THE LOCATION OF MT SINAI: A RESPONSE TO DR MICHAEL HEISER • Dr. Heiser on his Naked Bible Podcast program 260 repeatedly stated that Jebel al Lawz cannot be the real Mount Sinai and should be abandoned as a candidate.
• In doing so, he made several significant errors. • I e-mailed him to discuss these errors, but he was not receptive.
• I then invited him to have a public discussion on his own podcast or my program, but he was not willing to do so.
• I then invited him to a public debate, but he was dismissive. The following is a review of Heiser’s primary errors: 1 • First, Heiser misinterprets a series of texts (Deut 33; Judges 5; Habakkuk 3) to be part of a “Yahweh from the South” tradition.
• This view essentially interprets these texts as referring to Yahweh’s southern origin. • As we will see, these are not “Yahweh from the South” texts that talk about “Yahweh’s origin.”
• Instead, they are part of a larger tradition that uses Exodus language while ultimately pointing to the Second Exodus.
• Jesus and the New Testament writers interpret these traditions as pointing to Jesus’ Second Coming. • Heiser argues that because these texts use parallelisms, Sinai, Seir, Edom, Paran, Teman all of these places are either the same, or located within the same narrow region.
• Jebel al-Lawz he argues, is simply too far south to be included among these other mountains and locations. “Not only do you have Sinai linked to Seir, which is this Edomite region south of Canaan, but we have Mount Paran as the place that Yahweh came forth from. “Well, I thought it was Sinai. I thought it was Horeb.” Well, the answer very well may be, “Yep.” All of those terms could apply to the same place. They could. Now critics of course want to split them all up, as though they must be different places. They don’t have to be different places. In theory they could be. Then you’d have different conflicting traditions. This is where they want you to go. But they don’t have to be, is the point. They don’t have to be. Mount Paran, if you read this verse, would be the same as Mount Sinai, which would be Horeb.” • These texts do not speak of a singular, static, non- complex event, rather they speak of Yahweh as a victorious warrior marching from the south.
• It is speaking of the Exodus.
• Alternately, these texts speak of Yahweh shining forth and radiating like the dawn over a broad area.
• Whether the exodus, or the sunrise, both cover a very large region. “Yahweh is depicted as coming from Sinai and rising like the sun upon Israel from Seir, shining forth from Mount Paran, approaching from Ribeboth-Kodesh … with a flaming fire at his right hand.”
—J. A. Thompson, Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, p 334. • While these texts do use parallelisms, this is easily accounted for by the simple fact that all of these locations (Sinai, Paran, Seir, Teman, Edom, Bozrah, etc.,) were part of the same exodus event and route.
• Further, they are also all well within the larger region of biblical Edom. • *After posting this response, Heiser posted an addendum on his blog re-emphasizing the parallelisms in these texts.
• He argues that the language does not say that Yahweh is going from one place to another.
• This was a straw man argument, as we fully agree.
• No one is arguing that the texts do not contain parallelisms.
• Our contention is simply that they are using language (of the exodus march and the dawn shining forth) which inherently cover a broad region. 2 • Heiser acknowledges that all of these places were in the general area of Edom.
• The problem is that Heiser wrongly locates Edom exclusively in southern Jordan.
• How does the Bible define Edom? “THEREFORE THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD, “I WILL ALSO STRETCH OUT MY HAND AGAINST EDOM AND CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM IT. AND I WILL LAY IT WASTE; FROM TEMAN EVEN TO DEDAN THEY WILL FALL BY THE SWORD.” (EZEKIEL 25:13) “Ezekiel prophesied that the whole country would be laid waste. Teman was the extreme northern district of Edom while Dedan was in the south; thus the mention of these two cities was a way of referring to the whole nation.”
—Lamar Eugene Cooper, Ezekiel, New American Commentary p. 248. CONCERNING EDOM. THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, “IS THERE NO LONGER ANY WISDOM IN TEMAN? HAS GOOD COUNSEL BEEN LOST TO THE PRUDENT? HAS THEIR WISDOM DECAYED? FLEE AWAY, TURN BACK, DWELL IN THE DEPTHS, O INHABITANTS OF DEDAN, FOR I WILL BRING THE DISASTER OF ESAU UPON HIM AT THE TIME I PUNISH HIM. (JEREMIAH 49:7–8) Dedan: A settlement in northwestern Arabia known for being a center for trade and commerce (Ezek 27:20; 38:13). The reference to Dedan in Ezek 25:13 suggests the site served as a convenient landmark to allude to the far southeastern extent of the territory of Edom (in contrast with the region of Teman marking the northern extent of Edom’s territory).
—The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Land of Edom according to Scripture:
Michael Heiser’s Map of the Land of Edom
Heiser’s Land of Edom (in blue) vs the actual Land of Edom (in gray): Heiser’s Edom
Biblical Edom
• Teman and Dedan were the northern and southern cities of both Edom and the Nabatean Arab Kingdom.
• Today Teman and Dedan correspond to Petra (in Jordan) and al-Ula or Maidin Saleh (in Saudi Arabia).
• Teman and Dedan are 400 miles apart. PETRA
DEDAN
3 • To argue for the “Yahweh from the South” view, Heiser cites select texts while ignoring several other very important related texts which establish the Second Exodus / the Second Coming theme.
• Isaiah 63 • Psalm 68 • Psalm 110 • 1 Enoch 1:1-11 • Jude 14-15 • Zechariah 14:5 • Matthew 16:27; 25:31 • 2 Thes 1:7 • We’ve included all of these passages at the end of this PowerPoint File for reference. These texts combine several very important motifs, establishing their common focus: • The Lord coming with His holy ones:
• Deut 33:2; 1 Enoch 1:9; Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 16:27; 25:31; 2 Thes 1:7; Jude 14. “THE LORD CAME FROM SINAI, AND DAWNED ON THEM FROM SEIR; HE SHONE FORTH FROM MOUNT PARAN, AND HE CAME FROM THE MIDST OF TEN THOUSAND HOLY ONES; AT HIS RIGHT HAND THERE WAS FLASHING LIGHTNING FOR THEM.” (DEUTERONOMY 33:1–2) THE GREAT HOLY ONE WILL COME FORTH FROM HIS DWELLING, AND THE ETERNAL GOD WILL TREAD FROM THERE UPON MOUNT SINAI. HE WILL APPEAR WITH HIS ARMY,” HE WILL APPEAR WITH HIS MIGHTY HOST FROM THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS… LOOK, HE COMES WITH THE MYRIADS OF HIS HOLY ONES, TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT ON ALL, AND TO DESTROY ALL THE WICKED… (1 ENOCH 1:4, 9) I WILL GATHER ALL THE NATIONS AGAINST JERUSALEM TO BATTLE… THEN THE LORD WILL GO FORTH AND FIGHT AGAINST THOSE NATIONS, AS WHEN HE FIGHTS ON A DAY OF BATTLE. IN THAT DAY HIS FEET WILL STAND ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES… THEN THE LORD, MY GOD, WILL COME, AND ALL THE HOLY ONES WITH HIM! (ZECHARIAH 14:3–5). Jesus draws from debut 33, Zech 14 etc and applies it to His return:
“FOR THE SON OF MAN IS GOING TO COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS ANGELS, AND WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.” (MATTHEW 16:27) “BUT WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES IN HIS GLORY, AND ALL THE ANGELS WITH HIM, THEN HE WILL SIT ON HIS GLORIOUS THRONE.” (MT 25:31) AND TO GIVE RELIEF TO YOU WHO ARE AFFLICTED AND TO US AS WELL WHEN THE LORD JESUS WILL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS IN FLAMING FIRE, (2 THESSALONIANS 1:7) IT WAS ALSO ABOUT THESE MEN THAT ENOCH, IN THE SEVENTH GENERATION FROM ADAM, PROPHESIED, SAYING, “BEHOLD, THE LORD CAME WITH MANY THOUSANDS OF HIS HOLY ONES, TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT UPON ALL. (JUDE 14-15) “Jude spoke here of the second coming of Christ. The ‘holy ones’ with whom he will come are his angels. The coming of Christ is patterned after God’s theophany on Sinai, where he ‘came with myriads of holy ones’ (Deut 33:2)… That angels will accompany Jesus at his coming is clearly taught in the New Testament as well (Matt 16:27; 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 1 Thess 3:13; 2 Thess 1:7).”
—Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary, p 472. • The Lord marching through the wilderness or desert of Edom:
• Deut 33; Judges 5:4; Psalm 68; Hab 3; Isaiah 63. “THE LORD CAME FROM SINAI, AND DAWNED ON THEM FROM SEIR; HE SHONE FORTH FROM MOUNT PARAN, AND HE CAME FROM THE MIDST OF TEN THOUSAND HOLY ONES; AT HIS RIGHT HAND THERE WAS FLASHING LIGHTNING FOR THEM.” (DEUTERONOMY 33:1–2) “As most scholars have noted, the imagery here is that of the Divine Warrior marching at the head of his armies on behalf of those whom he had chosen… The same motifs appear elsewhere, especially in the Song of the Sea following the exodus (Exod 15:1b– 18); the Song of Deborah (Judg 5:2–5); Ps 68 (esp. vv. 7–10); and the prayer of Habakkuk (Hab 3:2–15).”
—Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 433–434. • God coming from Sinai (Deut 33:2; Judg 5:5; Ps 68:8) Seir (Deut 33:2; Judg 5:4) or Edom (Exod 15:15; Judg 5:4; Is 63); Paran (Deut 33:2; Hab 3:3); and mountains (Exod 15:17; Deut 33:2; Judg 5:5; Ps 68:15–16; Hab 3:6, 10). • Contra Heiser, Eugene Merrill states:
• “The stylized or formulaic nature of such historical résumés allows them to depart from normal patterns of narration in which strict adherence to chronological and geographical sequence is expected.” (Eugene H. Merrill, Deuteronomy, vol. 4, The New American Commentary, p. 434.) • The Lord as the crushing one (Gen 3:15, Num 24:17; Psalm 68:21; Psalm 110; Isa 63:3,6; Rev 19:15).
• The Day of the Lord’s vengeance (Isa 63:4; Rev 19)
• The enthronement of God in Jerusalem (Psalm 2, Psalm 68; Mat 19, 25).
• Further, these texts portray Yahweh in anthropomorphic form (ie., a human). 4 • Heiser's view that Sinai, Edom, Seir, Paran, etc., all must be either the same or very close clearly contradicts other Scriptures.
• Deuteronomy 1:2 says that, “It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea.”
• This indicates a substantial distance from Horeb/Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea. • There are many passages that refer to the Exodus itinerary and the geography of the region, which give us a fairly reasonable understanding as to where these locations are.
• While we do not know with precision where every location was, there are some that we have very good confidence of, and others we know for certain.
• We can be sure that there was a substantial distance between some of them. • Midian was the furthest south, then came Sinai, then the desert of Paran, then Seir, Edom, then Moab, then Ammon.
• Heiser says that these places were all very close to another.
• The Bible says that some of them were some distance apart. • From Bozrah/Edom to the desert of Paran (most likely just to the east of Eilat) is about 80-90 miles.
• From Paran to Jebel al-Lawz is about 80-90 miles.
• It is entirely inconsistent to say that two of the locations are many miles apart, but not allow the same for Sinai.
5 • Heiser repeatedly emphasized that Mt Sinai must be west (or north west of Midian). NOW MOSES WAS PASTURING THE FLOCK OF JETHRO HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, THE PRIEST OF MIDIAN; AND HE LED THE FLOCK TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE WILDERNESS AND CAME TO HOREB, THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD. (EX 3:1) • Heiser argues that the Jebel al-Lawz theory has Sinai in Midian.
• That is false. It is either within the territory of Midian or just beside Midian.
• Heiser argues that Sinai must have been west of Midian, even calling the Lawz view “absurd.”
• Heiser never mentions the possible meanings of the word “west” Exodus 3:1 ,(achar the hind or following part(1), after(369 אַחַר afterward(s)(56), again(4), away(1), back(2), behind(49), behind(9), besides(1), butt end(1), care(1), follow(17), followed(40), following(35), following(6), follows(3), forsaking(1), later(1), long(1), pursuing(4), rear(3), since(3), since(4), subsequent(2), succeeded(1), survived(2), then(1), thereafter(1), west(2), west side(1), when(1).
—New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries 1. “the backside of the desert” KJV 2. “the back of the desert” NKJV 3. “the far side of the wilderness” NIV 4. “the far side of the desert” NET 5. “behind the wilderness” YLT 6. “the far side of the wilderness” CSB 7. “the back of the wilderness”ASV 8. “behind the wilderness” DBY 9. “the backside of the desert” WEB 10. “the back of the wilderness” HNV
11. Only the NASB, ESV, and RSV, use “west” • After making a big deal of the need for Moses to have gone west, Heiser contradicts his own view and has Moses going north! 6 • In order to make his theory work, Heiser moves Midian much further north than al- Bad in Saudi Arabia and places it next to modern day Jordan. • So where is Midian?
• Scholarly consensus places Midian on the eastern side of the Gulf of Aqaba.
• Throughout this whole region, there is only one place where Midian would have likely been.
• It is an Oasis town and was on the ancient Arab trade caravan route.
• Today the inhabitants of the Town of Al-Bad still call it Midyan, or “the Caves of Jethro.”
• This is also where the first century Roman geographer Claudius Ptolemy placed Modiam/Madyan. • The Bible associates Midian geographically with Sheba, Kedar, and Nebaioth.
• These are all areas in central Saudi Arabia. A MULTITUDE OF CAMELS WILL COVER YOU, THE YOUNG CAMELS OF MIDIAN AND EPHAH; ALL THOSE FROM SHEBA WILL COME; THEY WILL BRING GOLD AND FRANKINCENSE, AND WILL BEAR GOOD NEWS OF THE PRAISES OF THE LORD. ALL THE FLOCKS OF KEDAR WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER TO YOU, THE RAMS OF NEBAIOTH WILL MINISTER TO YOU; THEY WILL GO UP WITH ACCEPTANCE ON MY ALTAR, AND I SHALL GLORIFY MY GLORIOUS HOUSE. (IS 60:6–7) 7 • After this response, Heiser followed up with an addendum on his blog.
• He argues that Rephidim where Moses split the rock cannot be in Saudi Arabia, because Rephidim and Kadesh are one and the same place. • After this response, Heiser followed up with an addendum on his blog.
• He argues that Rephidim where Moses split the rock cannot be in Saudi Arabia, because Rephidim and Kadesh are one and the same place. • “Is Kadesh-barnea in Midian (on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba in Saudi Arabia where Jebel al- Lawz is)? No. It is not even close.” —Dr. Heiser
• “It is typical of al-Lawz defenders (remember, I was one) to either not realize any importance with the connection to Kadesh-barnea or to argue that there was more than one incident where the people demanded (i.e., the Rephidim incident wasn’t at Kadesh-barnea). That is untenable.” —Dr. Heiser • Dr. Heiser made a glaring error here.
• The Bible records two very distinct events that involved Moses striking a rock and bringing forth water.
• One was in Rephidim shortly after the exodus sea crossing (Exodus 17).
• The other was 40 years later, much further north at Kadesh Barnea (Numbers 20). • "The next episode (Numbers 20:2–13) resembles in a number of ways the episode much earlier at Meribah (Exod. 17:1–7), when Moses struck the rock to bring water out of it for the people."
• —Gordon J. Wenham • "[In Numbers 20] Once again a name of judgment was given to a place of Israel’s journey. This time the name is Meribah... “a place of strife” or “quarreling.” The same name was used 40 years earlier at the first occasion of bringing water from the rock (Ex 17:7)
• —Ron B. Allen Expositor’s Bible Commentary IN CONCLUSION… • Heiser’s makes several very substantial errors.
• The location of Jebel al-Lawz as the real Mt Sinai remains to be the best of all possible candidates and has no substantial problems. Relevant “Second Exodus” Texts: NOW THIS IS THE BLESSING WITH WHICH MOSES THE MAN OF GOD BLESSED THE SONS OF ISRAEL BEFORE HIS DEATH. HE SAID, “THE LORD CAME FROM SINAI, AND DAWNED ON THEM FROM SEIR; HE SHONE FORTH FROM MOUNT PARAN, AND HE CAME FROM THE MIDST OF TEN THOUSAND HOLY ONES; AT HIS RIGHT HAND THERE WAS FLASHING LIGHTNING FOR THEM.” (DEUTERONOMY 33:1–2) LORD, WHEN YOU WENT OUT FROM SEIR, WHEN YOU MARCHED FROM THE FIELD OF EDOM, THE EARTH QUAKED, THE HEAVENS ALSO DRIPPED, EVEN THE CLOUDS DRIPPED WATER. THE MOUNTAINS QUAKED AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, THIS SINAI, AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL. (JUDGES 5:1–5) A PRAYER OF HABAKKUK THE PROPHET, ACCORDING TO SHIGIONOTH. LORD, I HAVE HEARD THE REPORT ABOUT YOU AND I FEAR. O LORD, REVIVE YOUR WORK IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS, IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS MAKE IT KNOWN; IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY. GOD COMES FROM TEMAN, AND THE HOLY ONE FROM MOUNT PARAN. SELAH. HIS SPLENDOR COVERS THE HEAVENS, AND THE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS PRAISE. HIS RADIANCE IS LIKE THE SUNLIGHT; HE HAS RAYS FLASHING FROM HIS HAND, AND THERE IS THE HIDING OF HIS POWER. BEFORE HIM GOES PESTILENCE, AND PLAGUE COMES AFTER HIM. HE STOOD AND SURVEYED THE EARTH; HE LOOKED AND STARTLED THE NATIONS. YES, THE PERPETUAL MOUNTAINS WERE SHATTERED, THE ANCIENT HILLS COLLAPSED. HIS WAYS ARE EVERLASTING. I SAW THE TENTS OF CUSHAN UNDER DISTRESS, THE TENT CURTAINS OF THE LAND OF MIDIAN WERE TREMBLING. (HABAKKUK 3:1–7) WHO IS THIS WHO COMES FROM EDOM, WITH GARMENTS OF GLOWING COLORS FROM BOZRAH, THIS ONE WHO IS MAJESTIC IN HIS APPAREL, MARCHING IN THE GREATNESS OF HIS STRENGTH? IT IS I WHO SPEAK IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, MIGHTY TO SAVE. WHY IS YOUR APPAREL RED, AND YOUR GARMENTS LIKE THE ONE WHO TREADS IN THE WINE PRESS? I HAVE TRODDEN THE WINE TROUGH ALONE, AND FROM THE PEOPLES THERE WAS NO MAN WITH ME. I ALSO TROD THEM IN MY ANGER AND TRAMPLED THEM IN MY WRATH; AND THEIR LIFEBLOOD IS SPRINKLED ON MY GARMENTS, AND I STAINED ALL MY RAIMENT. FOR THE DAY OF VENGEANCE WAS IN MY HEART, AND MY YEAR OF REDEMPTION HAS COME. (ISAIAH 63:1–4) O GOD, WHEN YOU WENT FORTH BEFORE YOUR PEOPLE, WHEN YOU MARCHED THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, SELAH. THE EARTH QUAKED; THE HEAVENS ALSO DROPPED RAIN AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD; SINAI ITSELF QUAKED AT THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL… THE CHARIOTS OF GOD ARE MYRIADS, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS; THE LORD IS AMONG THEM AS AT SINAI, IN HOLINESS… (PSALM 68:7–8, 17) SURELY GOD WILL SHATTER THE HEAD OF HIS ENEMIES, THE HAIRY CROWN OF HIM WHO GOES ON IN HIS GUILTY DEEDS. THE LORD SAID, “I WILL BRING THEM BACK FROM BASHAN. I WILL BRING THEM BACK FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA; THAT YOUR FOOT MAY SHATTER THEM IN BLOOD, THE TONGUE OF YOUR DOGS MAY HAVE ITS PORTION FROM YOUR ENEMIES. THEY HAVE SEEN YOUR PROCESSION, O GOD, THE PROCESSION OF MY GOD, MY KING, INTO THE SANCTUARY. THE SINGERS WENT ON, THE MUSICIANS AFTER THEM, IN THE MIDST OF THE MAIDENS BEATING TAMBOURINES. (PSALM 68:21–25) THE WORDS OF THE BLESSING WHICH ENOCH BLESSED THE RIGHTEOUS CHOSEN WHO WILL BE PRESENT ON THE DAY OF TRIBULATION, TO REMOVE ALL THE ENEMIES; AND THE RIGHTEOUS WILL BE SAVED. AND HE TOOK UP HIS DISCOURSE AND SAID, “ENOCH, A RIGHTEOUS MAN WHOSE EYES WERE OPENED BY GOD, WHO HAD THE VISION OF THE HOLY ONE AND OF HEAVEN, WHICH HE SHOWED ME… (1 ENOCH 1:1-3) “ THE GREAT HOLY ONE WILL COME FORTH FROM HIS DWELLING, AND THE ETERNAL GOD WILL TREAD FROM THERE UPON MOUNT SINAI. HE WILL APPEAR WITH HIS ARMY,” HE WILL APPEAR WITH HIS MIGHTY HOST FROM THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS. ALL THE WATCHERS WILL FEAR AND QUAKE, AND THOSE WHO ARE HIDING IN ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH WILL SING. ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH WILL BE SHAKEN, AND TREMBLING AND GREAT FEAR WILL SEIZE THEM (THE WATCHERS) UNTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH… THERE WILL BE JUDGMENT ON ALL. (1 ENOCH 1:4-7) … LOOK, HE COMES WITH THE MYRIADS OF HIS HOLY ONES, TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT ON ALL, AND TO DESTROY ALL THE WICKED, AND TO CONVICT ALL HUMANITY FOR ALL THE WICKED DEEDS THAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND THE PROUD AND HARD WORDS THAT WICKED SINNERS SPOKE AGAINST HIM. (1 ENOCH 1:9-11) IT WAS ALSO ABOUT THESE MEN THAT ENOCH, IN THE SEVENTH GENERATION FROM ADAM, PROPHESIED, SAYING, “BEHOLD, THE LORD CAME WITH MANY THOUSANDS OF HIS HOLY ONES, TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT UPON ALL, AND TO CONVICT ALL THE UNGODLY OF ALL THEIR UNGODLY DEEDS WHICH THEY HAVE DONE IN AN UNGODLY WAY, AND OF ALL THE HARSH THINGS WHICH UNGODLY SINNERS HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST HIM.”. (JUDE 14-15)