Did the Exodus Really Occur?

Outside of Jesus, there is perhaps no more important figure than Moses. The three most influential religions in the world: Christianity, Judaism and Islam each claim Moses for a decisive role in their stories. He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament, delivered a slave people out of the most powerful nation of the ancient world, and bequeathed to the world a set of laws which has become foundational for the legislative codes of western civilization. Oddly, the figure of Moses and the pivotal events surrounding his prophetic work with the Exodus is often doubted as a real historical person connected to actual historical events. Yet, the archaeological record fits amazingly close with the Exodus account in the Bible.

For this article, I want to lay out key evidences which corroborates the Exodus account. They are as follows:

• Evidence of an enslaved population of people like the Jews in Egypt before 1446 BC.
• Evidence of a great Exodus after 1446 BC.
• Evidence of Canaan being populated soon after 1446 BC.

Slavery

Evidence # 1: The Brooklyn Papyrus.

The Brooklyn Papyrus was an Egyptian document with the names of 95 household servants of a noblewoman named Senebtisi. This papyrus dates to 1809–1743 BC. This is just after the time of Joseph. Several of these names have been identified as Hebrew. Some examples of these include:

Menahema, a feminine form of Menahem	2 Kings 15:14
Ashera, a feminine form of Asher, the name of one of the sons of Jacob	Genesis 30:13
Shiphrah, the name of one of the Hebrew midwives prior to the Exodus	Exodus 1:15
Aqoba, feminine form of Jacob	Genesis 25:26
Ayyabum, the name of the patriarch Job	Job 1:1
Sekera, which is a feminine name of Issakar	Genesis 30:18
Dawidi-huat a compound name utilizing the name David	1 Samuel 16:13
Sebtw, a name derived from the Hebrew word eseb meaning “herb”	Deuteronomy 32:2
Hayah-wr another compound name composed of Eve and meaning “bright life”	Genesis 3:20
Hy’b’rw, which appears to be an Egyptian transcription of Hebrew	Genesis 39:14

Archaeologist, Titus Kennedy, summarizes the importance of this papyrus: “This list is a clear attestation of Hebrew people living in Egypt prior to the Exodus, and it is an essential piece of evidence in the argument for an historical Exodus.”

Evidence # 2: Egyptian Records of Slaves Making Bricks

According to Exodus 5:7-8, the Hebrew slaves were forced into making bricks. The biblical description of slaves making bricks is affirmed by a painting in the Tomb of Rehkmire (1470–1445 BC). Rehkmire was a high ranking official in Egypt under Thutmose III and Amenhotep II. (Amenhotep II is thought by many to be the pharaoh during the Exodus.) Slaves are seen mixing mud and water, packing the mixed mud in brick molds, and leaving the bricks to dry in the sun. The Egyptian officials oversee the work with a rod.

Evidence # 3: Discoveries at Avaris

According to Genesis 47:11, the families of Joseph settled in the land of Rameses. While they were initially free, at some point they became slaves to the Egyptians and were pressed into building the city of Rameses (Exodus 1:11). When they left Egypt in 1446 BC, some 430 years later, they departed from Rameses (Ex 12:37). The use of the word “Rameses” is an update of the biblical text by later editors to replace an outdated name, Avaris. Avaris was originally settled in the time of Joseph by a group of non-Egyptians from Canaan, as evidenced by the Canaanite pottery and weapons they used. This would seem to be a link to the Hebrews. What is astonishingly remarkable is the discoveries of a multi-colored coat and 12 tombs.

• Joseph’s Coat: In Avaris there is evidence of a four-roomed house in the village (the same layout as houses typical in Israelite settlements), as well as a prominent tomb in which the remains of a statue of a Semitic (the Jews are Semitic) man with a multicolored robe was found.

• Twelve Tribes: Around the palace are 12 tombs which some would associate that these point to the 12 tribes of Israel. This later palatial complex dates to the time of Moses and is likely where he spent time when he was raised in Pharaoh’s courts.

Interestingly, the excavators noted that the site was suddenly and mysteriously abandoned after the reign of Amenhotep II, suggesting that a plague may have been the reason. We also see his palace at Avaris on the Nile Delta, that was abandoned during his reign. And then we see his son, his firstborn son, seems to disappear from the historical record. The next son in line is the one who becomes the Pharaoh.

Exodus

Evidence # 4: Ipuwer Papyrus

The Ipuwer Papyrus is a lengthy scroll which was written around 1200 B.C. It is known to be a copy of an earlier work in which the date of the original is not known. The scroll is named after its author, Ipuwer, who was a a royal Egyptian scribe. He tells of absolute calamity befalling Egypt. Many references throughout the papyrus are strikingly similar to the biblical account of the 10 plagues. Below are some examples:

Indeed, the river is blood, yet men drink of it. Men shrink from human beings and thirst after water …

Indeed, [hearts] are violent, pestilence is throughout the land, blood is everywhere, death is not lacking ….

Indeed, all animals, their hearts weep; cattle moan because of the state of the land …. 

Behold, the fire has gone up on high, and its burning goes forth against the enemies of the land …. Indeed, gates, columns and walls are burnt up ….

Indeed, everywhere barley has perished ….

The land is without light ….

Indeed, every dead person is as a well-born man …. Indeed, the children of princes are dashed against walls …. 

Indeed, laughter is perished and is [no longer] made; it is groaning that is throughout the land …. 

Evidence # 5: Seti War Relief (Carving)

The famous relief (carved image on a surface) of the campaigns of the Pharaoh Seti I (1291–1279 BC) at the Karnak Temple depicts the eastern border of Egypt in pictorial form (like a map) and likely relates to the route Moses and the Israelites took during the Exodus. Exodus 13:17 reads:

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, ‘Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.’”

The Seti relief depicts this road, known as the Horus Way, which is a 137-mile-long route between Egypt and Canaan and was used for trade and military activity. The carving shows a vertical waterway lined with reeds as well as a larger body of water at the bottom of the waterway (a feature that explorers say is no longer visible). The Seti relief is evidence that there was, at one time, a canal or waterway on the eastern border of Egypt, even though the area is a desert now. This has been affirmed by geological studies that have demonstrated that there was indeed a man-made canal joining a string of lakes between the Gulf of Suez and the Mediterranean Sea. These canals and lakes formed a defensive barrier on the eastern frontier of Egypt. The Bible says in Exodus 15:4:

Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.

In Hebrew it reads yam suf which is literally “sea of reeds.” which may correspond to this system of lakes on Egypt’s eastern border. 

Evidence # 6: Berlin Pedestal

The Berlin Pedestal is an Egyptian inscription housed in Berlin that almost certainly refers to Israel as a nation in Canaan. It has three name rings, two of which clearly read “Ashkelon” and “Canaan,” and the third of which reads “Ishrael.” This appears to be the biblical Israel. There are no other candidates for what it could be. These inscriptions reflect the writing of the time period of Amenhotep II. This pedestal provides evidence it would indicate that the Israelites had migrated to Canaan sometime in the same period (1446 BC), exactly at the time the Bible says they did.

Evidence # 7: The Merneptah Stele

Arguably the most important discovery is the Merneptah Stele. Around 1200 BC Pharaoh Merneptah erected a 10-foot tall victory monument (called a “stele”) to brag about his claims of victory in both Libya and Canaan. It was discovered in 1896. On it, Merneptah boasts, “Israel is wasted, its seed is not; And Hurru is become a widow because of Egypt.” This likely refers to a small campaign into Canaan where only three cities were taken. Despite Merneptah’s boast, Israel was not destroyed. What stands out is the claim of going into Canaan and declaring that, “Israel is laid waste.” Most scholars agree that this is the oldest definitive reference to Israel as a nation outside of the Bible.

Evidence # 8: The Walls of Jericho

After the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho seven times and blew the trumpets and shouted, Joshua 6:20 records:

When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed…

They went on to burn the city. Archaeologists found that the high walls of the city did fall outward. A very thick burn layer that took place after the walls came down convinced the excavators that the city was intentionally burned by an enemy. Other evidence such as uneaten and abundant grain stores show that the city was taken after a very short siege.

Other Evidence

1. The Passover Feast. Just as the uninterrupted celebration of American independence on July 4th is evidence of liberation from England; the uninterrupted celebration of the Passover is evidence of the liberation from Egypt. The Passover is unlike any other festival reinforcing its authentic origins. It is not related to traditional celebrations of seasons or agriculture, which have been common. Instead it involves the eating bitter foods and the remembrance of a horrible sacrifice and dark plagues. This is not like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
2. The Levites. It would be hard to explain how the smallest of all the tribes gained their priestly authority except it was given to them in the Exodus.

Tribes of Israel	Numbers of fighting men
1.  Ruben	46,500
2.  Simeon	59,300
3.  Gad	45,650
4.  Judah	74,600
5.  Issachar	54,400
6.  Zebulun	57,400
7.  Ephraim	40,500
8.  Manasseh	32,200
9.  Benjamin	35,400
10. Dan	62,700
11. Asher	41,500
12. Naphtali	53,400
Total tribe count men 20 years or older who are eligible for military service.	603,550

A separate census of the families of the sons of Levi who served in the tabernacle which were all males 40 days old and older is 22,000 (Numbers 3:14-39). Because they rallied in support of Moses against the rebellion of the Israelites, they were given a favored status (Exodus 32:26-29).

Application

Why is there no historical record of the Exodus outside of the Bible? The Egyptians never recorded any defeats whatsoever. That there is no record of the Exodus is not surprising. It was here that God defeated the ultimate pride and power of men and showed the way for people to be free from oppression. God is in the business of providing Exodus and deliverance from those who are in bondage and captivity to oppressive powers, spiritually and socially. In the Exodus we see the grand national stories that God is in the process of moving nations and people to greater freedom, grace and liberty.

We will continue to see this played out in this Story of Grace.