EXODUS 14:30-31: ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Many have questioned the historical veracity of the defeat of the Egyptians during the Exodus since there was a noted lack of references to the people of Israel during that time period.

The first obvious thing to point out is that “Absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence.” Archeologists are totally dependent on whatever relics they may happen to uncover while the vast majority of historical information still lies buried or has been destroyed by natural or human causes over the years.

Secondly, it was not at all uncommon for ancient cultures to be very reluctant to admit their defeats in public monuments, etc. The Jews were one notable exception in that regard. The writings of both the Old and New Testaments are filled with embarrassing failures on the part of both the nation and its leaders. This alone is strong evidence of their truth.

Lastly, we do have evidence that a number of public monuments erected in Egypt, especially by the Semitic Hyksos rulers, were purposefully defaced by later pharaohs in attempts to erase all traces of their reigns.

Despite all of these factors, there is one piece of early evidence in Egypt attesting to the existence of the Jews at a very early time. This is the stele (stone monument) of Pharaoh Merneptah, which has been dated to 1220 BC, close to the proposed time of the Exodus. The inscription on it reads in part, “Plundered is Canaan with every evil, carried off is Ashkelon, seized upon is Gezer...Israel is laid waste, his seed is not.” This may be one of the first recorded examples of “fake news,” which is not entirely false but certainly misleading. Indeed Israel's seed was not – at least not in Egypt anymore!

But one interesting point about this inscription is that it shows Israel listed among other powerful nations in the Middle East at a very early period in history. In addition, the hieroglyphics of the names of the other nations all contain a symbol indicating that a geographical region is intended. By contrast, the symbol accompanying the name of Israel is a different one which indicates a nation or people. This is consistent with the biblical story in which Israel was recognized as a powerful people group (through God's help) but one which had not yet settled in a particular geographical area.

This provides us with one piece of evidence helping to approximately date the time of the Exodus and the Book of Joshua.