The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

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The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #1

Post by 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?
Last edited by POI on Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #231

Post by marke »

POI wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:26 am
marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:13 am 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.

marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 7:13 am Nevertheless, evidence still exists, although scant.

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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.
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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
Your source claims not to know of any archaelogical evidence of the Jews' exodus from Egypt and I can see how such evidence may have been erased by the passage of time. Nevertheless, thare are those who still claim to have seen some evidence of the exodus.

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Top Ten Discoveries Related to Moses and the Exodus – Bible ...
There is archaeological evidence that supports the Exodus, but it is not conclusive. This evidence includes artifacts, inscriptions, and settlements.

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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #232

Post by POI »

marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:18 pm Your source claims not to know of any archaelogical evidence of the Jews' exodus from Egypt and I can see how such evidence may have been erased by the passage of time.
The environment in this area is hot and dry and is the reason we have clear evidence of other events which happened during that era. Evidence would remain preserved. A claim this large would also leave behind evidence.

2nd request... Did you watch the video in post #8 and/or address the recap in post #75?
marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:18 pm Nevertheless, thare are those who still claim to have seen some evidence of the exodus.
Okay. Where and what is it? Anybody can make any claim.
marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:18 pm AI Overview
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Top Ten Discoveries Related to Moses and the Exodus – Bible ...
There is archaeological evidence that supports the Exodus, but it is not conclusive. This evidence includes artifacts, inscriptions, and settlements.
What are these artifacts, inscriptions, and settlements, and how do we know they are tied to anything related to the Exodus?
In case anyone is wondering... The avatar quote states the following:

"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."

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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #233

Post by marke »

POI wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 3:47 pm
marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:18 pm Your source claims not to know of any archaelogical evidence of the Jews' exodus from Egypt and I can see how such evidence may have been erased by the passage of time.
The environment in this area is hot and dry and is the reason we have clear evidence of other events which happened during that era. Evidence would remain preserved. A claim this large would also leave behind evidence.

2nd request... Did you watch the video in post #8 and/or address the recap in post #75?
marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:18 pm Nevertheless, thare are those who still claim to have seen some evidence of the exodus.
Okay. Where and what is it? Anybody can make any claim.
marke wrote: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:18 pm AI Overview
Learn more
Top Ten Discoveries Related to Moses and the Exodus – Bible ...
There is archaeological evidence that supports the Exodus, but it is not conclusive. This evidence includes artifacts, inscriptions, and settlements.
What are these artifacts, inscriptions, and settlements, and how do we know they are tied to anything related to the Exodus?
I tried but could not get access to the video. Was the video made by a creationist or an irreligious secularist?

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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #234

Post by POI »

marke wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:06 am I tried but could not get access to the video. Was the video made by a creationist or an irreligious secularist?
You can also address what I stated/asked prior in that response, and/or, also address post 75. Here is the video again:

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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #235

Post by marke »

POI wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 10:57 am
marke wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:06 am I tried but could not get access to the video. Was the video made by a creationist or an irreligious secularist?
You can also address what I stated/asked prior in that response, and/or, also address post 75. Here is the video again:

How many remains of ships lost at sea have been found? How many fossils of dinosaurs that roamed the desert have been found? How many historians, including ancient Egyptian historians, have bragged about the sins of their nation? Just because much evidence has been lost, has been ommited from historical records by biased historians, or have simply not yet been uncovered does not mean the historical events did not occur. There are reports downplayed by non-Christians, of archaeological evidence of ancient jews in Egypt and in the desert after leaving Egypt.

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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #236

Post by SiNcE_1985 »

POI wrote: Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:24 pm The Bible claims an Exodus took place.
It does.
Many state it was not an actual event.
Opinions.
Since the Bible makes a positive claim, in that an 'Exodus" took place, do we have positive evidence to support the claim?
It's not about what we have/don't have.
For Debate:

1. Outside the Bible saying so, do we have evidence? If so, what?
This question insinuates that we need evidence outside the Bible.

Non sequitur.

Do we have evidence outside of Egypt that King Tut existed?

No, we don't.

That doesn't stop us from believing the young Pharaoh existed, does it?

No, it doesn't.

Well, apply that same logic to the Bible and the Exodus narrative.
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?
It does matter.
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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #237

Post by Bible_Student »

These are Jesus' words:

John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things and you still do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but the one who descended from heaven, the Son of man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone believing in him may have everlasting life.

Jesus confirmed the exodus as a real part of the ancient Israel's history.

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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #238

Post by POI »

SiNcE_1985 wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:35 pm This question insinuates that we need evidence outside the Bible.
Your answer insinuates we have no evidence, outside the Bible's say-so. Which is no evidence. :approve:
SiNcE_1985 wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:35 pm It does matter.
Since you admit there likely is no evidence, outside the Bible's mere say-so alone - (which is not evidence but instead only the claim alone), and this is a claim which should leave behind many ques and many clues, as it is a very large claim, I guess it's easy to discard this claim as pure myth/legend/fiction/folklore. Which in turn, means the Christian is in trouble...
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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #239

Post by POI »

marke wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 4:27 pm
POI wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 10:57 am
marke wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:06 am I tried but could not get access to the video. Was the video made by a creationist or an irreligious secularist?
You can also address what I stated/asked prior in that response, and/or, also address post 75. Here is the video again:

How many remains of ships lost at sea have been found? How many fossils of dinosaurs that roamed the desert have been found? How many historians, including ancient Egyptian historians, have bragged about the sins of their nation? Just because much evidence has been lost, has been ommited from historical records by biased historians, or have simply not yet been uncovered does not mean the historical events did not occur. There are reports downplayed by non-Christians, of archaeological evidence of ancient jews in Egypt and in the desert after leaving Egypt.
All I read here are admission(s) and/or excuses that we have no evidence for an Exodus. With a claim this large, you would think we would have quite a bit of stuff to discover.
In case anyone is wondering... The avatar quote states the following:

"I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness."

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Re: The Exodus! Did it Really Happen?

Post #240

Post by marke »

POI wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 11:49 pm
marke wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 4:27 pm
POI wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 10:57 am
marke wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2025 1:06 am I tried but could not get access to the video. Was the video made by a creationist or an irreligious secularist?
You can also address what I stated/asked prior in that response, and/or, also address post 75. Here is the video again:

How many remains of ships lost at sea have been found? How many fossils of dinosaurs that roamed the desert have been found? How many historians, including ancient Egyptian historians, have bragged about the sins of their nation? Just because much evidence has been lost, has been ommited from historical records by biased historians, or have simply not yet been uncovered does not mean the historical events did not occur. There are reports downplayed by non-Christians, of archaeological evidence of ancient jews in Egypt and in the desert after leaving Egypt.
All I read here are admission(s) and/or excuses that we have no evidence for an Exodus. With a claim this large, you would think we would have quite a bit of stuff to discover.
Not being aware of evidence does not prove no evidence exists.

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