Latest news with #Israelites
Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Incredible scientific discovery proves Moses did part Red Sea and how he did it
A key moment in Christianity, Islam and Judaism which requires a certain amount of faith to believe could have happened - now has a plausible scientific explanation The story of Moses parting the Red Sea - 'Yam Suph' in Hebrew - is one of the most well known parables of the Old Testament. It tells the tale of the prophet leading the Israelites out of slavery in the exodus from Egypt. According to the biblical narrative, Moses - led by God- raised his staff over the Red Sea, causing the waters to divide, which allowed his people to walk across on dry land. The pharaoh and his pursuing armies then perished after following the fleeing party as the sea closed back together, drowning them. This event is recounted in the Old Testament (Exodus 14: 19-31). According to the National Gallery in London: "When the Israelites reached the Red Sea Moses stretched out his hand and the waters divided, allowing his followers safe passage. The Egyptians followed them but God again commanded Moses to stretch out his hand and the sea engulfed the army." In the biblical account, after dispatching the seven plagues of Egypt, Moses led the Israelites out into the wilderness in search of the promised land, reports the Irish Star. The fleeing group found themselves trapped between the advancing army of the Pharaoh on one side and the Red Sea on the other. Depictions in films such as 'The Ten Commandments' or 'The Prince of Egypt' show Moses commanding the waters of the Red Sea to open long enough for the Israelites to flee Egypt which paints a vivid picture on the big screen. But now scientists have hypothesised that there may be a natural phenomenon which caused the sea to part and they argue that the real miracle would have been in the impeccable timing of the Israelites fleeing the Egyptians. According to the Daily Mail, the theory is backed up by computer modelling which indicates that a strong wind of 62 mile per hour (100kmph) winds blowing from the right direction could open a 3-mile-wide (5km) channel through the water. And, as those winds dipped, the waters would have rushed back with the speed of a tsunami which would have drowned the Egyptian army who were weighed down by chariots and other equipment. Carl Drews, an oceanographer from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, told MailOnline: "The crossing of the Red Sea is a supernatural phenomenon that incorporates a natural component - the miracle is in the timing." According to Dr Bruce Parker, former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the prophet could have used his knowledge of the tides to flee Egypt. This is also backed up in the Bible which states: "The Lord caused the sea to go by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea into dry and the waters were divided." Some scientific experts claim the mention of a strong wind is key to understanding how Moses really crossed the Red Sea. In an article for the Wall Street Journal, Dr Parker wrote: "Moses had lived in the nearby wilderness in his early years, and he knew where caravans crossed the Red Sea at low tide. He knew the night sky and the ancient methods of predicting the tide, based on where the moon was overhead and how full it was." Meanwhile, the Pharaoh's men lived on the tide-less Nile River and would have been unaware of the dangers that faced them - leading the soldiers to be ambushed by nature when the tide came rushing back in. One issue, however is the direction of the breeze mentioned in the Bible which is that it was a easterly wind. Professor Nathan Paldor, an ocean scientist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told MailOnline: "When a strong wind blows southward from the head of Gulf for about one day, the water is pushed seawards, thus exposing the bottom that was previously underwater." The professor's calculations theorise that a wind blowing between 65 and 70 kilometres per hour (40-45 mph) from the northwest could have made such a path for the Israelites in their escape from Egypt. A wind in the conditions mentioned blowing for an entire night could have pushed the waters of the sea back by up to a mile. It would also drop the sea level by about three metres and allow the Israelites to move across the floor on an underwater ridge. In his original research paper, Professor Paldor maintains that the original Hebrew description is 'Rauch kadim' which can mean either north-easterly or south-easterly. It may also be the case that the true direction was lost in translation at some point. There are also theories that the location of the event occurred elsewhere with others believing it could have occurred at the Lake of Tannis.
Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
Incredible scientific discovery proves Moses did part Red Sea and how he did it
The story of Moses parting the Red Sea - 'Yam Suph' in Hebrew - is one of the most well known parables of the Old Testament. It tells the tale of the prophet leading the Israelites out of slavery in the exodus from Egypt. According to the biblical narrative, Moses - led by God- raised his staff over the Red Sea, causing the waters to divide, which allowed his people to walk across on dry land. The pharaoh and his pursuing armies then perished after following the fleeing party as the sea closed back together, drowning them. This event is recounted in the Old Testament (Exodus 14: 19-31). According to the National Gallery in London: "When the Israelites reached the Red Sea Moses stretched out his hand and the waters divided, allowing his followers safe passage. The Egyptians followed them but God again commanded Moses to stretch out his hand and the sea engulfed the army." In the biblical account, after dispatching the seven plagues of Egypt, Moses led the Israelites out into the wilderness in search of the promised land, reports the Irish Star. The fleeing group found themselves trapped between the advancing army of the Pharaoh on one side and the Red Sea on the other. Depictions in films such as 'The Ten Commandments' or 'The Prince of Egypt' show Moses commanding the waters of the Red Sea to open long enough for the Israelites to flee Egypt which paints a vivid picture on the big screen. But now scientists have hypothesised that there may be a natural phenomenon which caused the sea to part and they argue that the real miracle would have been in the impeccable timing of the Israelites fleeing the Egyptians. According to the Daily Mail, the theory is backed up by computer modelling which indicates that a strong wind of 62 mile per hour (100kmph) winds blowing from the right direction could open a 3-mile-wide (5km) channel through the water. And, as those winds dipped, the waters would have rushed back with the speed of a tsunami which would have drowned the Egyptian army who were weighed down by chariots and other equipment. Carl Drews, an oceanographer from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, told MailOnline: "The crossing of the Red Sea is a supernatural phenomenon that incorporates a natural component - the miracle is in the timing." According to Dr Bruce Parker, former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the prophet could have used his knowledge of the tides to flee Egypt. This is also backed up in the Bible which states: "The Lord caused the sea to go by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea into dry and the waters were divided." Some scientific experts claim the mention of a strong wind is key to understanding how Moses really crossed the Red Sea. In an article for the Wall Street Journal, Dr Parker wrote: "Moses had lived in the nearby wilderness in his early years, and he knew where caravans crossed the Red Sea at low tide. He knew the night sky and the ancient methods of predicting the tide, based on where the moon was overhead and how full it was." Meanwhile, the Pharaoh's men lived on the tide-less Nile River and would have been unaware of the dangers that faced them - leading the soldiers to be ambushed by nature when the tide came rushing back in. One issue, however is the direction of the breeze mentioned in the Bible which is that it was a easterly wind. Professor Nathan Paldor, an ocean scientist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told MailOnline: "When a strong wind blows southward from the head of Gulf for about one day, the water is pushed seawards, thus exposing the bottom that was previously underwater." The professor's calculations theorise that a wind blowing between 65 and 70 kilometres per hour (40-45 mph) from the northwest could have made such a path for the Israelites in their escape from Egypt. A wind in the conditions mentioned blowing for an entire night could have pushed the waters of the sea back by up to a mile. It would also drop the sea level by about three metres and allow the Israelites to move across the floor on an underwater ridge. In his original research paper, Professor Paldor maintains that the original Hebrew description is 'Rauch kadim' which can mean either north-easterly or south-easterly. It may also be the case that the true direction was lost in translation at some point. There are also theories that the location of the event occurred elsewhere with others believing it could have occurred at the Lake of Tannis.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Bible's plague of locusts explained as scientists discover horrifying reality
Tel Aviv University researchers may have solved an age-old mystery recorded in the Bible - the reason behind locusts forming devastating swarms that have been destroying crops and causing famines since ancient times Researchers at Tel Aviv University have cracked an ancient enigma mentioned in the Bible - what causes locusts to form massive swarms that destroy crops. The team focused on what triggers these usually solitary and harmless insects to drastically change their behaviour and gather into vast migrating swarms, a phenomenon that has puzzled scientists and agriculturalists for ages. These devastating swarms have been destroying crops and causing famines since biblical times, with the Book of Exodus describing locusts as the eighth of ten plagues inflicted on Egypt, where the Israelites were held captive. "They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields," the scripture recounts. The Tel Aviv University researchers discovered that the gut bacterial composition of a locust, known as the microbiome, undergoes significant changes when the insect becomes part of a larger group, reports the Mirror US. A type of bacteria called Weissella, which is nearly non-existent in the microbiome of solitary locusts, becomes prevalent during the insect's "gregarious phase," which is when they swarm, according to the study's findings. Scientists used a custom-built model to monitor changes in the Weissella bacteria and discovered that swarming enabled the bacteria to spread and infect a large number of locusts, providing a clear evolutionary advantage. Prof. Amir Ayali, who led the study, said: "Our findings do not prove unequivocally that the Weissella bacteria are responsible for the swarming and migration of locusts. The results do however suggest a high probability that the bacteria play an important role in inducing this behaviour - a new hypothesis never previously proposed." Ayali noted the study's findings could have significant implications for the "countless people, animals, and plants all over the globe" still threatened by locust outbreaks. "We hope that this new understanding will drive the development of new means for combating locust outbreaks." Locust swarms can devastate crops and lead to famines. Over the past three years, large areas of Africa, India, and Pakistan have been severely affected by locust swarms. According to Locust Watch, a division of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) "is the most destructive migratory pest in the world. "They are ravenous eaters who consume their own weight per day, targeting food crops and forage," it said. A single swarm has "the capacity to consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people," the group added. In 2013, a swarm entered Israel from Egypt. The study from Tel Aviv University was released last month in the peer-reviewed science journal, Environmental Microbiology.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Science
- Irish Daily Mirror
Bible's eighth plague of locusts explained by scientists in terrifying discovery
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have recently unravelled a long-standing mystery documented in the Bible - the reason behind locusts forming massive, crop-destroying swarms. The team was particularly interested in what triggers these typically harmless and solitary insects to dramatically alter their behaviour and gather into vast migrating swarms, a phenomenon that has baffled both scientists and agriculturalists for centuries. These devastating swarms have been destroying crops and causing famines since biblical times. The Book of Exodus recounts locusts as the eighth of ten plagues descended on Egypt, where the Israelites were held captive. "They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields," the scripture describes. The researchers at Tel Aviv University discovered that the gut bacterial composition of a locust, known as the microbiome, undergoes significant changes when the insect becomes part of a larger group, reports the Mirror US. A type of bacteria called Weissella, which is nearly non-existent in the microbiome of solitary locusts, becomes prevalent during the insect's "gregarious phase," which is when they swarm, according to the study's findings. Scientists used a custom-built model to monitor changes in the Weissella bacteria and discovered that swarming enabled the bacteria to spread and infect a large number of locusts, providing a clear evolutionary advantage. Prof. Amir Ayali, who led the study, said: "Our findings do not prove unequivocally that the Weissella bacteria are responsible for the swarming and migration of locusts. The results do however suggest a high probability that the bacteria play an important role in inducing this behaviour - a new hypothesis never previously proposed." Ayali noted the study's findings could have significant implications for the "countless people, animals, and plants all over the globe" still threatened by locust outbreaks. "We hope that this new understanding will drive the development of new means for combating locust outbreaks." Locust swarms can devastate crops and lead to famines. Over the past three years, large areas of Africa, India, and Pakistan have been severely affected by locust swarms. According to Locust Watch, a division of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, the Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) "is the most destructive migratory pest in the world. "They are ravenous eaters who consume their own weight per day, targeting food crops and forage," it said. A single swarm has "the capacity to consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people," the group added. In 2013, a swarm entered Israel from Egypt. The study from Tel Aviv University was released last month in the peer-reviewed science journal, Environmental Microbiology.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Another DeSantis ally takes Florida's top public education job
Anastasios 'Stasi' Kamoutsas was named Florida's next commissioner of education on Monday during a meeting filled with political and religious overtones, continuing the trend of Gov. Ron DeSantis' allies being placed in leadership positions across the state's public education system. Kamoutsas, the governor's deputy chief of staff, was named the state's top education official by the Florida State Board of Education, which convened at Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus. He is expected to succeed Manny Diaz Jr., a former Miami-Dade teacher and lawmaker who has been named interim president of the University of West Florida. Kamoutsas was recommended for the job by DeSantis, who previously made him his deputy chief of staff. Previously, he was the general counsel and chief of staff at the Florida Department of Education. As one of DeSantis' top aides, Kamoutsas has overseen policy efforts in education, law enforcement and emergency management. He is a Florida International University alum and holds a juris doctorate from Regent University School of Law Kamoutsas thanked the governor for the trust he bestowed on him to hold the position. The meeting was filled with educators, education administrators and students from across the state, and began with a prayer reminding everyone in the room of the responsibility they hold to ensure students in Florida are served. After the board passed a motion to appoint Kamoutsas, a line of conservative education leaders from across the state took to the podium to speak his praises. Most shook hands with and hugged Kamoutsas, who was seated in the front row with his wife and four daughters, who wore matching baby-pink dresses. Madeline Pumariega, the president of Miami Dade College, called Kamoutsas 'a man of faith and family.' Sarah Velasquez, a teacher, praised his commitment to 'his life in Christ.' Governor DeSantis' allies, including Monica Colluci, vice chair of the Miami-Dade School Board, Jeanette Nuñez, interim president at Florida International University, and Tory Alston, president at Broward College, all spoke favorably of Kamoutsas at the meeting. Roberto J. Gonzalez, a Miami-Dade commissioner in Kendall, said, 'Moses led the Israelites out of slavery. But right when they were about to get to the promised land, Moses had to step down.' Gonzalez compared Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to 'slavery,' and said that he cannot think of anyone better to 'lead Florida to the promised land.' Colluci, president of the Florida High School Athletic Association, where she has worked with Kamoutsas, said she was confident he would safeguard experiences for female students, alluding to an effort by the state to ensure transgender women cannot compete in women's athletics. Nuñez said she knows he will do a phenomenal job, including 'making sure we eliminate DEI.' All of the members on the State Board of Education supported him, including one member saying she was 'giddy' about him taking on the role. Diaz, who has served as commissioner of education since 2022, also expressed his confidence. Diaz is set to join the University of West Florida as president on July 14, pending confirmation by the state university system's Board of Governors. 'Thanks to his leadership, we have seen the Florida Board of Education rise to new heights,' said Chairman Ben Gibson, touting Florida's high rankings in education, including the state being tops in the nation for school choice and school freedom. Kamoutsas' appointment will be contingent upon Diaz being approved as president.
