Plain of er-Raha

1,600 m above sea level

In the Bible

Israel camped in front of the mountain; while Moses stayed on it, the people asked Aaron to make them gods, and he fashioned a calf of gold.

Exod 19:1–2In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. After they had set out from Rephidim, they entered the Wilderness of Sinai, and Israel camped there in front of the mountain.

Exod 32:1–6Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.

Tradition

By tradition, this broad plain north of the mountain is where Israel camped; Egeria was shown here the place where the calf was made.

Here today

A wide sandy plain at the foot of Ras Safsafa, partly built over by the town of St Catherine.

Through the eyes of old pilgrims

This is that same great and flat valley in which the children of Israel waited during the days when holy Moses went up into the Mount of God, where he was for forty days and forty nights.Egeria, c. 381–384

They also pointed out the place where the calf was made; a great stone is fixed in that place to this day.Egeria, c. 381–384

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Land outlines: Natural Earth (public domain).