THEOSISWlastow G.K.
A profoundly obscure matter, which has not been adequately clarified by anyone. Why are the treasures positioned at Mount Horeb rather than at the base of Sinai? The act of the Israelites removing their splendid garments and valuable jewelry as a token of contrition and grief requires little elucidation. Such practices were common among ancient nations; the Ninevites demonstrated similar behavior following Jonah’s proclamation (Jonah 3:6-7), as did Croesus in his mourning for his son (Herodotus, 1:45). The gathering of these adornments into a single heap at the foot of the mountain may signify a dedication to the One True God, symbolizing their remorse for previously using such ornaments to fashion a calf—this interpretation is also plausible.
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The reference to Horeb remains a challenging aspect. Mount Horeb, referred to in Exodus 3:1 as the mountain of God, is where the life-giving spring burst forth (Exodus 17:6) and is part of the larger range of mountains that make up the northern end of Sinai. It is likely that Horeb serves as the collective name for the entire northern region of this mountain range, which includes both Horeb and the distinct summit of Raz-Sufsafeh, believed by scholars such as Stanley, Wilson, and Robinson to be the site where Moses stood. Therefore, the jewels left by the Israelites at the eastern side of the slope and platform can indeed be considered as being situated at the base of Mount Horeb.