The Quail and the Exodus

On a day in March 2004 I was watching the sunset on a boat in the Nile going to backto our hotel in Aswan. We saw many fleets of those small birds flying

north. We were watching their flying patterns and how a leader was

always appointed to lead the entire group. They all kept the same

distance from one another in that long line.

At that time we thought of ducks, doves and quails, as those

intelligent birds that recognize the earth magnetic fields to

determine direction, as if using a compass.

I was told that the phenomena was until now not quite understood

(although I remember something like a metal particle being embedded

inside skulls of migrating birds). Any feedback!?

But then I was also told that migrating birds sometimes follow basins

of rivers as their guide and source of their pray of fish along the

way.

Watching those -to me- tiny birds fluttering their wings, all at the

same time, with the same rhythm, I thought to myself….."those strokes

must make the birds LOSE SO MUCH ENERGY until they reach their

destination.."

A week later I was having dinner with South African friends when one

of them saw QUAIL on the menu, and showed extreme interest.

I knew that in some European cultures pigeons / quails are not eaten

at all, and if you happen to find a place that serves them, then you

would be ordering yourself the ultimate delicacy.

So, the idea of trying out a quail seemed extremely exotic to him and

he asked me if they tasted good. He said he was interested in tasting

the quail since it had been MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE. He talked about a

MIRACLE caused by God for the Jews as they were hungry.

The story and miracle is about the Israelites having craved eating

flesh for a long time roaming the deserts, when God sent quails

FALLING on them from the sky. They were happy and ate a lot of quail.

But then God's anger caused many of them to die. It was an EPIDEMIC

DEATH, where they dropped dead with the flesh still in their mouths.

The story and miracle is about the Israelites having craved eating

flesh for a long time roaming the deserts, when God sent quails

FALLING on them from the sky. They were happy and ate a lot of quail.

But then God's anger caused many of them to die. It was an EPIDEMIC

DEATH, where they dropped dead with the flesh still in their mouths.

So, why was the (scientific / historic) investigation of this miracle

mentioned in the Bible so important? It was important for some people

since this incident if dated properly would help in determining when

the Exodus took place.

Well, investigating quails they found out that quails:

- migrate southwards from Europe in the fall and northwards in

spring time.

- stuff themselves with food before migration as a preparation

for their journey, which makes them put on up to 50% more of their

initial weight, they get plump.

- The body structure of quails (especially after getting plump)

is not aerodynamic, this is why they rely a lot on winds to push them

in their way to their destination.

- By the time the birds pass by El Arish they would be

extremely tired and let them selves pushed down to the ground by the

east wind. There and then many of them are usually caught in nests /

or shot down at El Massaeed village. (An explanation for God having

quails FALLING down from the sky on the Israelites)

- Reading in the internet some people say (or want to prove)

that this miracle and epidemic had happened near Mount Sinai, Sheikh

Awad and Baqb El Hawa. The assume that the people who died there

were buried in the area on the spot. 

- Some quails when eaten have proven to be poisonous. Reason

has been unclear for some tine but one theory suggests that in the

spring time when the birds make their way from Central Africa back to

Europe they would have eaten a certain grain in Central Africa, that

is not poisonous to the bird itself but to some people who eat the

bird itself according to the person's physiology. (An explanation for

the epidemic death of Israelites).

That day after having read those things on the net I went back home

to find out of all days of the year mum had grilled some quail for

usJ So, I immediatly asked her where she had gotten them from. She

said there are some quail farms (so I knew at least they did not eat

that grain from Central AfricaJ.

But then I thought about those domesticated quails, whose breasts I

assure you were plumber than those of pigeonsJ

Mon 8 March 2004