Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-07-13
The Rock of Moses at Mount Sinai.

The following important letter from Rev
H.. n. Wallaston, of Melbourne, appears in
the London Standard. The subject is of
intense interest to the Jews: Those of
your readers who have had the opportunity
of visiting the peninsula of Sinai will re-
member that, about two miles up the Wady
FL Leja, which runs along the northwest
base of the Horeb group of mountain heads
there lies an isolated. irregular cube of
coarse red granite, which has evidently fall
len from the roof above, and which the
monks and Bedouins declare is the identical
ck in Horeb' which Moses smote, and of
which lie brought stream of fresh water to
supply the Israeltish host at Rephidim
In confirmation of the fact they draw your
attention to what is evidently seam of
softer and finer granite running through the
whole mass, which presents a weatherworh
appearance. This, they say, was caused by
he action of the miraculous stream of wat
er, and that the several horizontal cracks or
fissures, in it are the marks of Moses rod.
Although no intelligent man believes word
of their silly legend yet this stone has been
regularly shown and visited by travellers for
centuries as Moses rock, no one apparent
ly even surprising it possible that there
could be any other rock in the vicinity
which, from its character and position,
would fulfill the conditions of the rock in
Horeb, referred to in Exodus xvii. 1t is
to the existence, and | think also to the
discovery of such rock, that would
through your columns draw the attention of
the past and future travellers to that inter
esting region On the northeastern face of
Mount Sinai (Jabel Sufsafeh), IN the Wady
Shubeib, at the head of which stands the
Convent of ST. Catharine and close to
Aaron hill, is protruding mass Of rock,
about SO feet in diameter, much water and
weather worn, and presenting smooth and
striking appearance. 1t forms portion of
the solid granite cliff which rises 200 feet
above it. La the lower part of this protu-
tuberance is fissure of semi circular or
rather horse shoe shape, about four feet
long and four inches wide. Out of this 6s-
sure, inside of which small shrub is grow
ing, runs a perpetual stream of the purest
spring water, clear as crystal and of deli
cious coolness and favor, which according
to the testimony of the Arabs, has never
been known to fail. The water thus flowing
out of the very heart Of the living rock of
Sinai is received into an artificial basin
! thence it descends to a succession of sma!
and rudely constructed terraces, where the
Bedouins cultivate few fruit trees and
vegetables When the stream is large, it
must run down the Wady Esh Sheikh,
which is the only Wady which runs down
| the hill from Mount Sinai-the others run
ming up hill to the base of that mountain.
| The trees and terraces prevent the latter
| from being visible from the usual camping
| ground of travellers, and can only be seen
| by climbing up over the terraces to it.
Were all these artificial distractions remov-
ed the assures would probably be six or
seven feet from the ground at the base of
| the natural cliff which here is nearly pur
pendicular This is the fountain from
which ali travellers who camp under Sinai
| obtain their supply of water; but, as it is
out of sight and the water is always drawn
and brought to camp by natives, who are as
| ignorant as they are poor 1t appears entire
| ly to have escaped their notice. Could this
have been the real rock in Horeb' of the
Scripture history If Rephidim was situ-
ated some miles down the Wady Esh
Sheikh, where Robinson places it, and
where from the sacred narrative it probably
was, then Moses with the elders of Israel
assembled Esh Sheikh to the Mount of God,
| and there directly facing him at the head of
the valley, was this rock fountain with
which he was, probably, already familiar,
! from his former long residence in this vicin-
ity, and from which now by God S command
he drew forth an abundant stream of water,
which, pouring down the Wady, would in
a short time reach the Israelitish camp at
! Rephidim?