What is the…
“river of Egypt” in the Bible
also known as: wadi of Egypt or brook of Egypt
The translation “river of Egypt” appears in the King James Bible version of the following verses: Numbers 34:5 KJV; Joshua 15:4 KJV; Joshua 15:47 KJV; 1 Kings 8:65 KJV; 2 Kings 24:7 KJV. However the King James translation of Isaiah 27:12 KJV, which contains the same words (nachal Mitsrayim) is translated “stream of Egypt.”
The context of these verses describes the borders of the Promised Land which was eventually divided between the tribes of Israel.
And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea. —Numbers 34:5 KJV
Other translations:
NKJV, NASB, LSB, ESV: “brook of Egypt”
NIV: “Wadi of Egypt” (New International Version)
CJB: “Vadi of Egypt” (Complete Jewish Bible)
OJV: “Wadi of Mitzrayim” (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
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The above verses almost certainly refer to a well-known river in Biblical times on the border of ancient Egypt.
Wadi al-Arish—an ancient border line
also known as: Wadi Al-ʿArīsh, Wady el-'Arish, Wadi Arish
This watercourse is the Biblical border of Egypt, a major wadi not far from the modern border of Egypt and Gaza. Although it is today often dry, it still sometimes flows wide with great force.
During the famine of Joseph’s time, the descendants of Israel (Jacob) left the Promised Land to go to Egypt for food, while they waited out the famine. They would have crossed the Wadi al-Arish when they left Canaan.
This watercourse is 155 miles long (250 km) and is the largest drainage system in the Sinai Peninsula, draining rainwater from the central Sinai highlands. In ancient times this was once a continually flowing river. It is by far the largest drainage system in the Sinai Peninsula. Even today, when unusually large rains come to the area, the wadi is subject to violent floods and loss of life, especially in the winter months.
According to Arabia Weather, the Arish Valley is classified as one of the strongest and most dangerous of Egyptian valleys in “hydrological analyses, especially during periods of torrential flow.”
At the mouth of the river is a city. The wadi empties into the Mediterranean at the modern city of Arish, Egypt (aka Al Arish or El Arish, known by the Greeks as Rinokoroura or Rhinocolura). It is located just 28 miles (45 km) from the current border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Arish is a deep-water seaport (the Sinai’s only seaport) and the capital and largest city of the North Sinai Governorate of Egypt. It is the closest city to Bardawil Lake, which attracts migrating birds. It is one of the Sinai’s three major lakes, along with Great Bitter Lake and the Little Bitter Lake.
Important to understand
Understand that if the border between Egypt and the Promised Land was actually at the Nile, rather than at this wadi, then the Exodus account becomes rather ridiculous. Here’s why. The Israelites were slaves in Goshen, Egypt, which is widely believed to be east of the Nile. So that would mean they were already living in the Promised Land; they had never left it. And when they crossed the Red Sea, and when they camped at Mt. Sinai, and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they were always already in the Promised Land. Clearly they were not.
In fact, when the Israelites neared it, they were afraid to enter the Promised Land (land of Canaan) due to the bad report of most of the spies Moses sent there for 40 days (Numbers 13). They did not trust God to protect them in conquering the Promised Land, so He punished them with 40 years of wandering.
According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition. I, Yahweh, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall come to an end, and there they will die.’” —Numbers 14:34-35 LSB
The Bible uses the term “border of Egypt” and “brook of Egypt” interchangeably 1 Kings 4:21 and 1 Kings 8:65; Genesis 15:18 and 2 Chronicles 9:26.
Hebrew
Hebrew: נַחַל מִצְרַיִם —meaning: wadi of Egypt
נַחַל in the above means: wadi (wady), brook, torrent, torrent-valley —transliteration: nachal or nahal
The Hebrew word nachal indicates a stream flowing rapidly in winter or in the rainy season; a wadi.
מִצְרַיִם —transliteration: Mitsrayim = Egypt
Answers about Ancient Egypt in the Bible