The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

[POI]

The Bible claims an Exodus took place. Many state it was not an actual event. Since the Bible makes a positive claim, in that an 'Exodus" took place, do we have positive evidence to support the claim?

For Debate:

1. Outside the Bible saying so, do we have evidence? If so, what?

2. If it should turn out that the Exodus did not take place, does this fact sway the Christian believer's position at all? Or, does it not matter one way or another?

[Clownboat]

Another topic bump... Does any Christian even care that the claim for "the Exodus" may not be true?

I'm sure some do care.
However, many Christians don't care that Genesis or the flood story never happened as told, so I don't see why the exodus story would be any different for such people?

[1213]

Another topic bump... Does any Christian even care that the claim for "the Exodus" may not be true?

I care and believe the Exodus is true.

[POI]

Another topic bump... Does any Christian even care that the claim for "the Exodus" may not be true?

I'm sure some do care.
However, many Christians don't care that Genesis or the flood story never happened as told, so I don't see why the exodus story would be any different for such people?

I agree. Some even apply "minimal facts Christianity" and do not sweat the actual veracity for the rest... FYI... This thread was initially created after exchanging with Otseng, or maybe it was The Tanager -- (I do not remember which one it was honestly). I asked if he would denounce Christianity if he was to find out the Exodus never happened, and I believe he stated he would no longer be a Christian. This was the catalyst reason in which this thread was created. And so far, the responses, (from the sparce number of Christians), have been dismal at best.

[POI]

Another topic bump... Does any Christian even care that the claim for "the Exodus" may not be true?

I care and believe the Exodus is true.

Great. Then, as I asked prior, other than the claim from the book itself, why should we believe the Exodus actually took place?

[marke]

The Bible claims an Exodus took place. Many state it was not an actual event. Since the Bible makes a positive claim, in that an 'Exodus" took place, do we have positive evidence to support the claim?

For Debate:

1. Outside the Bible saying so, do we have evidence? If so, what?

2. If it should turn out that the Exodus did not take place, does this fact sway the Christian believer's position at all? Or, does it not matter one way or another?

There is evidence the exodus took place, even if scant, while there is no evidence it did not take place.

[1213]

Another topic bump... Does any Christian even care that the claim for "the Exodus" may not be true?

I care and believe the Exodus is true.

Great. Then, as I asked prior, other than the claim from the book itself, why should we believe the Exodus actually took place?

I don't say you should believe anything. You are free to believe what ever you want.

I believe it happened, because I trust Bible is truthful. I believe it also because it is the best explanation for why we have the story.

But, no historical story can be proven true. All history remains a matter of belief.

[POI]

There is evidence the exodus took place, even if scant,

Such as?

while there is no evidence it did not take place.

Can you please explain?

[POI]

I believe it happened, because I trust Bible is truthful. I believe it also because it is the best explanation for why we have the story. But, no historical story can be proven true. All history remains a matter of belief.

Don't you find it odd that such a large claim basically left behind no evidence?

[marke]

There is evidence the exodus took place, even if scant,

Such as?

while there is no evidence it did not take place.

Can you please explain?

Ancient evidence tends to get lost, especially after thousands of years. Nevertheless, evidence still exists, although scant.

AI Overview
Learn more
Pinpointing the Exodus from Egypt | Harvard Divinity Bulletin
There is some archaeological evidence that supports the idea of an exodus from Egypt, but there is no direct evidence that links the exodus to Moses.
Evidence
Merneptah Stele
A victory stele inscribed with the name Israel in hieroglyphics, which was set up by Pharaoh Merneptah around 1230 B.C.
Destruction layers
Some archaeologists believe that destruction layers in Israel dating to the 13th century B.C.E. mark the Israelite conquest of Canaan after leaving Egypt
Proto-Sinaitic script
A script invented by Semites who worked in a turquoise mine, which may have been written by Israelites using the Hebrew language
The Great Harris Papyrus
A large papyrus that describes a time in Egypt when there was no single ruler
Theban house
A house built in Egypt during the Iron Age that was similar in design to houses built by Israelites in Canaan
Other evidence
Mittelsaal House at Avaris
The Bahr Yussef
Brooklyn Papyrus
Shasu of YHWH Name Ring
Berlin Pedestal Stone Inscription
Palace, Tomb and Statue of a Semitic High Official
Ipuwer Papyrus
Walls of Jericho
However, some archaeologists and Egyptologists say that there is no direct evidence that connects the Exodus to the Bible.

[POI]

Ancient evidence tends to get lost, especially after thousands of years.

Did you happen to watch the video from post #8? I also summarized it in post #75.

Nevertheless, evidence still exists, although scant.

AI Overview
Learn more
Pinpointing the Exodus from Egypt | Harvard Divinity Bulletin
There is some archaeological evidence that supports the idea of an exodus from Egypt, but there is no direct evidence that links the exodus to Moses.
Evidence
Merneptah Stele
A victory stele inscribed with the name Israel in hieroglyphics, which was set up by Pharaoh Merneptah around 1230 B.C.
Destruction layers
Some archaeologists believe that destruction layers in Israel dating to the 13th century B.C.E. mark the Israelite conquest of Canaan after leaving Egypt
Proto-Sinaitic script
A script invented by Semites who worked in a turquoise mine, which may have been written by Israelites using the Hebrew language
The Great Harris Papyrus
A large papyrus that describes a time in Egypt when there was no single ruler
Theban house
A house built in Egypt during the Iron Age that was similar in design to houses built by Israelites in Canaan
Other evidence
Mittelsaal House at Avaris
The Bahr Yussef
Brooklyn Papyrus
Shasu of YHWH Name Ring
Berlin Pedestal Stone Inscription
Palace, Tomb and Statue of a Semitic High Official
Ipuwer Papyrus
Walls of Jericho
However, some archaeologists and Egyptologists say that there is no direct evidence that connects the Exodus to the Bible.

I can do this too:

AI Overview
Learn more
According to current archaeological and historical understanding, there is no direct evidence to support the biblical story of the Exodus, meaning there are no archaeological findings that definitively confirm the mass exodus of Israelites from Egypt as described in the Bible; most scholars consider the Exodus to be a mythologized historical event with no clear historical basis.

Key points about the lack of evidence for the Exodus:

No Egyptian records: No Egyptian records mention a large group of Hebrew slaves leaving Egypt, or the plagues described in the Bible.

No archaeological remains: Extensive archaeological investigations in the proposed Exodus region have not produced any evidence of a large-scale Israelite migration.

Difficulties with biblical accounts: The numbers of people described in the Exodus story, along with the logistical challenges of such a large migration, raise questions about its historical accuracy