Into the Journey 

  The Exodus: Into The Journey...

Travelling Rates

To put a good distance between Egypt and The Children of Israel, God leads them during the day in a Pillar of Cloud and at night as a Pillar of Fire. The expected distance per day is 20 miles or 30 km

30km divided into 8 hours is only a speed of 3.75 km/h  - I propose that they doubled that distance and travelled 60km over 16 hours, therefore in 3 days they reach Etham and camp (see 3 Google Earth Maps below showing the Three 16 hour~60km sections).

 Travel time running total: Day 1 - 6okm, Day 2 - 120km , Day 3 - 175km.

On the 3rd day when they get to Etham Pharaoh realises from reports that they don't intend to be returning to Egypt in the allotted "3 Days in the desert for sacrifices".

 The most logical travel times are two 8 hour stretches (early morning and late afternoon, with two 4 hour breaks in between) 

A break in the heat of the day and the cold of the night.  God is not such a hard taskmaster to expect them to do more than this, even though there are no Biblical references to when the Pillar of Fire of Cloud started or stopped, I propose these travel times on the premise of logic and practicality, but also no where else in their 40 years of Exodus wandering did God command them to "travel day and night".

Bear this in mind, back then they were all much stronger than modern man, their average speed, fitness and sustainability would have been much better, also add to that the excitement of leaving Egypt and the excitement of the Pillar of Cloud/Fire leading them.

Re commentary that the Israelite's could not travel that fast, as there must have been disabled people etc.  - Addendum 07/02/2025 sent to me by Tobias Hergert

Psalms 105:37 were it is stated

"and there was none among his tribes who stumbled." (English Standard Version)

"And there was not one feeble person among their tribes." (KJV)

"and from among their tribes no-one faltered." (NIV)

I believe their bodies were healthy and strong because they had the passover before. Jesus gave his blood for forgiveness of our sins and his body for our health and strength. Paul even mentions that there are many weak and sick people because they do not know what they are eating when they have communion (1.Cor. 11:30)
Much appreciated Tobias

 Adrenalin would have been running high for three days, the plan to escape Egyptian controlled territory, little did they know that the outposts had reported them and as they camped at El Thamad [the real Etham] the army made its way across the road Way to Arabia. The Chariots can go average, 3 times faster so can make the journey in one day, that's why God turns them south. 

God knows they cannot escape Egyptian controlled territory by staying on the Way to Arabia road with the distance they would still have to go. God also knows that Pharaoh is going to hunt them down, this is unknown to The Children of Israel until they reach the crossing camp at Nuweiba

God also knows (and we read many accounts of it later) how EASY The Children of Israel lose focus and start to 'Grumble' and 'Complain', that's why in the parameters of logic, practicality and Biblical reference, but also adding the physical challenges of the terrain and the parameters of what is humanly possible, God sent The Children of Israel on the quickest, easiest and most direct route using existing highways and easy to traverse flat dry river beds from Succoth to Nuweiba, pin pointing EXACTLY where he needed them to be as to be ready for The Crossing. 

This was to cut of The Children of Israel from returning to Egypt (and at times they certainly wanted to do that), to remove the threat of Pharaoh and his army but also fulfilled God's Word that ALL Egyptians will know. (All Egyptians? Those back then, but all that have lived from that time on).

Read this link:  http://www.starways.net/lisa/essays/exodus.html     More on The Exodus by Ipuwer: 

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Proposed travel times

Leave Succoth

0300 to 1100 ~ 30km/8hr.     1100 to 1500 - Rest.

1500 to 2300 ~ 30km/8hr.    2300 to 0300 - Rest.             60km    Accumulated total

Second day

0300 to 1100 ~ 30km/8hr.      1100 to 1500 - Rest

1500 to 2300 ~ 30km/8hr.    Arrive at Qalet el-Naklh.  (Oasis)                                                                                                                                               

2300 to 0300 - Rest.          120km    Accumulated total

Third day

0300 to 1100 ~ 30km/8hr.      1100 to 1500 - Rest.

1500 to 2130 ~ 25km/6.5hr   Arrive at El Thamad.                                                                                                                                                                    

2130 to 0400 - Camp.        175km    Accumulated total

Fourth day

0400 to 1100 ~  26km/6hr.    Arrive at Highest elevation between El Thamed and Nuweiba (Down slope here onwards )             

1100 to 1500 ~ Rest.            201km        Accumulated total                                                                                                                                       

1500 to 2300 ~ 33km/8hr.  Arrive at junction of western arm and main arm of Wadi Watir.                                                                           

2300 to 0300 ~ Rest.          234km       Accumulated total

Fifth day                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

0300 to 1100 ~ 40km/8hr.     Arrive at Furtajah Springs.     276km                                                                                                                  

1100 to 1500 ~ Rest.                                                                                                                                                                               

1500 to 1800 ~ 15km/3hr.     Arrive at Nuweiba (Pa-Hahiroth)                                                                                                                                             

1800 to 2200 ~ Rest  Total      301km      Accumulated total                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Total Hours 79.5  ( 301 / 3.75 = 80.3 )                                                                                                                                                                                              

2200 to 0600 ~ 15km/8hr.  

The Crossing                                                                                                                                                        

Exodus 14 v 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,

22   And the Israelite's went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

24  During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.  (Last Watch - Midnight to 0600)

27  Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.

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Succoth to Pa-Hahiroth - Breakdown of travel including elevation and slopes  

         Link to Exodus 14:

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 First 'Day and Night'  16 hours travelling - 60km

Second 'Day and Night' 120km Water at the Oasis Qalet el-Nakhl

Third 'Day and Night' 175km Etham (El Thamad) 

Our Merciful God:

Here's where it gets very interesting. From Etham (El Thamad), turning south they would have travelled down a wadi which is quite visible on Google Earth, the end of that wadi is exactly half way between Etham and the junction of the western arm of the Wadi Watir and the main arm of the Wadi Watir, from that halfway point (between Etham and the junction) it is a constant downwards slope all the way to Pa-Hahiroth (def. "The Mouth of Water") and the Nuweiba beach; which is the "mouth" of the Wadi Watir (as a river mouth is also where it enters the sea)

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Page: D - Entangled in the Land

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