Did Moses cross the Red sea or was a sea of reeds?

[amor]

I came across the claim that in Exodus the actual Hebrew says that Moses led the Israelites through a Sea of Reeds, not the Red sea many years ago, forgot about it, and came across it again today. Is this a correct translation of the Hebrew if so, why do Christians continue to refer to the event as the crossing of the Red Sea.

Link to an article on this here.

Edited September 17, 2004 by amor

[Kabowd]

"And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and shall hold your peace."

"And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea an divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea....(verse 21) Then 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 into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." Exodus 14:13-16, 21-22

Whether it was known as the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds, the content of the story remains the same. The Lord saved His people and fought for them, clearly causing a sea of water to divide so they could pass through safely on dry ground.

[amor]

"And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and shall hold your peace."

"And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea an divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea....(verse 21) Then 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 into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left." Exodus 14:13-16, 21-22

Whether it was known as the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds, the content of the story remains the same. The Lord saved His people and fought for them, clearly causing a sea of water to divide so they could pass through safely on dry ground.

Is it important? I don't know if it is or not, but I do find it strange that such a mistraslation, if so it be, is allowed to go unchallenged. If, as many here do, you claim the Bible to be literally correct in all details, do you not damage your arguements by allowing errors like this to go unchecked, and indeed perpetuate them.

I've just done some more research on this issue and it seems that the term Red Sea was first used in the Septagent, the third century BCE translation of the Old Testament into Latin.

[Kabowd]

"And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and shall hold your peace."

"And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea an divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea....(verse 21) Then 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 into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left."  Exodus 14:13-16, 21-22

Whether it was known as the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds, the content of the story remains the same. The Lord saved His people and fought for them, clearly causing a sea of water to divide so they could pass through safely on dry ground.

Is it important? I don't know if it is or not, but I do find it strange that such a mistraslation, if so it be, is allowed to go unchallenged. If, as many here do, you claim the Bible to be literally correct in all details, do you not damage your arguements by allowing errors like this to go unchecked, and indeed perpetuate them.

I've just done some more research on this issue and it seems that the term Red Sea was first used in the Septagent, the third century BCE translation of the Old Testament into Latin.

First of all, the Bible is infallible. However, I don't know anyone who claims that there couldn't be details lost in translation. That's why it's important to stick with reputable translations who used original documents and texts to create their translation.

All that aside, however, if someone is going to let the name of a sea prevent them from comprehending the content of the message..that's foolishness. It's one thing to research for the purpose of study and understanding, it's another to probe the Word of God for the purpose of discrediting it or with the intent to cast a shadow on it's authority.

I could be wrong, but it seems your intent is not to deeper understand. It appears that your intention is to start a debate about the authenticity of Scripture. If that's the case, you picked the wrong forum. If my perceptions are wrong, I apologize in advance. I'm just a little touchy sometimes when it seems ppl post things to "bait" my brothers and sisters, or with the intent to quarrel or divide.

[amor]

"And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and shall hold your peace."

"And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea an divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea....(verse 21) Then 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 into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left."

[bad biker]

Pharaoh' s entire army drowned there. That should give you a clue.

[amor]

Pharaoh' s entire army drowned there.  That should give you a clue.

Yes, but where did they drown? That was the question I asked.

Edited to add:I have since noticed that the online NIV does give Sea of Reeds as being the Hebrew alternative in its notes. Which is more than other online translations seem to do.

Edited September 17, 2004 by amor

[Kabowd]

Pharaoh' s entire army drowned there.

[nagwalk]

Pretty hard for a whole army to drown in a sea of reeds..

[jcm]

Nag, there is a big difference between 'a sea of reeds' and 'The Sea of Reeds'. The first could refer to a very big shallow area with lots of reeds and the second could refer to a sea given that name. I think in the NIV Sea of Reeds is given as an alternative translation to the name Red Sea. There is nothing there to preclude them from being one and the same.