The History of Judaism
From Egypt into the Sinai Wilderness
The Jews continued their wanderings in the desert wilderness in search of the Promised Land. When they left Egypt, Pharaoh's army chased after them. When they came to the Red Sea, G-d gave the Children of Israel the victory.
|
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. 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. 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. 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, 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. 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. 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. Exodus 14:21-27 |
As they traveled through the desert, G-d provided them with manna and quail to eat and water to drink. Then after three months they came to Mount Sinai and made camp there because it was covered with grass and trees. On the third day of Sivan, Moses climbed the mountain to talk to G-d. When he returned to the people, he told them to bathe and put on clean clothes. Three days later there was thunder and lightening. The earth began to shake like an earthquake. The Jews heard trumpets and shofars. Moses went back up the mountain and stayed there 40 days and 40 nights without food or sleep.
During this time G-d told Moses many things. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments which is the written Torah and there were other things that G-d told Moses. They are called the oral Torah.
After almost 40 years and 650 miles the Children of Israel finally stood at the north end of the Dead Sea and looked across the Jordan River at Jericho.
Wilderness
