The location of Mount Sinai has become a controversy ever since a mountain site in the Sinai Peninsula was so named by Helene, the mother of Constantine the Emperor, in the Fourth Century. Her proclamation was not questioned, and later Saint Catherine’s Monastery was built there. However, there is no historical evidence to indicate that this is the correct location. In fact, visitors to Mount Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula have questioned how millions of people, and their livestock, could have encamped anywhere near this mountain.

So let’s look at Scripture. We know that the Children of Israel left Egypt on Passover. We know that they traveled day and night (Exodus 13:21-22) and were told to encamp by the sea (Exodus 14:2). The Children of Israel were presented with numerous supernatural events besides the Ten Plagues upon Egypt. Traveling day and night was one of them, which was followed by the parting of the Red Sea.

It would appear that if the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea after days and nights of movement, that they were no longer in the Sinai Peninsula. In fact, there is a location on the Red Sea, in Sinai, named Nuweiba. At this site there is an ancient pillar, thought to have been erected by King Solomon, noting that this was where the Exodus crossing took place. On the Saudi Arabian side of the Red Sea there once was a corresponding pillar that has since been removed.

After a few days of travel they came to Elim (Exodus 15:27), an oasis where there are still twelve wells and many palm trees to this very day. This is an indication that the Children of Israel were in Arabia. Of course, this is were the Apostle Paul said Mount Sinai was located (Galatians 4:24-25).

When Moses fled from Egypt at age forty, he went to the land of Midian (Exodus 2:15). The consensus is that Midian was in what is now Saudi Arabia. Moses married a Midianite woman and tended the flocks of her father, Jethro, in Midian. It was there that Moses saw the Lord, on the “mountain of God” (Exodus 3:1). Horeb is the name of the mountain range that includes Mount Sinai. According to Scripture, Mount Sinai is in Arabia.

There is a mountain in Saudi Arabia, known locally as Jabal al Lawz, that has many artifacts around it. These include the remnants of twelve pillars and a massive altar built of unhewn stones, in the Israelite manner. The top of the mountain is blackened as if by fire (Exodus 19:18). There also are many almond trees in the vicinity. There are inscriptions in the rocks, including a menorah. These artifacts may be circumstantial, but they are fascinating!

Without regarding Jabal al Lawz, the Bible says that Mount Sinai is in Arabia, and I accept that as fact. That is the basis of faith; believing in the Lord and His Word.

May His wonderful name be praised forever!