Evidence For The Exodus

[Prometheus85]

The movement of the enslaved Hebrews out of Egypt with Moses (and Aaron) as their figureheads, and the plagues and resulting mayhem caused by both the plagues (including the Passover) and a crashing sea destroying an army, is well documented in the Bible. But is there any evidence to prove that this stuff actually happened?

 

[Apologes]

Not really. There is a plausible theory that the narrative has been written pretty late after the event (Babylonian exile iirc) but the actual character of Moses and the story as we have it leaves much to be desired as far as historical evidence goes.

 

[sooda]

The movement of the enslaved Hebrews out of Egypt with Moses (and Aaron) as their figureheads, and the plagues and resulting mayhem caused by both the plagues (including the Passover) and a crashing sea destroying an army, is well documented in the Bible. But is there any evidence to prove that this stuff actually happened?

No.. It didn't happen. Sinai couldn't support 2 million Israelites and their herds. No water or pasture.

 

[shunyadragon]

The movement of the enslaved Hebrews out of Egypt with Moses (and Aaron) as their figureheads, and the plagues and resulting mayhem caused by both the plagues (including the Passover) and a crashing sea destroying an army, is well documented in the Bible. But is there any evidence to prove that this stuff actually happened?

There were plagues, and catastrophic events documented in the history of Egypt that are similar to those in Exodus, and the Middle East around Egypt. These plagues, locust swarms, and catastrophic events described in Exodus would be in memories of the people in the region. The problem comes with the lack of evidence for the account itself fitting the known evidence for the history of the Hebrew tribes and Egypt, and as well as the lack of evidence for the exodus itself.

 

[shunyadragon]

No.. It didn't happen. Sinai couldn't support 2 million Israelites and their herds. No water or pasture.

True, though the route described in Exodus does fit the known trade routes and land marks in the Sinai of the time.

 

[Altfish]

What more evidence do you need?

 

[sooda]

True, though the route described in Exodus does fit the known trade routes and land marks in the Sinai of the time.

I suppose. Sinai was under Egyptian rule at the time.. Canaanite towns were protected by Egyptian garrisons and paid tribute to Pharaoh. The story just doesn't have legs. Even today Sinai only has a population of about 800,000.

 

[shunyadragon]

I suppose. Sinai was under Egyptian rule at the time.. Canaanite towns were protected by Egyptian garrisons and paid tribute to Pharaoh. The story just doesn't have legs. Even today Sinai only has a population of about 800,000.

The numbers, of course, do not add up, but through the account is not historical, it is based on a number of possible historical events and geography of the region.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

The movement of the enslaved Hebrews out of Egypt with Moses (and Aaron) as their figureheads, and the plagues and resulting mayhem caused by both the plagues (including the Passover) and a crashing sea destroying an army, is well documented in the Bible. But is there any evidence to prove that this stuff actually happened?

Exodus is not a history book.
We have plenty of history books for history lessons.

 

[sooda]

The numbers, of course, do not add up, but through the account is not historical, it is based on a number of possible historical events and geography of the region.

Its a two week walk across Sinai which is only about 140 miles wide at its widest point.. and it does make sense that people and their herds would head for the Nile Delta whenever there was drought in Canaan. Beyond that I think its a morality tale about deliverance.

 

[ChristineM]

The Torah devotes more than four books to the proposition that the Israelites came to Canaan after having been subjugated in Egypt for generations, and yet there is no archaeological evidence to support that they were ever in Egypt. A prolonged Egyptian stay should have left Egyptian elements in the material culture, such as the pottery found in theearly Israelite settlements in Canaan, but there are none.

In short, the traditions of servitude in Egypt, the tales of the Israelites wandering in the desert, and the stories of the conquest of the promised land all appear to be fictitious.


https://reformjudaism.org/were-jews-slaves-egypt

 

[sooda]

The Torah devotes more than four books to the proposition that the Israelites came to Canaan after having been subjugated in Egypt for generations, and yet there is no archaeological evidence to support that they were ever in Egypt. A prolonged Egyptian stay should have left Egyptian elements in the material culture, such as the pottery found in theearly Israelite settlements in Canaan, but there are none.

In short, the traditions of servitude in Egypt, the tales of the Israelites wandering in the desert, and the stories of the conquest of the promised land all appear to be fictitious.


Were the Jews Slaves in Egypt?

Doubting the Exodus

Excerpt:

For centuries, the biblical account of the Exodus has been revered as the founding story of the Jewish people, sacred scripture for three world religions and a universal symbol of freedom that has inspired liberation movements around the globe.

But did the Exodus ever actually occur?

On Passover last Sunday, Rabbi David Wolpe raised that provocative question before 2,200 faithful at Sinai Temple in Westwood. He minced no words.

Doubting the Story of Exodus

 

[Earthling]

Josephus mentions several historical references of the Exodus. That of Manetho, the Egyptian historian, Chaeremon and Lysimachus. Against Apion, I, 228, 238 (26); 288, 290 (32); 299 (33); 304-311 (34).

 

[sooda]

Josephus mentions several historical references of the Exodus. That of Manetho, the Egyptian historian, Chaeremon and Lysimachus. Against Apion, I, 228, 238 (26); 288, 290 (32); 299 (33); 304-311 (34).

Manetho, (flourished c. 300 bce), Egyptian priest who wrote a history of Egypt in Greek, probably commissioned by Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246).

Manetho’s history has not survived except for some fragments of narrative in Josephus’s treatise “Against Apion” and tables of dynasties, kings, and lengths of reigns given in the works of Julius Africanus, Eusebius, and George Syncellus. The fragments thus preserved showed that Manetho’s work was based on good native sources, perhaps both oral and written. These fragments have been of much service to scholars in determining the succession of kings where the archaeological evidence was inconclusive, and Manetho’s division of the rulers of ancient Egypt into 30 dynasties is still used as the basic framework for ancient Egyptian history.

Manetho | Egyptian priest and historian

 

[shunyadragon]

Josephus mentions several historical references of the Exodus. That of Manetho, the Egyptian historian, Chaeremon and Lysimachus. Against Apion, I, 228, 238 (26); 288, 290 (32); 299 (33); 304-311 (34).

So?!? This extremely third hand, and yes the Jews at the time of Josephus believed that Genesis, Exodus and the rest of the Pentateuch was historical. There are no first hand references at the time Exodus that record the events, nor is there any known texts of the Pentateuch older then the Dead Sea scrolls.

These historical references are marginal, and not actually old enough to document Exodus.

 

[sooda]

So?!? This extremely third hand, and yes the Jews at the time of Josephus believed that Genesis, Exodus and the rest of the Pentateuch was historical. There are no first hand references at the time Exodus that record the events, nor is there any known texts of the Pentateuch older then the Dead Sea scrolls.

Manetho wrote about the expulsion of the lepers. I don't think that story is the proof of Exodus they want.

 

[shunyadragon]

Manetho wrote about the expulsion of the lepers. I don't think that story is the proof of Exodus they want.

True. As I said these references are marginal and do not document Exodus.

 

[sooda]

True. As I said these references are marginal and do not document Exodus.

Manetho didn't live until 300 BC so he was pretty far removed from the Exodus.

Egyptian Account of the Expulsion of the Lepers

Egyptian Account of the Leper's Exodus

 

[Audie]

No.. It didn't happen. Sinai couldn't support 2 million Israelites and their herds. No water or pasture.

Mana from heaven.

 

[Audie]

Its a two week walk across Sinai which is only about 140 miles wide at its widest point.. and it does make sense that people and their herds would head for the Nile Delta whenever there was drought in Canaan. Beyond that I think its a morality tale about deliverance.

Zactly. DO NOT WORSHIP GOLD CALVES!!!