# Jews in a desert for 40 years: any proof?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-in-a-desert-for-40-years-any-proof/369138>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 17, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-in-a-desert-for-40-years-any-proof/369138 "2006-08-17T21:19:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-in-a-desert-for-40-years-any-proof/369138/21 "2006-08-19T14:05:02Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> However, the numbers (population, years, etc) given in Exodus are _very_ dubious. :dubious:

More than dubious. The number of Hebrews leaving Egypt according to the bible is significantly larger than the estimated population of the whole Nile delta at the time.

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**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-in-a-desert-for-40-years-any-proof/369138/22 "2006-08-19T14:30:48Z")

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> [@Mapache](#):
>
> Try this site: [Joseph Wheless Is It Gods Word Chapter 04 » Internet Infidels](http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/joseph_wheless/is_it_gods_word/chapter_04.html)

A very good post and a good summary of the legistical problems od sustaining a large group in a desert.  
Thanks

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-in-a-desert-for-40-years-any-proof/369138/23 "2006-08-19T14:43:24Z")

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> [@monavis](#):
>
> The Pharoh’s wife was not a princess.

Of course she was; pharoahs married their sisters.

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**Author:** ![Wildfire\_MM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jews-in-a-desert-for-40-years-any-proof/369138/24 "2006-08-19T14:57:28Z")

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> [@WaterBeGood](#):
>
> Is there any hard evidence to show that tens of thousands of jews were roaming a desert for 40 years, as is claimed in the bible?

the number 40 was a symbolic number in the Middle East back then. It means many - like Ali Baba and the 40 thiefs

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