3 Proofs of the Exodus from Archaeology

evidence-for-the-exodus
We noticed you really enjoyed our Bible archaeology posts! Well, we hear you, and we wanted to bring you more!
In this week’s post, we wanted to give you a look at the biblical archaeology evidence behind the Exodus story. Check out these 3 amazing finds!:

3 Proofs of the Exodus from Archaeology

Ramses Statue - Evidence of the Exodus

1. Pithom and Raamses, Store Cities of the Pharaoh

The location of Raamses is now associated with Qantir (Tell el-Dab’a). Pithom was within the Wadi Tumilat, a natural corridor in and out of Egypt, but its exact location is not yet settled.
Ongoing excavations at Tell el-Dab’a (Raamses) have revealed a prosperous ancient city with many monuments, temples, and buildings. Tell el-Retaba is thought to be the most probable location of Pithom, but sufficient excavation has not been done at the site.

Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. – Exodus 1:11

According to Exodus 1, the Hebrews were slaves in the Egyptian cities of Pithom and Raamses before the Exodus. The Egyptians forced the Hebrews to make bricks, both with and without straw (Exodus 1:14a; 5:7-19).

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. -Exodus 1:14


Merneptah Israel Stele Cairo - Evidence of the Exodus

2. Merneptah (Merenptah) Stele (also called the Israel Stele)

A stele is a column of stone or wood with inscriptions either carved or painted on it, usually for either funerary or commemorative purposes. The hieroglyphic text of the Merneptah Stele made in Egypt describes the victories of Pharaoh Merneptah around 1230 BC over the Libyans and people of Palestine. The stele stands more than seven feet high.
The Merneptah Stele contains the earliest extrabiblical mention of the name “Israel” thus far known. The Egyptian pharaoh brags of a victory over Israel around 1230 BC. Although this battle between Egypt and Israel is not mentioned in the Old Testament, the stele does show that the Israelites were in fact living in the Promised Land at that time, and that their entrance into the land had already taken place by 1230BC.

3. The Oldest Picture of the Israelites

Karnak Panorama - Evidence of the Exodus
In Egypt. on a long wall of the great Karnak Temple, is a recently identified scene of the aftermath of a battle between Egyptians and Israelites dating to about 1209 BC. The drawing of the carved scene shows possibly the Israelites vanquished by the armies of Pharaoh Merneptah.
Carved about 200 years after the time of Moses and Joshua, this battle scene is by far the earliest picture of Israelites ever discovered. This same event is also told of on the Merneptah Stele. It shows that the Exodus had taken place and the Israelites were living in the Promised Land by 1200 BC.


Pretty sweet digs, right? Next time you have friends or coworkers questioning the validity or historicity of the Bible, point them towards some of these archaeological discoveries. Their argument might just find itself in between a rock and a hard place!
622X_Lg

Want ALL 50 proofs? Check out our 50 Proofs of the Bible, the Old Testament pamphlet.
Also, here are the 50 New Testament Proofs!

Comments

comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post Navigation

%d bloggers like this: