The biblical story of how the waters of the Red Sea miraculously parted for Moses and the Israelites who fled from the pharaoh could have actually happened, scientists suggest based on a new computer model.
As part of a study of wind behavior at depth, researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) found that a strong east wind that blows all night could have pushed the water apart, forming a bend where rivers are believed to merge with a lagoon on the Mediterranean Sea.
“The simulations fit well with the description of the Jewish exodus from Egypt,” Carl Drews, the author of the study, said in a press release.
“The parting waters can be explained by fluid dynamics. The wind moves the water, and in accordance with the laws of physics, creates a reliable passage on both sides, after which, abruptly allows the water to return to its place."
The creators based their computer model on reconstructing the likely location and depth of the Nile Delta at the time of biblical events 3,000 years ago.
Previous explanations for this miracle include tsunamis, but tsunamis could not have caused the waters to recede at night or be related to wind. Other scientists are looking at "calm storms" - the opposite of storm surges, during which strong, incessant winds can lower the water level.
“Storm calm occurs when the wind blows along the surface of the water and the water level drops, thus creating a dry space. This is a well-known phenomenon,”says Carl Drews.
“Some of the difficulty lies in the fact that it is difficult to ensure that there is water on both sides when crossing. The biblical story describes that the wall of water was on both the left and right sides. And the scientists who developed the previous model tried to recreate this phenomenon."
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During a study by Russian scientists, it was found that hurricane winds (119 km per hour) could push the waters of the reef near the Suez Canal. However, Drews and his co-author Weiqing Han, in their work published in the electronic version of PLoS ONE magazine, were not convinced that the reef could be completely exposed and that people could pass through it in such a strong wind.
In a new study, Drews and Hanh, using an ancient topographic map of the Nile Delta, identified a location 121 kilometers north of the Suez Canal. The historical water movement and the height of the watercourse have been calculated based on archaeological calculations, satellite measurements and modern maps.
Using computer models, scientists have found that winds of 117 km / h, lasting 12 hours, can push waters about 2 meters deep. This could form a passage about 3.2 km long and 4.8 km wide for approximately 4 hours.
When the wind stopped, the waters could return to their previous position, as described in the Bible, when the army of the pharaoh tried to catch up with the fleeing Israelites.
“People have always wondered about the history of the exodus of Jews from Egypt, wondering if it was a real historical fact,” Drus said. "This study shows that the description of the parted waters is in accordance with the laws of physics."
Kat PIPER / translated by Ksenia ROMAKHINA