SINAI, Win) or si'ni (Heb. Sinai). The mount on which God is said to have revealed Himself to Moses. It is situated in the southern half of the so-called Sinaitic Peninsula, project ing into the northern extremity of the Red Sea, between the Gulf of Suez on the west. and the Gulf of Akabah on the east. This part of the peninsula consists of a mass of granite and porphyry mountains which may be divided into three groups: a northwestern, reaching in Jebel Serbal a height of 6712 feet; a central, including Jebel Musa (7363 feet) and Jebel Katerin (8537 feet) ; and an eastern and south ern, whose highest peak is Jebel trmin Shouter (S449 feet). Whether the biblical Sinai is -Jebel Until Shouter or Jebel Musa is disputed. The former has been advocated by Eusebius. Jerome, Cosmas Indicopleustes, and in modern times by Lepsius and Ebers. Jebel Musa, however. is pre ferred by most authorities, and is favored by tra dition (which, however, dates only from Chris tian times) indicated by the name 'Mountain of Moses' and the erection of a monastery upon it which goes back to the days of Justinian. The northern peak of Jebel Musa. known as Ras Safsafeh (6540 feet), meets the conditions re quired, since there is an open space at its foot sufficient to accommodate a large encampment. It should be noted that in the Old Testament Horeb and Sinai are identical, the former being the term used for the holy mountain in the Elohistic source and in Deuteronomy, the latter in the Yahwistic source (see ELOHIST AND Ymi wisr) and in the Priestly Code. (See BENA
TEITCH. ) The Monastery of Saint Catharine is situated on the northeastern slope of Jebel Musa at an elevation of about 5000 feet. It is occu pied by monks of the Greek Church, whose nmn her at present does not exceed thirty. It was here that Tischendorf discovered the Codex Sinaiticus (see BIBLE) in 1859. The entire re gion was a favorite abode of Christian anchorites in the early centuries and their cells and eaves are very numerous. The so-called Sinaitie in scriptions are graffiti left on the rocks for the most part by heathen Nahateans: a few, however, are the work of Christian travelers. They date from the period extending from the first to the sixth century. See INSCRIPTIONS. Consult: Palmer, The Desert of the Exodus (London, 1871) ; Ebers, Durch Gosen sum Sinai (Leipzig, 1872) ; Hull, Mount AS'eir, Sinai, etc. (London, 1875) ; also, for a vivid popular description, Stanley. Sinai and Palestine (ib., 1856) : and the commentaries on Exodus (ch. xix.) of Dill mann (Leipzig, IMO) and Ryssel (ib., )S97), where a full discussion of the controversy as to the site of Mount Sinai may be found.