From Succoth to Etham

After the Hebrews leave the Delta area of Egypt where they lived for many generations, they travel to Succoth. Their next stop is Etham.

They set out from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness.

Exodus 13:20

It is this leg of the journey where their travels are not merely quick but cross over into the miraculous.

God went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Exodus 13:21-22

Let’s ask the same questions we did about Succoth: where is it? how far is it? how long does it take to get there?

Location

Like with nearly every other place name for the Exodus, we can only make educated guesses about where it is. We know that the Hebrews did not go The Way of the Philistines (one of the few known places), which is the historical trade route also known as the Way of the Sea, as it goes along the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt to Israel. It says so directly in Torah.

Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for God said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

Exodus 13:17

Another trade route across the “Wilderness of Egypt” (in modern times, the Sinai Peninsula), is the King’s Highway. Currently highways 50 and 55, this is a road that goes back to the Iron Age. It starts in Memphis (south of Cairo), crosses the Sinai peninsula at the northern tip of the Gulf of Suez, then goes straight across to the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba (the two northern branches of the Red Sea), then it continues northeast all the way to Resafa, in modern-day Syria.

They don’t go this route either. If they did, they’d never have a place to cross the Red Sea (unless you make them cross at some small lake or tip of the Red Sea where the Egyptian army could easily go around). It’s also pretty mountainous which is much too difficult for such a large group, with wagons and livestock.

If they cross the Red Sea at the Straits of Titan (which is where I’m putting the crossing), then Etham must be in the southeast portion of the Sinai peninsula. Not at the crossing, but not too far from it either. Because they later turn back to be at the crossing site, Etham would be north of the Straits of Titan.

Again, I turn to Steven Rudd, whose geographic data is excellent (despite my disagreement with much of the rest of his site). He places Etham where the wide flat coastal road suddenly turns inland (west at this point) into the mountains.

Distance

260 kilometers, which is 162 miles. Realistically, a caravan like this over decent roads would go about 20 miles a day. But we have the urgency of escaping Pharaoh and we have a bit of magic (God’s help) in there too.

Timing

If they did the 127 miles of Rameses to Succoth in three days, then 162 miles should take 4 days. But they are now traveling night and day without stopping (we can assume individuals are stopping briefly to get provisions from their packs or make a pit stop on the side of the road, but they’d catch up quickly).

I put the journey at two full days. The next day they backtrack then they part the Red Sea. This allows for the novel to match traditional Jewish belief that the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea on the 7th day after leaving Egypt.

When does Crossing the Red Sea take place? On the 21st of the Hebrew month of Nissan, in the Hebrew year 2448. This is generally believed to be 1313 BCE.

Crossing the Red Sea.  The Israel Bible.

There are dozens of references saying the same thing, with Rashi often cited as the source. Torah states that the Hebrews left on Nissan 14, but leaves open the date of the crossing.

Conclusion

Etham was near the crossing of the Red Sea (so near some crossable waters) in an area where there was no alternate path. It was either return to Egypt with Pharaoh’s approaching soldiers or cross the sea. No one knows for certain the location Torah is speaking of, but this is my best guess.

References

• The Road to Succoth. March 7, 2020. Cyndi Norwitz.
• King’s Highway (ancient). Wikipedia.
• Resafa. Wikipedia.
• The Exodus Route: The Etham Backtrack.  Steven Rudd.  Biblical Archeology.
• Crossing the Red Sea.  The Israel Bible.