I asked an AI if the parting of the Red Sea could be linked to the explosion of Thera volcano. The idea that the timing of the Exodus from Egypt and the Thera (Santorini) volcanic eruption could explain the parting of the Red Sea is a topic of speculation and debate among scholars and scientists. Several hypotheses suggest that the massive volcanic eruption of Thera around 1600 BCE could have caused significant natural phenomena such as tsunamis, earthquakes, and unusual weather patterns. These events might have inspired or been interpreted as the biblical description of the parting of the Red Sea or the "pillar of fire and cloud" mentioned in the Exodus narrative. Some theories propose that a tsunami triggered by the Thera eruption could have caused a temporary recession of water along coastal areas, potentially allowing the Israelites to cross a body of water that later returned with a wave, engulfing the pursuing Egyptian army. However, there are challenges with this explanation, including the exact timing of the Exodus (which is debated) and the physical and geographical details of the biblical account, which do not perfectly align with a tsunami scenario. In summary: The Thera eruption could have caused natural disasters that might correlate with some biblical descriptions. The timing of the Exodus and the eruption is uncertain and debated. Physical and historical evidence does not conclusively support the tsunami or volcanic eruption as the direct cause of the Red Sea parting. The connection remains a hypothesis blending geological events with biblical tradition rather than a confirmed historical fact. This topic remains an intriguing intersection of geology, archaeology, and theology, but definitive proof linking the two events is lacking.
I pondered this for years ever since I visited Santorini and Crete which had its Minoan civilisation wiped out in the resulting tsunami. No doubt the explosion caused a pillar of fire and clouds of smoke visible for hundreds of miles. So much of the island of Thera was blown into the air at once, it created a shock wave, tsunami, and also swallowed so much water it lowered shorelines all over the area. The tsunami probably also sucked up enough water that people could cross the Red Sea on foot briefly, before the tsunami came roaring thru, which supposedly swallowed up pharaohs army allowing all the Jews to escape Egypt. Yes a miracle explained by an unrelated geological event. Here's what it looks like now. This image only shows about 30% of the entire crater left behind due to the explosion around 1600 BC., same time as exodus. No coincidence.
Thera was once a huge volcano. I think it was much bigger than the Krakatoa explosion. If you haven't been to Santorini you can't imagine the size of the event. Hey it's of biblical proportions, as they say. It evidently unleashed a catastrophic flood thanks to the tsunami. Next up: Was the great flood due to another unrelated geological event? Stay tuned!
Another interesting angle: If God supposedly saved the Jews by causing Thera to erupt then it was at the expense of perhaps hundreds of thousands of innocent people in addition to pharaohs army. Yay God?
