Egyption/Israelite history and dates of the Exodus

[Archbob]

So combining biblical history and scholarly history a bit here.
The dates for the Exodus of Israel from Egypt are uncertain and there has been much debate as whether it was an earlier date(1400-1500 BC) or a later date(1200s BC). Some bible references favor the older date and say and thus the Pharaoh would be Thutmose III or possibly one of the earliest Pharaohs who expelled the Hyksos, Ahmose I.

However, looking back at the evidence of the times of the earliest Israelite settlements in the promised land and the situation at the time, I favor the later dates of the Exodus, possibly under the reign of Ramses II(The great) or his father Seti I. The earliest settlements of the Israelites(Presumably Joshua's conquests) don't appear until around 1200 BC so it makes sense for a 1200s date for the Exodus.

Also the earlier date coincide too much with the Hyksos invasion so there wouldn't have been a Pharoah at that time to oppress the Israelites. It would have been a Hyksos ruler oppressing Egyptians and Israelites.

Some historians argue that the Israelites were the Hyksos were the Israelites but that doesn't make much sense since the Israelites were described as the oppressed instead of the oppressors.

My closest guess would be that the Exodus happened under the reign of Ramses the Great. The geographical and tribal evidence also seem to support this and it would have made a perfect time for the Exodus. At this time there was no real power in Canaan. Canaan was a bit too far for Egypt to truly have too much power over at the time. The other major power, the Hittites, had been drained somewhat of manpower after war with Egypt(Ramses II is called the great largely because he made peace with the Hittites). Also the area was technically part of the "Egyptian empire" so Hittite influence was limited. So that leaves Canaan with a bunch of scattered tribes at the time with no real power to unite them which would make them alot easier to conquer for Joshua.

What are you guy's thoughts?

 

[sydhe]

I tend to favor Merneptah, the successor of Ramesses II. The later reign of Ramesses is another possibility. It has to be while the Hittite empire was in decline, and late enough that Ramesses wouldn't return to Palestine to stop the invasions. Merneptah was occupied with the Sea Peoples for much of his reign. It would have been a perfect time for the Exodus.

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

There is no consensus in the scientific community as to whether the Exodus occurred at all first off. But if it did occur, as you note the archaeological of proto-Israelite settlements supports a late one.

In general the entire field of biblical archeology leaves me wanting. More often than not it feels a bit too deterministic. Researchers have a passage they're interested in and try to find any scrap of evidence that may appear to validate it. They essentially operate from the presumption that these events are true and while most legit archaeologists don't outright discard other possible explanations, they know which explanation will get them the History channel special, and craft their conclusions accordingly.

They don't let the digging determine the possible narrative, they already have the narrative set out and try to find the digs to support it. (and ignore or understate whatever else the dig might suggest) That doesn't always make for good science. Its kind of like Atlantis 'researchers'...if you're desperately looking for clues to Atlantis, you're gonna find them in almost everything you look at.

 

[sydhe]

Who would be the earliest figure in the Bible for whom there is independent historical evidence? Ahab is certainly historical (he's mentioned in Assyrian records as an actual person) and presumably Omri, Ahab's father, since Israel is referred to as the land of Omri. How about before that?

 

[Margim]

Who would be the earliest figure in the Bible for whom there is independent historical evidence? Ahab is certainly historical (he's mentioned in Assyrian records as an actual person) and presumably Omri, Ahab's father, since Israel is referred to as the land of Omri. How about before that?

Perhaps Solomon? I don't know whether the "Wailing Wall" would be considered independent historical evidence. Omri was one of the earliest, as far as I know.

 

[Archbob]

Solomon is debated. There is evidence that this king was indeed present but the time is uncertain. But the earliest israelite settlements in the area where around 1200s BC.

 

[Princeps]

As far as I am concerned there's no evidence that the exodus ever occured.