Is This Where the Israelites Were Led From Slavery By Moses?
Ancient ruins found in the Israeli wilderness could solve the biblical mystery of the Exodus, archaeologists claim. According to the Bible, Moses liberated the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and led them through the wilderness of Sinai, before they crossed the River Jordan into the promised land of Canaan.
Yet no historical basis for the legend exists, and experts generally agree the Israelites were in fact native to Canaan - an ancient region covering modern day Israel.
However, scientists are now analysing whether ruins near the River Jordan are proof of a nomadic Israelite people crossing into the ancient land thousands of years ago.
They suggest the small settlement was used by the Israelites during their journey from Egypt, which biblical researchers believe occurred in the 13th Century BC.
If correct, the find would constitute the first scientific evidence of the biblical account. But some scepticism remains around the legitimacy of the research.
The site has yet to be dated, meaning it could have been built thousands of years after the proposed crossing. Thousands of nomadic groups have built settlements across Israel over the past 2000 years, making it extremely unlikely the newly found site was built by a crowd linked to Moses. Archaeologists behind the find admit it does not prove the Israelites made the crossing, adding that further research was needed in order to draw this conclusion.
‘We have not proved that these camps are from the period of the early Israelites, but it is possible,’ said David Ben-Shlomo, an archaeologist with Ariel University.
‘If they are, this might fit the biblical story of the Israelites coming from east of the Jordan River, then crossing the Jordan and entering into the hill country of Israel later.’ Archaeologists are now analysing whether the ruins, named Khirbet el Mastarah, are consistent with a nomadic people.