Exodus 15:1-2 - I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Map of The Exodus (Old Testament)

Quick Summary

The Israelites Passed Through the Red Sea. After the 10 plagues that were brought upon the Egyptians, Pharaoh gave the order to let the Israelites go free. It was through God's mighty miracles that the Hebrews were delivered from Egyptian bondage, and the man Moses was the tool that God chose to work his miracles. Moses brought the Israelites to the Red Sea, Moses raised his staff and the walls of the sea stood up on both sides and the Israelites passed through it on dry ground. The Bible reveals that they passed through the Red Sea at a place called Baal-Zephon. This place has not been identified with certainty.

They Began their Journey. The Israelites began their journey through the wilderness to the promised land, to take possession of the land of Canaan that was promised to their father Abraham. After they crossed the Red Sea they camped at a place called Marah, where the waters were bitter, and after they complained God sweetened the water by a miracle. After that they camped at Elim where there were 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees to encourage God's people, and strengthen their faith. Then they came to Rephidim, and continued through the wilderness of sin. They passed by Dophkah and Alush, and it was here in the wilderness that God provided them Manna for food, turning the dew into wafer-like bread. The manna continued until they reached the land of Canaan. Later Moses provided water for the Israelites by smiting a rock in Horeb. After this Moses was visited by his father-in-law Jethro, a priest from Midian, who brought Moses' wife and children to him. When the Israelites came to Mount Sinai they were terrified of God, who revealed himself on the mountain. During this time God delivered the 10 Commandments to Moses, and spoke them to the Israelites from the mountain. After these powerful events the Israelites came to Taberah, Kibroth, and Hattavah. Soon after this Aaron and Miriam rebelled against Moses. After this they journeyed through the wilderness of Paran to Kadesh-barnea.

Spying Out the Land of Canaan. From Kadesh-barnea the Israelites sent 12 spies, one from each of the 12 tribes, to look over and spy out the land of Canaan. After seeing the land, 10 of them right back a very bad report because they were afraid of the walled cities and the giants in the land. Only two of them, Joshua and Caleb, brought back a good report and had courage to enter the land. The Israelites after hearing the bad news were afraid, and wanted to return to it Egypt. God was so displeased with their lack of faith that he "decreed that all who were 20 years old and upwards, except Joshua and Caleb, should die in the wilderness."

Egypt and the Nile River. The land of Egypt was blessed with the Nile River, and everything near this river was fruitful. Egypt was truly called "the gift of the Nile", and without this magnificent river everything around would be a desert. In Egypt the desert is everywhere, but along both sides of the Nile River is black mud which created lush farmland. The great mountains of Africa carry rich soil into Egypt via the Nile River. Nearly every year the Nile River would overflow its banks, when the snow on the mountains had melted. This would cause the soil near the banks of the Nile to be very rich and fertile, and this is the reason why Egypt was called "the gift of the Nile".

Geographical Facts. The Nile River is the longest river in the entire world, flowing over 4000 miles from its origin down in Central Africa and dumping into the Mediterranean Sea. In fact the river flows from south to north which is very unusual for a river. The Nile River is between 2 miles and 30 miles wide depending on where you are along the river. If one were to park along the bank of the river and walk on shore, there would be lush dark soil or "black mud" for a period of time, and suddenly it would become dry sandy desert colored red. In the ancient world when people noticed this dark line running down the landscape, they describe it as looking like a thread, and the Egyptians referred to it as "Redland Blackland." The Egyptians built their homes in the desert a short distance away from the rich dark black thread of soil. According to Genesis 10 the father of Egypt was Noah's grandson Mizraim whose name comes from two words that means "red soil" and "two Matzor or Egypts" which no doubt alludes to the red color of the desert sand, and a prophecy of the dual nature of Upper and Lower Egypt. The modern Arabic name for Egypt is Muzr.

The Nile Delta. At the northernmost portion of the Nile River, also known as the mouth, there is the great Nile Delta. In fact this is the meaning of the word Delta, when a river flows for a very long time the mouth begins to form many channels. The word Delta is actually the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet and looks like a triangle, with a point on one end and a fan on the opposite end, and this fan provides the imagery of the mouth of a river. The Delta never stops widening because of the new soil deposits.

Etymology of the word "Nile". The Greek word Nilus is not an Egyptian word or meaning, nor is the Semitic word Nahar which means river. The ancient Egyptians revealed the meaning in the hieroglyphic names of the river, in reference to various gods and goddesses, for example Isis, and the natural attributes of the Nile River attributed to her. Hapi means that "overspreads" alluding to abundance, Nu means that is "lifted up". Uka speaks of what "gushes forth". Akba Ura speaks of "great weeping", when the Nile overflows its banks. The ancient Egyptians also spoke of the river as a divine serpent.

Genesis 12:9-10 - "And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land."

Also see: Smith's (Nile), and the Table of Nations in Gen 10

Map of the Journeys of Abraham and Map of Egypt in Biblical Times - Free Bible

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