Scientist: Parting of Red Sea Was Possible

Washington Times

[Conservomax]

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Russian mathematicians have determined the legendary parting of the Red Sea that let the Jews flee Egypt was possible, the Moscow Times reported.

The study, published in the Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences, focused on a reef that runs from the documented spot where the Jews escaped Egypt, which in Biblical times, was much closer to the surface, according to Naum Volzinger, a senior researcher at St. Petersburg's Institute of Oceanology, and a colleague based in Hamburg, Alexei Androsov.

The mathematicians calculated the "strong east wind that blew all that night" mentioned in the Bible needed to blow at a speed of 67 miles per hour to make the reef, said Volzinger, who specializes in ocean phenomena, flooding and tidal waves.

"It would take the Jews -- there were 600,000 of them -- four hours to cross the 4.2-mile reef that runs from one coast to another. Then, in half an hour, the waters would come back," he said.

The Egyptian army that followed them drowned in the sea.

"I am convinced that God rules the Earth through the laws of physics," Volzinger told the Times.

[TheMightyQuinn]

what this genius doesn't explain is how they crossed on "dry ground", as the bible states.

Another thing, how easy is it to move a caravan of hundreds of thousands of people in 67 mph winds? Isn't that a bit breezy?

[blam]

Study: Red Sea Parting Possible

By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

Feb. 2, 2004 — The parting of the Red Sea and the subsequent escape of thousands of Jewish slaves, which is described in the Bible's book of Exodus, can be explained by science, according to two Russian researchers.

The study, published in the Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences, is one of the first to examine the event using oceanography, weather patterns, and mathematical calculations.

Naum Volzinger, senior researcher at the St. Petersburg Institute of Oceanology, and colleague Alexei Androsov of Hamburg, determined that a reef runs from Egypt to the north side of the Red Sea. They believe the reef used to be much closer to the surface during Biblical times at approximately 1500 B.C.

Depending on the weather and tidal movements, the reef could have been exposed for hours at a time, according to the new theory.

"If the wind blew all night at a speed of 30 meters (about 98 1/2 feet) per second, then the reef would be dry," Volzinger told The Moscow Times. "It would take the Jews — there were 600,000 of them — four hours to cross the seven-kilometer (4.4 mile) reef that runs from one coast to another. Then, in half an hour, the waters would come back."

The theory provides a scientific explanation for the story of the Red Sea parting, which is credited to Moses and Jehovah in the Bible.

"And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left." (Exodus 14:21-22).

Discovery News contacted three Biblical scholars about the Russian study, and each expressed disappointment with the findings.

Robert Coote, professor of Old Testament studies at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, said the language used to write the book of Exodus, Hebrew Yam Sup, can be interpreted in different ways. Coote indicated that the "Red Sea" might actually have been the Mediterranean, a Suez lagoon, the Gulf of Suez, or the Gulf of Aqaba.

Aaron Brody, assistant professor of Bible and archaeology and director of the Bade Museum at the Pacific School of Religion, agreed with Coote and added, "There are no extra-biblical historic texts that pertain to the Exodus story, and short-term events like the one described in the Book of Exodus very rarely appear in the archaeological record, so we have no textual sources outside of the material in Genesis and no artifactual data to clarify this event."

Along with Coote and Brody, Barbara Green, professor of Biblical studies at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, believes history and science provide important tools for studying the Bible, but that they should not be the only ones.

"The Bible needs to be read with many lenses, among which are history and science, but there are many others as well," Green told Discovery News. "The error is to assume that all that is at stake is facticity — how many miles, how much speed. It is ludicrous on its own."

[farmfriend]

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[billbears]

"I am convinced that God rules the Earth through the laws of physics," Volzinger told the Times.

Well I am convinced and know His ways are not our ways and He could have any way He chose to do it.

[AppyPappy]

The Hebrew for "Red" in the Exodus account was "soof" or "reed". The King James writers just assumed "Red Sea" from that.

[billbears]

Does this somehow change the majesty of God? The waters still split, the Jews walked across the dry bottom, and the Egyptians drowned as God allowed the water to cover them

[stainlessbanner]

Great line, billbears.

Exodus 14:15 strikes me as serious, but humorous (perhaps as a father might teach his son):

"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?"

[AppyPappy]

No but it renders the scientists claim that it "could" happen as meaningless. It DID happen. There is no point trying to prove something that happened 2500 years. The Devil gets in the details.

I have no faith in scientists when it comes to Scripture.

[Ff--150]

"Well I am convinced and know His ways are not our ways and He could have any way He chose to do it."

Couldn't agree more!

[4CJ]

"Well I am convinced and know His ways are not our ways and He could have any way He chose to do it."

I believe HE parted the sea, and without near hurricane force winds. He spoke - It WAS.

[VRWC_minion]

If the people only had what they could carry and constantly moved in the desert for 40 years and never cooked, what sort of archaeological evidence would you find ?

[VRWC_minion]

²¹   And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
²²   And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
²³   And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
²⁴   And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
²⁵   And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.
²⁶   And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
²⁷   And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
²⁸   And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
²⁹   But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
³⁰   Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
³¹   And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

[ForGod'sSake]

Well, I'm confused. If this is a new theory, why did I hear of this exact same theory many years ago? Apparently proffered by another group of scientists even then? Recycled grant monies? The Bible says God parted the sea; that's good enough for me. I know He could.....and still can.

FGS

[nmh]

Ahem ... God is the Author of the rule of physics.

[carpio]

BTTT

[SunkenCiv]

Blast from the Past (literally). Just adding to the keywords, not sending a general distribution.

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