Exodus is not supported by archaeology.

[sjastro]

First of all let me emphasize this is not a Bible bashing post unlike how some individuals who have turned this forum into science bashing events.

There are two distinctly different descriptions about the presence of a Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt; the biblical account through Exodus where the population grew over a four hundred year period before being enslaved by the Pharaoh who considered the Israelites could form a fifth column in Egypt.

Then there is the account from the ancient Egyptians themselves which paints a very different picture.
The Greek/Egyptian historian Manetho writing around 300 BC describing events that occurred around 1300 years earlier.

Manetho, from his book "Aegyptiaca"., frag. 42, 1.75-79.2

Tutimaeus [0]. In his reign, for what cause I know not, a blast of God smote us; and unexpectedly, from the regions of the East, invaders of obscure race marched in confidence of victory against our land. By main force they easily overpowered the rulers of the land, they then burned our cities ruthlessly, razed to the ground the temples of the gods, and treated all the natives with a cruel hostility, massacring some and leading into slavery the wives and children of others. Finally, they appointed as king one of their number whose name was Salitis. He had his seat at Memphis, levying tribute from Upper and Lower Egypt, and leaving garrisons behind in the most advantageous positions. Above all, he fortified the district to the east, foreseeing that the Assyrians, as they grew stronger, would one day covet and attack his kingdom.

In the Saite [Sethroite] nome he found a city very favorably situated on the east of the Bubastite branch of the Nile, and called Auaris (= Avaris ) after an ancient religious tradition. This place he rebuilt and fortified with massive walls, planting there a garrison of as many as 240,000 heavy-armed men to guard his frontier. Here he would come in summertime, partly to serve out rations and pay his troops, partly to train them carefully in maneuvers and so strike terror into foreign tribes.

Manetho labeled these invaders as Hyksos or Shepherd kings.
The Hyksos eventually controlled Lower and Middle Egypt while the Pharaohs preserved some control as vassals of the Hyksos in Upper Egypt.
Eventually there was a war of independence where the Egyptians were able to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

These are two conflicting cases of the Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt being either an enslaved people in Exodus or ruthless invaders and conquerors as described by Manetho.
While there is zero archaeological evidence of the Exodus account, the presence of the Hyksos in Egypt is undisputed.

There is the widespread distribution of Hyksos scarabs throughout Egypt such as this example bearing the name of their king Apophis.

Then there is Kamose Stela describing the war of independence begun by Seqenenra Taa and Kamose.

Seqenenra Taa met a gruesome end.

Archaeology supports Manetho’s version except there was no invasion of the Delta but a gradual settlement followed by controlling the rest of Egypt.
New Research Reveals Surprising Origins of Egypt's Hyksos Dynasty | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine.

 

[lismore]

I found the book 'A Test of Time' by David Rohl on this subject to be most interesting.

 

[Saucy]

Have you watched the Patterns of Evidence documentaries? If not, I recommend you do. There's a lot of evidence of the Exodus. You just need to know where to look and it's not where the "experts" are looking.

("Experts" here isn't to question the qualifications of the Egyptologists.)

 

[Bible Highlighter]

First of all let me emphasize this is not a Bible bashing post unlike how some individuals who have turned this forum into science bashing events.

There are two distinctly different descriptions about the presence of a Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt; the biblical account through Exodus where the population grew over a four hundred year period before being enslaved by the Pharaoh who considered the Israelites could form a fifth column in Egypt.

Then there is the account from the ancient Egyptians themselves which paints a very different picture.
The Greek/Egyptian historian Manetho writing around 300 BC describing events that occurred around 1300 years earlier.



Manetho labeled these invaders as Hyksos or Shepherd kings.
The Hyksos eventually controlled Lower and Middle Egypt while the Pharaohs preserved some control as vassals of the Hyksos in Upper Egypt.
Eventually there was a war of independence where the Egyptians where able to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

These are two conflicting cases of the Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt being either an enslaved people in Exodus or ruthless invaders and conquerors as described by Manetho.
While there is zero archaeological evidence of the Exodus account, the presence of the Hyksos in Egypt is undisputed.

There is the widespread distribution of Hyksos scarabs throughout Egypt such as this example bearing the name of their king Apophis.

Then there is Kamose Stela describing the war of independence began by Seqenenra Taa and Kamose.

Sequenenra Taa met a gruesome end.

Archaeology supports Manetho’s version except there was no invasion of the Delta but a gradual settlement followed by controlling the rest of Egypt.
New Research Reveals Surprising Origins of Egypt's Hyksos Dynasty | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine.

Check out my evidences for the Word of God in my blogger article.

Love Branch: Evidences for the Word of God

I provide two recommended documentaries that involve the book of Exodus that are a must see.

 

[Rene Loup]

A few things to remember about archaeology:

1.) History is only as good as the people writing them. Consistency from all sides is key to establishing a person or event as historic fact. Don't all sides of the story matter (1 Cor. 13:9-12, 1 Pet. 3:15-17)?

2.) Survivorship Bias exists. So far, we found the artifacts and historical records that we did. The others may have yet to be discovered or are even lost entirely. Why stop now?

3.) Humans are fallible and predisposed towards selfishness. There's a joke from The Simpsons where Homer removes a crayon from his brain and becomes much smarter. Afterwards, he discovers a mathematical formula disproving God's existence, which Ned Flanders burns up. What's stopping agenda driven scientists and archaeologists from doing the same, especially when paid by commission?

4.) Faith over sight is what God wants (2 Cor. 5:7, Heb. 11, Isa. 55:8, John 20:29). Sounds like a total cop-out, I know, but God is the Creator. He's makes all the rules. Easier said than done, I know, but is it worth it.

5.) Out-Of-Place Artifacts also exist. Again, we're naturally selfish human beings who make mistakes.

God bless!

 

[public hermit]

First of all let me emphasize this is not a Bible bashing post unlike how some individuals who have turned this forum into science bashing events.

There are two distinctly different descriptions about the presence of a Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt; the biblical account through Exodus where the population grew over a four hundred year period before being enslaved by the Pharaoh who considered the Israelites could form a fifth column in Egypt.

Then there is the account from the ancient Egyptians themselves which paints a very different picture.
The Greek/Egyptian historian Manetho writing around 300 BC describing events that occurred around 1300 years earlier.



Manetho labeled these invaders as Hyksos or Shepherd kings.
The Hyksos eventually controlled Lower and Middle Egypt while the Pharaohs preserved some control as vassals of the Hyksos in Upper Egypt.
Eventually there was a war of independence where the Egyptians where able to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

These are two conflicting cases of the Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt being either an enslaved people in Exodus or ruthless invaders and conquerors as described by Manetho.
While there is zero archaeological evidence of the Exodus account, the presence of the Hyksos in Egypt is undisputed.

There is the widespread distribution of Hyksos scarabs throughout Egypt such as this example bearing the name of their king Apophis.

Then there is Kamose Stela describing the war of independence began by Seqenenra Taa and Kamose.

Sequenenra Taa met a gruesome end.

Archaeology supports Manetho’s version except there was no invasion of the Delta but a gradual settlement followed by controlling the rest of Egypt.
New Research Reveals Surprising Origins of Egypt's Hyksos Dynasty | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine.

That is fascinating; I've always wondered about the Hyksos. It does present two very different narratives, but enough overlap, perhaps, to make a case that the Hyksos are what became the Hebrews. Or, the Exodus account is the oppressors' account?

The gradual settling could be read as Joseph's family moving on in. Joseph's folks gained power and then lost it.

Then again, what about Egyptian archeology? I wonder about the expectation that Egyptians would hold a record of something like the Exodus account. History is written by the winners, right? Why would they preserve their own defeat by a God of slaves? Or, rather, would it be to their advantage to paint the Hyksos (Hebrews) as oppressors?

 

[HTacianas]

First of all let me emphasize this is not a Bible bashing post unlike how some individuals who have turned this forum into science bashing events.

There are two distinctly different descriptions about the presence of a Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt; the biblical account through Exodus where the population grew over a four hundred year period before being enslaved by the Pharaoh who considered the Israelites could form a fifth column in Egypt.

Then there is the account from the ancient Egyptians themselves which paints a very different picture.
The Greek/Egyptian historian Manetho writing around 300 BC describing events that occurred around 1300 years earlier.



Manetho labeled these invaders as Hyksos or Shepherd kings.
The Hyksos eventually controlled Lower and Middle Egypt while the Pharaohs preserved some control as vassals of the Hyksos in Upper Egypt.
Eventually there was a war of independence where the Egyptians where able to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

These are two conflicting cases of the Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt being either an enslaved people in Exodus or ruthless invaders and conquerors as described by Manetho.
While there is zero archaeological evidence of the Exodus account, the presence of the Hyksos in Egypt is undisputed.

There is the widespread distribution of Hyksos scarabs throughout Egypt such as this example bearing the name of their king Apophis.

Then there is Kamose Stela describing the war of independence began by Seqenenra Taa and Kamose.

Sequenenra Taa met a gruesome end.

Archaeology supports Manetho’s version except there was no invasion of the Delta but a gradual settlement followed by controlling the rest of Egypt.
New Research Reveals Surprising Origins of Egypt's Hyksos Dynasty | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine.

There is another account of a people from the sea who invaded Egypt at some point or another and were subsequently driven out. I've heard before that those people were in fact the Jews. I believe it was Tacitus who recorded the story and attributed it to the Jews as their origin. So we are left with conflicting accounts of the origins of an obscure group of people who appeared somewhere at some time in the middle east some place.

 

[.Mikha'el.]

First of all let me emphasize this is not a Bible bashing post unlike how some individuals who have turned this forum into science bashing events.

There are two distinctly different descriptions about the presence of a Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt; the biblical account through Exodus where the population grew over a four hundred year period before being enslaved by the Pharaoh who considered the Israelites could form a fifth column in Egypt.

Then there is the account from the ancient Egyptians themselves which paints a very different picture.
The Greek/Egyptian historian Manetho writing around 300 BC describing events that occurred around 1300 years earlier.



Manetho labeled these invaders as Hyksos or Shepherd kings.
The Hyksos eventually controlled Lower and Middle Egypt while the Pharaohs preserved some control as vassals of the Hyksos in Upper Egypt.
Eventually there was a war of independence where the Egyptians where able to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

These are two conflicting cases of the Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt being either an enslaved people in Exodus or ruthless invaders and conquerors as described by Manetho.
While there is zero archaeological evidence of the Exodus account, the presence of the Hyksos in Egypt is undisputed.

There is the widespread distribution of Hyksos scarabs throughout Egypt such as this example bearing the name of their king Apophis.

Then there is Kamose Stela describing the war of independence began by Seqenenra Taa and Kamose.

Sequenenra Taa met a gruesome end.

Archaeology supports Manetho’s version except there was no invasion of the Delta but a gradual settlement followed by controlling the rest of Egypt.
New Research Reveals Surprising Origins of Egypt's Hyksos Dynasty | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine.

You say you're not here to Bible-bash, but if that's not the case, I really don't get what the point of your thread is.

 

[Douger]

I don't think it makes sense to say there's no archaeological evidence for the Exodus, while at the same time saying that there is evidence for the Hyksos invasion.
To me, they sound like two versions of the same story, told from different perspectives.
It seems to be a recent, popular fad to declare that there is no archaeological evidence for the Exodus.

 

[AV1611VET]

.

 

[bèlla]

Sometimes the account isn’t the problem. If the location is amiss nothing fits. Look for evidence elsewhere. Pyramids are found in other areas. The red tide is greatest in Florida. It produces an effect that looks like the red sea.

Make a note of places that don’t allow outsiders. Special ones the public can’t access. Question everything and you’ll find the answer.

 

[public hermit]

Question everything and you’ll find the answer

That has to be the best line on CF today.

 

[Abaxvahl]

Then again, what about Egyptian archeology? I wonder about the expectation that Egyptians would hold a record of something like the Exodus account.

I personally wouldn't expect any record of something like this from Egypt, for when reading the Psalms concerning their defeat and the full Exodus account it is clear that their civilization was destroyed by God up to that point. Just count the plagues and the effects of them in the account and the Psalms, there was hardly anything left by the time God was through, and God knows how much of the population was left after what would've definitely been mass starvation.

 

[public hermit]

Egypt, for when reading the Psalms concerning their defeat

Historically speaking, a good many scholars would assert the psalms predated and informed the written account of Exodus, which there is a good amount of material from the psalms to work with.

 

[Abaxvahl]

Historically speaking, a good many scholars would assert the psalms predated and informed the written account of Exodus, which there is a good amount of material from the psalms to work with.

Interesting. I myself am convinced by the argument that the whole Psalter was written by King David (and those title such as "of Asaph" and so on are just the titles of the singers he composed them for).

 

[Carl Emerson]

The Exodus: Does archaeology have a say?

 

[public hermit]

Interesting. I myself am convinced by the argument that the whole Psalter was written by King David (and those title such as "of Asaph" and so on are just the titles of the singers he composed them for).

That could be. But he was king and could commision and collect works under his name, too. Solomon was also a very busy man and could put his name on anything under his rule. When you look at the internal evidence, arguments for a single author get flimsy, both for the psalms and the proverbs. What is not hard to believe is that sovereigns who care about prayer and wisdom might collect the very best, including their own, adding to it what was well known and what was used in the temple worship, whatever. The truth is often much more extravagant and wonderful than we think.

 

[lismore]

A statue of Joseph?

'Matches the Bible!' Why multicoloured coat discovered in Egypt tomb 'could be Joseph's'

 

[SkyWriting]

First of all let me emphasize this is not a Bible bashing post unlike how some individuals who have turned this forum into science bashing events.

There are two distinctly different descriptions about the presence of a Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt; the biblical account through Exodus where the population grew over a four hundred year period before being enslaved by the Pharaoh who considered the Israelites could form a fifth column in Egypt.

Then there is the account from the ancient Egyptians themselves which paints a very different picture.
The Greek/Egyptian historian Manetho writing around 300 BC describing events that occurred around 1300 years earlier.



Manetho labeled these invaders as Hyksos or Shepherd kings.
The Hyksos eventually controlled Lower and Middle Egypt while the Pharaohs preserved some control as vassals of the Hyksos in Upper Egypt.
Eventually there was a war of independence where the Egyptians were able to drive the Hyksos out of Egypt.

These are two conflicting cases of the Semitic speaking people in ancient Egypt being either an enslaved people in Exodus or ruthless invaders and conquerors as described by Manetho.
While there is zero archaeological evidence of the Exodus account, the presence of the Hyksos in Egypt is undisputed.

There is the widespread distribution of Hyksos scarabs throughout Egypt such as this example bearing the name of their king Apophis.

Then there is Kamose Stela describing the war of independence began by Seqenenra Taa and Kamose.

Sequenenra Taa met a gruesome end.

Archaeology supports Manetho’s version except there was no invasion of the Delta but a gradual settlement followed by controlling the rest of Egypt.
New Research Reveals Surprising Origins of Egypt's Hyksos Dynasty | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine.

A good story is one that grabs you by the collar.
Otherwise they never get any attention.

 

[SelfSim]

You say you're not here to Bible-bash, but if that's not the case, I really don't get what the point of your thread is.

I would have thought the point was in the title of the thread(?)

Where the science of Archaeology produces no explicit objective evidence, support for the notion of the Exodus must come from elsewhere, I guess(?)