30 July 2025
By Publisher Ray Carmen
A recently publicised discovery at Egypt’s Serabit el‑Khadim turquoise mine has ignited debate: an independent researcher claims a 3,800‑year‑old Proto‑Sinaitic inscription may literally read “zot m’ Moshe”, Hebrew for “This is from Moses.” If genuine, this could mark the very first external reference to the biblical Moses .
What Was Found
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The inscription, located in Mine L near the famed Sinai 357, dates to around 1800 BC, during Egypt’s late Twelfth Dynasty .
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After eight years of study using high-resolution photography and structured-light 3D scans, researcher Michael Bar‑Ron proposes that faint characters definitively spell out the phrase “This is from Moses” .
Cultural & Religious Context
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Nearby carvings refer to the Semitic deity El, and earlier depictions of the Egyptian goddess Hathor appear to have been defaced, which suggests an ideological tug-of-war among Semitic workers in the mines .
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Additional archaeological traces include references to temple destruction, overseer inscriptions, and phrases like the “Gate of the Accursed One,” all of which echo themes from the Exodus narrative .
Scholarly Reception
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Bar‑Ron’s academic advisor Dr Pieter van der Veen supports the reading, stating, “You’re absolutely correct… it is not imagined!” .
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Meanwhile, Egyptologists such as Dr Thomas Schneider of UBC caution that the interpretation rests on tenuous, speculative letter identifications and lacks peer-reviewed publication .
What It Could Mean
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If validated, the find might constitute the earliest known reference to Moses, bolstering theories of Semitic presence in Sinai and providing material evidence for the Exodus tradition.
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If disputed, it may instead reflect typical graffiti or dedications by migrant workers using Semitic names long before canonical scripture was composed.
Key Facts Snapshot
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Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
|
Location |
Serabit el‑Khadim, Sinai Peninsula |
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Dating |
Approx. 1800 BC, Egyptian 12th Dynasty |
|
Inscription Text |
“zot m’ Moshe” (“This is from Moses”) |
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Researcher |
Michael Bar‑Ron |
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Support |
Pieter van der Veen (Academia) |
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Concern |
Mainstream scholars urge caution over clarity and context |
Final Reflections
This excavation may open a new window into the ancient world of Semitic laborers and early alphabetic writing. Whether the inscription truly bears Moses’ name remains to be rigorously tested. Critics urge peer review and wider scholarly evaluation, while believers point to the alignment of discoverable script with the biblical route through Sinai as compelling.
Whether or not history vindicates this claim, the debate is itself a fascinating crossroads between faith, archaeology, and decipherment.
