Mille parted the Red Sea for Hollywood, the picture of the Israelites marching between mighty walls of water has fascinated many a small boy (and probably girl as well). However from the point of view of Biblical studies, no question is more hotly debated than the one of where this event took place - north, south or in the middle?

Recently a certain person who makes a lot of money out of his unprovable but highly suspect claims, put forward the idea that the crossing was right over the other side of Sinai. In fact, he says that he has proof of his idea in what he claims are chariot wheels resting on the bottom of the sea. I need hardly say that no archaeologist believes him for an instant.

In this film I examine the idea with the aid of on-the-spot footage and British Admiralty charts of the sea - and if you want proof that the sea is shallow in my chosen location, see if you can spot the sunken liner lying on its side!

One of the more approachable - if controversial - books on the question of early Biblical history is David Rohl's A Test of Time and his even more controversial Legend. The "More info" link takes you to the relevant page on Amazon.

The when of the Exodus is almost as controversial and in this short clip I examine some of the evidence which leads me to prefer an earlier date rather than a later one. You might be surprised at how strong the case is!

(Just checking the video, please excuse two slips of the tongue. I know full well that the picture is of Rameses' statues is at Abu Simbel, not Aswan! And later on I say that Dr Rudolf Cohen found pottery from the Early Bronze when I meant "Middle Bronze. I hope these slips won't detract from your enjoyment of the film.)