Josh Gates concludes his two-part investigation into one of history's most influential figures by retracing the final stages of Moses' journey from Mount Sinai deep into the Israeli desert. After ascending more than 700 rock-cut stairs alongside faithful pilgrims to reach the 7,497-foot summit at dawn, Gates explores what believers hold as the very site where Moses received the Ten Commandments. The expedition then shifts to the Sea of Galilee, where Gates dives to investigate a submerged structure that some claim connects to the Exodus narrative, and travels to a remote site said to house Moses' tomb—a location that raises immediate questions about separating historical figure from religious legend.
Mainstream biblical archaeology treats Moses as a figure whose historical existence remains unverified, with no contemporary Egyptian records documenting a Hebrew prince or the Exodus events as described in scripture. Yet the episode finds compelling evidence that individuals of Semitic origin, like the vizier Aper-El whose sealed tomb Gates opened in the previous segment, could indeed reach the highest ranks of pharaonic court—making the core premise of Moses' origin story archaeologically plausible. What makes this investigation compelling isn't proof of miracles, but Gates' respectful navigation between faith and scholarship: examining how a figure revered across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam might be grounded in the realities of ancient Near Eastern history, while acknowledging the profound spiritual significance these sites hold for millions of believers who make the same pilgrimage.
El-Mastarah
Palestinian Territories · archaeological
Gates works with archaeologist David Ben-Shlomo and geoarchaeologist Oren Ackermann at an excavation site in the West Bank, using portable OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) dating technology to identify Bronze Age soil layers and uncover Bronze Age pottery.
Mount Nebo
Jordan · historical
Gates discusses Mount Nebo across the Dead Sea in Jordan as the site associated in biblical tradition with the death and burial of Moses, contrasting it with the Islamic tradition placing Moses' tomb at Nabi Musa.
Nabi Musa
Palestinian Territories · historical
Gates visits the walled compound of Nabi Musa in the West Bank with archaeologist Tawfiq Da'adli, examining the mosque and purported tomb of Moses venerated in Islamic tradition, and discusses the intersection of faith, archaeology, and historical evidence.
Saint Catherine's Monastery
Egypt · historical
Gates visits the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine at the base of Jabal Musa, meeting Father Justin who shows him the purported Burning Bush, a 10th-century manuscript of Genesis and Exodus, and a 16th-century illustrated manuscript, discussing the monastery's 1,700-year continuous history as evidence for the site's authenticity.
Serabit El-Khadim
Egypt · archaeological
Gates hikes to a remote desert plateau to meet French Egyptologist Pierre Tallet and examine an ancient Egyptian turquoise-mining temple. He views carvings of Semitic people, depictions of the goddess Hathor, and what may be the earliest proto-alphabetic inscriptions.
Walled Off Hotel, Bethlehem
Palestinian Territories · cultural
Gates visits the Walled Off Hotel adjacent to the separation barrier in Bethlehem, a living art installation and hotel created in collaboration with street artist Banksy offering commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.