Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Walter Mattfeld" <mattfeld AT mail.pjsnet.com>]

Dear Lloyd,

I am aware that some scholars have posited that the Exodus account suggests
to them that a volcanic mountain is being described (God's descent in fire
on Mt. Sinai). I, however, doubt this. From my studies of ANE Babylonian and
Assyrian myths, the gods are frequently portrayed as possessing firey bodies
and hurling down fire from heaven on their enemies. So, in light of the
imagery about God being firey, I have serious doubts that a volcano is what
is behind the imagery found in Exodus.

----- Original Message -----
From: <barre AT nethere.com>
To: Walter Mattfeld <mattfeld AT mail.pjsnet.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2000 11:03 PM
Subject: re: Re: Re: LMB's Exodus Proposal


> Dear Walter,
>
> See below.
>
>
> > ** Original Subject: Re: Re: LMB's Exodus Proposal
> > ** Original Sender: "Walter Mattfeld" <mattfeld AT mail.pjsnet.com>
> > ** Original Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2000 12:46:47 -0700 (PDT)
>
> > ** Original Message follows...
>
> >
> > Dear Lloyd,
> >
> > There are several candidates for your northern Mt. Horeb/Sinai, in the
> > northern Sinai, going from west to east, they are Jebel Yelleq, Jebel
> > Maghara (north of Yelleq) and  Jebel Halal, two tracks from Southern
Judaea
> > pass by these mountains on the way to Lake Timsah. I guess it is one of
> > these you have in mind ? By the way, there is an interesting
archaeological
> > survey map of the Sinai in Rothenburg's book (cf. p. 112, Beno
Rothenberg,
> > Sinai, Pharaohs, Miners, Pilgrims and Soldiers. New York. Joseph Binns,
> > Publisher, 1979, ISBN 089674-002-1).
>
> Yes, these are the candidates.  I believe I favor Jebel Halal due to its
location.  This would be Horeb, not Sinai.
> >
> > LMB> I deduce that it lies somewhere along the roads to Kadesh Barnea
and
> > > that Mt. Horeb is located nearby.  I do not equate Horeb and Sinai.
There
> > > are two mountains of some elevation along the route I am suggesting.
> > Their
> > > names escape me.  Perhaps you know.
> > > WM: As you are probably aware, there are several different prosposals
for
> > > where Mt.Sinai/Horeb lay. Jebel Katharina, Jebel Musa, Gebal Serbal,
or
> > > el-Lawz in Saudi Arabia, and others. There also exists different ideas
as
> > to
> > > whether Horeb and Sinai are the same place. The texts do suggest for
some
> > > scholars that it was only 3days march from Goshen and Zoan (Exodus
5:3,
> > > Psalm 78:12,43).
> >
> > LMB:  You did not mention the two mountains I have entertained in the NE
of
> > the Sinai Peninsula.  I cannot find it in my manuscript for some reason.
It
> > is Jebel something.  Sorry.
>
> Walter, as you mentioned, J's description uses imagery from a volcano.  Do
you know anywhere from whence such imagery was derived?
>
> LMB
> > > >
> >
> > All the best,
> > Walter
> >
> > Walter Reinhold Warttig Mattfeld
> > Walldorf by Heidelberg
> > Baden-Wurttemburg
> >
> >
>
>
> >** --------- End Original Message ----------- **
>
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> L.M. Barre, Ph.D.
>
> Angelfire.com/ca2/AncientIsrael
>
> "The historical Jesus did not die for your sins."
>