Mount Sinai, Mount Hareh, Moses’ Mountain, Arabic Jabal Ms or Hebrew Har Sinai, is a granitic peak that is located in the south-central Sinai Peninsula, South Sinai governorate, Egypt. The mountain is the primary site of divine revelation in Jewish history. It is where God is said to have appeared to Moses and bestowed him with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). As per Jews scholars, Moses received the biblical text, the decalogue, and interpretation corpus on Sinai.
History of Mount Sinai
According to Jewish tradition, Moses received the Decalogue, the biblical text, and arrangement canon on Sinai. The mountain is also revered in the Christian and Islamic faiths. The biblical Mount Sinai cannot be identified because scholars have differing views on the route of the Israelite exodus from Egypt. The place names in the scriptural account must be identified regarding present-day sites. However, Mount Sinai has is recognized as an important pilgrimage site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Hermits frequent visited the area in the early Christian era, and the monastery of St. Catherine was built at the northern foot of the mountain in 530 CE. It is the worlds oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery (see Saint Catherine’s), and is still inhabited by a few monks of the autonomous Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai. Its library of ancient biblical manuscripts, which includes the famous 4th-century Greek Codex Sinaiticus (now housed in the British Museum), has been invaluable in reconstructing the Bible’s text.
The mountain, which rises 7,497 feet (2,285 meters) above sea level, was administered by Israel from 1967 until 1979, when it was returned to Egypt.
Things to do in Mount Sinai
1. Explore the camel trail
You can find the camel trail by traversing along the northern wall of St Catherine’s Monastery, beyond the end of the monastery. This is the shorter route, which takes about two hours to ascend at a steady pace. The trail is wide and clear, with a gentle slope as it climbs a series of switchbacks. Apart from occasionally strong winds, the only potential difficulty is rough patches that can be slippery on the descent.
Most visitors walk up, but hiring a camel at the bottom, just behind the monastery, and riding it to where the camel trail ends at Elijah’s Basin is possible. Those who try this should remember that it is gentler on the anatomy (primarily the spine).
2. Repentance procedures
The 3750 Steps of Repentance, which begin outside the monastery compound’s southeastern corner, are the other route to the summit from the monastery car park. One monk laid them as a form of penance. Hewn Rock makes the 3000 steps up to Elijah’s Basin, and 750 steps to the summit. They are uneven and steep in many places, demanding strong knees and careful foot placement. On the other hand, the stunning mountain scenery along the way makes this path well worth the extra effort, and the lower reaches of the trail provide excellent views of the monastery.
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3. Climb the wadi Al Arbain hiking trail
There is an alternate route to the summit that climbs the nearby Gebel Safsafa mountain. It passes numerous historical sites. The path begins in Wadi Al Arbain, behind the village of Al Milga and continues past the 6th-century Monastery of Forty Martyrs and the Rock of Moses. It is thought to be the rock that miraculously produced drinking water after Moses struck it with his staff and some hermit cells.
Near Elijah’s Basin, this trail connects to the main Mt Sinai trail. To walk this route, you must first arrange for a guide (LE250) with one of the tour operators in Al Milga.
Mount Sinai location
Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Moses, Mount Hareh, Hebrew Har Sinai, or Arabic Jabal Ms is located near the granitic peak of the south-central Sinai Peninsula, Janb Sn (South Sinai) (governorate), Egypt.
Conclusion
Sinai is one of the most important places you could ever visit; there are many things to do, tap into many cultures. Words fail to describe the beauty of Mount Sinai. Further, the religious significance of the place complements all the other praise-worthy merits of this beautiful mountain.
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Mount Sinai FAQs
What is the tourist experience in Sinai?
Tourists can experience calmness and adventure at the same time among the natural settings.
Where is Mount Sinai located?
Mount Sinai is located at the Saint Catherine, South Sinai Governorate 8730062, Egypt
What is the elevation of Mount Sinai?
Mount Sinai has an elevations of around 2,285 meters.
