On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
Exodus 19:16-19
After 3-4 hours of sleep, we woke up at 2:30am to drive the mile or so to the base of Jebel Musa, the traditional location of Mt. Sinai. Nearby is St. Catherine’s Monastery, purposely located at the foot of this famous mountain. We began the long ascent. Some rented camels, which takes you much of the way up. The bright moon lit our way as we ascended. There are various rest points along the way, more than willing to sell you snacks and beverages. I reached the main stopping point in 2.5-3 hours, where all the camel rides end. Despite being cool outside, I was warm from the hike, having my winter coat and multiple layers on.
We rested there for 30 minutes, having an idea of when the sun would rise and how long it would take to climb the rest of the way. Then it was back on the path, up a steep ascent of stairs before making to the peak.
We didn’t have to wait long before the sun popped its fiery head over the distant horizon to sounds of oooos and ahhhhs and the clicking of hundreds of cameras. As other groups began leaving, we spent some time in reflection on top, reading Exodus 19-20 where the Israelites arrived at Mt. Sinai, saw the glory of God descend to the top of the mountain, and deliver the Ten Commandments.
However, what goes up must come down. We descended in the daylight, shedding our coats as the day warmed up. I made it back down in about 1.5 hours, reaching St. Catherine’s Monastery 10 minutes before it opened at 9:00am.
We had a little while to explore the monastery before going back to the hotel for breakfast. Then we departed back to Israel. Driving north past the Dead Sea, we could see a lunar eclipse to the east, reflecting off the its salty waters. The next day I would depart Israel to go home. From beginning to end, this had been an adventure of a life time.
If you’re interested in another perspective on our trip around Egypt, another fellow student has an excellent summary here. See if you can spot yours truly in one of his pictures.