The Exodus from Egypt: A Planned Strategy and the Dried Riverbed
The Exodus from Egypt: A Planned Strategy and the Dried Riverbed In the Islamic exegetical tradition, the Quranic verses narrating the Exodus ( hijrah ) of Prophet Moses and his people from Egypt have mostly been interpreted through the lens of Judeo-Christian alterations ( isra'iliyyat ) as supernatural, instantaneous miracles. However, the conceptual nuances and the action plan outlined in Surah Ta-Ha (verses 77-79) present strong evidence that this process might actually have been a pre-designed, strategic military and logistical operation based on geographical and hydraulic data. In this article, we will examine the thesis that the phrase "a dry path in the sea" ( tarîkan fi'l-bahri yebeşen ) mentioned in the verse could mean a "dried-up water or dam bed," analyzed within the context of geographical conditions and water control systems. Furthermore, the semantic background of the emphasis on planning and the expression of water through two distinct wor...