8 
settled. Brugsch Bey has propounded an ingenious theory 
that the Israelites leaving Egypt by El Kantara marched 
north-eastwards to the Serbonian Lake, which he identifies 
with the Yam Suph, or Bed Sea ; and that it was here that 
Pharaoh's host was overthrown. Dr. Byrch, however, does 
not consider that he has succeeded in substantiating this 
theory from the ancient Egyptian records, and it is in no 
way commended by geographical considerations. That the 
Israelites should have marched so far northwards, and then 
have doubled back to the Bitter Lakes, where Brugsch Bey 
would place Marah, and to the Gulf of Suez, appears a most 
unnatural proceeding, and difficult to fit in with the Bible 
history. The location of Succotli depends largely upon the 
position of Bameses ; Etham, we are told, was “ in the edge of 
the wilderness 99 (Exodus xiii. 20), and should therefore be 
looked for somewhere on the line of the Suez Canal, either at 
Ismailia, or, as appears to me more probable, immediately to 
the north or south of the Bitter Lakes. If at the time of the 
Exodus those lakes formed the head of the Gulf of Suez, the 
latter position is out of the question ; but this is a point which 
needs further examination. 
The passage through the Bed Sea probably took place not 
far from Suez, and then the Children of Israel entered the 
Wilderness of Etham, or Shur. The latter name, which means 
“a wall," it has been suggested, was derived from the wall- 
like appearance of the range of Jebel er Bahali, which bounded 
it on the east. 
Ayun Musa, the wells of Moses, lie about eight miles down 
the coast, and here perhaps the Israelites encamped after the 
passage ; but the Bible makes no mention of this. 
They must next have travelled down the broad plain that 
lies between the sea and Jebel er Bahali, now, as then, a journey 
of three days at the average rate of marching of a large army, 
and without water. This would bring them to a district near 
Ain Howarah, where the ground is impregnated with natron, 
and the water is bitter and unwholesome. Here were the 
Waters of Marah. 
A few miles to the south, the range of Jebel Hammam, which 
touches the sea, would compel them to turn inland, and Elim 
may be placed in the plains which lie to the north-east of that 
mountain, where there are still palm-trees and a supply of 
water. “ The encampment by the sea," mentioned in Numbers 
xxxiii. 10, appears to prove that, descending Wady Taiyibeh, 
they regained the coast, and then they must have marched on 
to the plain of El Markha, which may have been the Wilderness 
of Sin (the alternative northern route, by the Debbet er 
