Brook of Egypt facts for kids
The Brook of Egypt is a name you might find in some English versions of the Bible. It comes from the Hebrew phrase נַחַל מִצְרַיִם, which means "wadi of Egypt." A wadi is a dry riverbed that only fills with water during heavy rains.
This "Brook of Egypt" was an important natural feature. It marked the southernmost border of the ancient Land of Israel. For a long time, people have wondered exactly which river or wadi the Bible was talking about.
Where is the Brook of Egypt?
Many experts have tried to figure out where the "Brook of Egypt" was located. There are two main ideas about its identity.
The Besor Stream Idea
Some archaeologists, like Nadav Na'aman from Israel and Mario Liverani from Italy, believe the "Brook of Egypt" was actually the Besor Stream. This stream is located just south of the Gaza Strip.
Why do they think this?
- During the Late Bronze Age, the Besor Stream area was controlled by Ancient Egypt.
- Later, in the Iron Age, the Philistines lived there.
This idea suggests that the border of Israel was closer to what is now Gaza.
The Wadi el-Arish Idea
Another popular idea is that the "Brook of Egypt" was the Wadi el-Arish. This is a large wadi that flows into the Mediterranean Sea near the modern Egyptian city of Arish.
Here's why some people think it's Wadi el-Arish:
- The Bible mentions that the Israelites traveled from a place called Sukkot after leaving Egypt.
- The name Sukkot means "palm huts" in Hebrew.
- In Arabic, this name was translated as El-Arish. This suggests a link to the city of El-Arish.
- A famous Jewish scholar named Saadia Gaon, who lived in El-Arish, believed that Naḥal Mizraim was the wadi of El-Arish.
Also, an ancient Greek translation of the Bible, called the Septuagint, translates "Naḥal Mizraim" in the Book of Isaiah as Rhinocorura. This was an ancient city believed to be near modern El-Arish.
Even though the Hebrew word naḥal later came to mean small rivers, in ancient Biblical Hebrew, it could mean any wadi or river valley. So, both the Besor Stream and Wadi el-Arish are possible.
Many scholars, like Sara Japhet, agree that "Nahal Mizraim" refers to Wadi el-Arish. This wadi reaches the Mediterranean Sea about 30 miles south of Rafah. She also believes that another biblical phrase, "Shihor Mizraim," refers to the Nile River.
