40 Years of Wandering and the Exodus Population

Walt Nusbaum errancy@infidels.org
Mon, 17 May 1999 17:23:33 -0500 (00926997813, 374096E4.590C@airmail.net)


WALT

JAlw@aol.com wrote:

>
> Farrell Till:
>
> The exodus stories ask us to believe that about 3 million people wandered in
> this wilderness for a period of
> 40 years, but how likely is it that 3 million people could do that in a
> relatively confined area without finding their way out of the wilderness?
>
> Let's suppose that these 3 million traveled, say, 200 abreast, taking with
> them their tents, herds, and other possessions as they marched along. How
> long would this line of humanity have been? If they traveled this way, there
> would have been 15,000 columns, and if they had only 3 feet between the
> columns, they would have been strung out over a distance of almost 9 miles.
> ===============
> Joe Alward:
>
> I have one question, and then a comment.
>
> First, does the Bible says that the Hebrews were *lost* in the wilderness?
> I've seen references to "wandering", but I've not seen any that make it clear
> that they made continuous efforts to find Canaan but failed.
>

> On another matter of less importance: I think that Till must mean that there
> were 15,000 "rows", not columns.
WALT Joe, All military movements of massed troops(except in battle) are performed in "columns". I can well-remember morning parades and the command, "Pass in review", followed by, "Columnn of companies, leading company, right turn".....and we were off. Also, you may wish to check any dictionary, or maybe not, 'cause you might consider that to be "research". Best wishes, Walt