Aside from the Bible, is there any evidence for the events in Exodus?

Question

The biblical story has a whole nation of people moving across the desert for fourty years, then conquering Judah, genociding the Midianites, destroying Jericho, etc.

Is there any evidence for any of this? The empires of Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia have historical records of this period (circa 1300 BCE), and were in cultural, trade, and diplomatic contact with each other and with Judea.

The region has been subjected to intense archeological study. Is there any historical or archeological evidence whatsoever to back up the story of Exodus?

Answer 1

The best discussion I know about this is in the book by David Rohl entitled 'The Test of Time' His arguments are convincing but he does need a change to the established dating of the pharaohs for it to work.



I would class it as a matter of faith. I have made more progress with the Torah by treating it as what Brueggemann calls 'imaginative remembering.' His book is not the easiest read but to me he puts the writings of the Old Testament into a sensible and helpful framework in which the whole story is dominated by the Israelites first being without land, then having land and then being in Babylon without land again.

Answer 2

There is no archaeological evidence of the Biblical Exodus. However, there were three different "mini-Exodus" events that could have developed into these stories (just like how big the fish is that you caught). The most prominent one is the Hyksos expulsion that involved almost 3,000 people. These Amenists show some interesting tell-tale signs including the monotheistic religion of Pharaoh Akhenaten, and direct parallels between the "Hymn to the Aten" and Psalms 104.

Answer 3

I liked some of the interesting evidences cited at the link below. Catholics believe the Exodus is a pre-figurement of many things which Jesus said and His Apostles wrote, demonstrating the Liturgical Rite and Communion that is a reflection of the Passover. There is such a clear symbolic correspondence that from a religiously significant correlation, it's 1:1.

Answer 4

Nope, there isn't even any egyptian historical evidence of the ten plagues of egypt or the pharoh drowning with his army. Odd that there isn't any archeological evidence to back this tale up don't you think?

Answer 5

They found chariot wheels at the bottom of the Red sea. They also found evidence of the battle of Jericho.