Customer Reviews

The GOLD OF EXODUS: The Discovery of the True Mount Sinai

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I bought the book right after it was published. I couldn't put the book down....I read it all in just a few readings. I then recommended the book to others who were also fascinated after reading it It convinced me and others that the true Mt. Sinai is in Saudi Arabia.

Others who are giving it low ratings are probably looking for data to disprove the Bible. Now we have further archeological evidence supporting the reality of the Bible, the Exodus, the plagues of Egypt, etc., and of course the Ten Commandments and the supernatural parting of the Red Sea. Charleton Heston acted as Moses in the well known 10 Commandments movie based heavily on a historically true account, with help from this book.

I recently saw two documentary movies: One related to this book with videos and photos and interviews adding more evidence supporting the reality of both books, The Gold of Exodus and the Bible. The second was about the discovery of the likely location for the Ark of the Covenant which contains the 10 Commandments. Bob Cornuke, who was one of the treasure seekers in Gold of Exodus, traveled to Ethiopia to find its location, as well as author Graham Hancock, writer of the Sign & the Seal: The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant. What exciting times. Noah's ark next?

I recommend reading the Gold of Exodus and the Sign and the Seal for awesome and true archeological adventure stories.

In this book, author Howard Blum chronicles the adventures of Larry Williams and Bob Cornuke, treasure hunters. When Larry receives a letter, which suggests that Mount Sinai is not actually in the Sinai Peninsula but in Saudi Arabia, he determines to go retrieve the treasure left there by the Israelites-the gold of Exodus. However, unknown to Larry and Bob, that same Arabian mountain is a main part of the Saudi "Operation Falcon," the Saudi building of a first-strike capable nuclear missile program.

This book is written like an adventure novel. Following a narrative, that includes numerous flashbacks, asides and sidebars, the story weaves together the treasure hunt of Larry and Bob with the espionage activities of the Mossad and Saudis. Overall, I am not at all certain what one can believe about this story; it includes in-depth reporting of meetings of the Saudi royal family, plus the secret working of the Mossad.

That said, though, I did find this an interesting book, with a provocative subject.

[If you are interested in similar archaeo-investigative stories, then I highly recommend Nicholas Clapp's The Road to Ubar and Sheba.]

As a scholar of Middle Eastern Studies, I find this book to be the worst kind of yellow journalism masquerading as history. While I am fully prepared to believe that Jabal al-Lawz (Jabal al-Luz?) may be Mount Sinai, I do not understand why the author feels the need to throw in an obviously concocted story of secret missles, atomic bombs and evil Arab plots. The description of Arabs in this work constitutes the worst kind of racist rhetoric that would not be allowed for any other ethnic group. In addition, the book glorifies people whom any country would brand as thieves rather than as legitimate treasure hunters. Were Williams and Cornuke to attempt in Mexico, for example, what they did in Saudi Arabia, they would wind up spending many years in prison. Neither the US government nor anyone else of importance would shed a tear for them. Why is it that when a national patrimony belongs to the Arabs, it becomes fair game? Furthermore, if "the gold of Exodus" did indeed exist at Jabal al-Lawz (an absurd notion in the first place, since the Midianites would have long made off with it), why would the Saudis not have a right to claim it as their own? Overall, this book is a good illustration of why the author no longer works for the New York Times. It is far below the level of news that is fit to print. What amazes me the most is how a work of such poor quality could have received such favorable reviews in the first place. Is any piece of trash written about the Middle East to be believed uncritically?

Blum's dramatization of Williams and Cornuke's "rediscovery" of evidence for a non-traditional location of biblical Mt. Sinai. The discoveries point to Jebel al Lawz in Saudi Arabia rather than the traditional Jebel Musa in the Sinai peninsula as being the mountain where the Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God. Actually, Ron Wyatt was the first to document the same evidence in the 70s and 80s so there are no new revelations or great discoveries revealed in this book.

Action-packed and fast-paced, Howard Blum not only keeps you on the edge of your seat, but he makes this book a hard one to put down. I read it in two sittings, and I do not regret the hours of sleep I sacrificed on its behalf.

However, this story is rather sensationalistic, and the scope of its narrative is perhaps a bit too grandiose for the central theme of the book - which is that Mt. Sinai exists, has been found, and measures up to the Biblical description. Too, considering that everyone from the CIA to the Mossad to the Chinese was darkly and mysteriously involved, some of the conclusions and resolutions are just a bit too pat.

In essence, the Gold of Exodus traces the daring, and sometimes foolhardy, adventures of a colorful millionaire and his friend, burly ex-SWAT Bob Cornuke, as they embark on a secret quest to discover the gold that tradition holds the Children of Israel left at Mt. Sinai in penance for their sins. They eventually make it to the site as their unabashed treasure hunt for gold gradually becomes a spiritual quest for God.

As far as geographic/Biblical lore is concerned, this is indeed a fascinating read. The sense of adventure also makes the time spent reading it worthwhile. However, although not impossible, the narrative is rather flimsy (due to the author's compression of certain facts to heighten readability), and an objective reading in search of hard, cold facts will leave you rather disappointed by its end. In my case, it made for a good one-time read, but it's not one I'll be picking up to re-read in the near future.

- Benamin Gene Gardner

Although I personally hold (even before reading this book) the opinion that the real Sinai was in the general area purportedly found in this book, I still find parts of this story to be very far fetched. There is no proof given. The main character is a jerk. Although I think they have stumbled upon the real mountain, my beliefs are based on far more substantial evidence than this book. I would not have been convinced of anything by it. It is, however, a very fun read.

Strip away all the extraneous middle east intrigue and you are left with a highly implausible tale that proves nothing. The two adventurers have questionable motives (they search for what they describe as perhaps the holiest site of Judeo-Christianity with the intent of plundering it, yet profess a reverence for the place); meander all over the unfamiliar (to them) Saudi Arabian desert with an apparently limitless supply of gasoline finding everything they're looking for; and, last but not least, outwit the Saudi Arabian military while they climb and descend a mountain (again finding almost everything they're looking for) in the dead of night wearing night goggles. The 1 star is for the author's grammar and spelling skills.

If I could give this book NO stars, I would. This one ranks down there along with the Titanic conspiracy theory and Bermuda Triangle books. And on top of the lack of real evidence, the style of writing... SIGH. Comparing the espionage sections of the tale to something written by Tom Clancy is an insult to Tom Clancy. At least with him you KNOW it's fiction. DON'T waste your money if you feel you must read this, borrow it from the library.

As a devotee of biblical history and myths, I was excited to receive my copy of The Gold of Exodus. I have trecked in the Sinai and been to Jabal Mousa, the mountain venerated as Mt. Sinai in the Sinai. So this new theory was of great interest to me.

Unfortunately, the data presented is not corroborated by a single source. It is presented in a most unplausable and bizarre tale purported to be true.

If there was truth here, why has no one sought to follow-up? Why has nothing appeared in the literature to sustain and further evaluate the claims made in this book? I don't know the answer but it must call into question the hypothises presented and the details surrounding the adventure that uncovered it.

By the way, no one ever mentions that a translation of Jabal al Lawz could be "Mountain of-Laws." Do you really think that this cast of characters was the first to discover that this mountain could really be the true Mt. Sinai? I don't think so.

The story this book tells is incredible. What if they have really found the true Mt. Sinai? This is almost too incredible to believe. The text does dwell on a few conspiratorial theories that the Israelis and Arabic secret service is out to get the heroes of the book though. This detracts from the story of discovering the true mountain of God. Also the pictures in the book are interesting but it appears if they were taken at noon day. The ascent and following descent of the mountain took place during the night and early dawn. Maybe it gets light really quick in Saudi Arabia. Overall the book was easy to read and enjoyable and would recommend it to others. I just wish the author had documented the sources he used to a greater extent.