The story of Moses, the 10 plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, Mt. Sinai…If you have ever attended Sunday School then I am sure you have heard of the story of the Exodus. But did it actually happen? Join us as we dive into the archaeological evidence that proves that these miraculous events did indeed take place.
Table of Contents
episode 1: Who Was the Pharoah of the Exodus? | 61 Minutes
Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus? The Bible never mentions the Pharaoh’s name, and some think the Exodus account may be more myth than history. However, the Bible does give us some clues on dates, locations, and events in the kingdom of Egypt.
And although Egypt’s own timeline is contested, we can connect the dots and get a pretty good idea of who might have been the Pharaoh of the Exodus. This lesson is one of four episodes from our Biblical Archaeology series on the Exodus.
ADDITIONAL READING/RESOURCES
The Hyksos: Evidence of Jacob’s Family in Ancient Egypt? By the Armstrong Institute.
12 Tribes of Israel on a Seal from Avaris by Patterns of Evidence.
CREDITS
Developed & Hosted by Michael Lane. Produced & Edited by Charlotte Fohner. Title clips by The Instagrapher on Pexels: o https://www.pexels.com/video/hieroglyphic-carvings-on-rock-7574278/ o https://www.pexels.com/video/ancient-egyptian-artifact-7575442/ o https://www.pexels.com/video/close-up-video-of-a-stone-tablet-with-hieroglyphic-7492692/ • Thumbnail photography by antonio filigno on Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-statue-of-pharaoh-10210893/ • Photographs by E4F staff Charlotte Fohner from the Penn Museum: https://www.penn.museum/ • Stock Music provided by lynnepublishing, and SplashStudio from Pond5 • Additional Photography and Art: o AXP Photography on Unsplash o MEUM MARE: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-hieroglyphs-17004825/ o Thutmosis III, Chipdawes/Oltau, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9984893 o Hatshepsut, Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57859093 o Amenhotep II’s Mummy, Unknown Author, https://egypt-museum.com/mummy-of-amenhotep-ii/ o Amenhotep II’s Mummy (1902), Howard Carter, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30709102 o Yul Brynner as Ramses the Great, Unknown Author, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121088312 o 18th Dynasty Map, Andrei Nacu/Jeff Dahl, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4335117 o Hyksos Period Map, Iry-Hor, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34922151 o Faiyum Oasis Map, H.Seldon/Jeff Dahl, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3948636 o Carnarvon Tablet (1912), George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27998667 o Nile God Hapi Vector, Jeff Dahl, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3369966 o Nile God Hapi Photography, Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86268732 o Dream Stela, Carl Richard Lepsius, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47437437 o Amenhotep II mural at Temple of Amada, Dennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22604766 ADDITIONAL READING/RESOURCES: • The Hyksos: Evidence of Jacob’s Family in Ancient Egypt? By the Armstrong Institute: https://armstronginstitute.org/835-the-hyksos-evidence-of-jacobs-family-in-ancient-egypt • 12 Tribes of Israel on a Seal from Avaris by Patterns of Evidence: https://www.patternsofevidence.com/2018/09/14/12-tribes-of-israel-on-a-seal-from-egypt/
episode 2: Escape From Egypt | 47 Minutes
Ancient civilizations are always good at bragging about their victories and exploits on monuments, on buildings, and in documents. Not so much when it comes to disasters and failures. So what evidence is there for something as devastating as the plagues of Egypt?
There is one discovery that gives us a possible insight into the plagues from an Egyptian perspective. Additionally, this lesson will cover the trek of the Hebrews through the wilderness until the Red Sea and the timeline of their escape. The following episodes will go over the crossing and Mount Sinai.
CREDITS
Stock Music provided by lynnepublishing, and SplashStudio from Pond5 | sungmu heo | MEUM MARE | Ipuwer Papyrus from the Deutch Museum of Antiquities collection (Rijksmuseum Van Oudheden) | Location of Midian and Rameses Map by Bible Atlas (Bible Hub) using biblemapper 3.0 and OpenBible.info | Dr Glen Fritz Suggested Route of the Exodus | Wadis in West Egypt By Anton Lefterov, CC BY-SA 4.0 | Nuweiba Beach entrance: By © Vyacheslav Argenberg / http://www.vascoplanet.com/, CC BY 4.0 | Thomas Edison By Louis Bachrach, Bachrach Studios, restored by Michel Vuijlsteke, Public Domain | Humprhy Davis By Thomas Phillips, Public Domain | Isaac Newton By Godfrey Kneller, Public Domain | Abraham Lincoln By Alexander Gardner – museums.fivecolleges.edu, Public Domain | Empress Helena By Jebulon, CC0 | Emperor Justinian By Roger Culos, CC BY-SA 3.0 | 1927 St Catherine’s Monastery Drawing By David Roberts, CC0 | 2011 Photograph of St Catherine’s Monastery By Esben Stenfeldt, CC BY 3.0 | NASA, Public Domain | Map of identified Mount Sinai locations, by NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0 de | The Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus | Dr Glen Fritz, ancientexodus.com
episode 3: Crossing the Red Sea | 61 Minutes
We last left the Hebrews trapped on the beach between the sea and the Egyptian army. There are several locations that have been suggested for the crossing of the Red Sea and it is impossible to get a consensus on where the exact location was.
We do have clues from scripture, archaeology, history, and even marine biology and bathymetry, that can help us narrow down the most likely place this event could have happened. This video looks at those clues and explains why we think the best candidate for the crossing is at Nuweiba Beach in the Gulf of Aqaba.
ADDITIONAL READING/RESOURCES
The Exodus Itinerary Sites Their Location from the Perspective of the Biblical Sources. Michael D. Oblath, 2004.
Did the Israelites Cross the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds? Gly Williams, 2016.
Science and the Miracles of the Exodus. Colin Humphreys. “Europhysics News” 2005.
The Miracles of the Exodus: A Scientists Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories. Colin Humphreys, 2009.
The Israelites in Egypt: An Archaeological Outlook on the Biblical Exodus Tradition. Jonathan D. Bless. University of Wisconsin La Cross, 2011.
Exegetical and Contextual Facets of Israel’s Red Sea Crossin. R. Larry Overstreet, 2003.
The Location of the Sea the Israelites Passed Through. Ferdinand O. Regalado, 2002.
Gold of the Exodus. Howard Blum, 1998.
In Search of the Mountain of God: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Sinai. Robert Cornuke & David Halbrook, 2000.
Evidence for an Ancient Egyptian Frontier Canal: The remnants of an artificial waterway discovered in the northeast Nile Delta may have formed part of the barrier called “Shur of Egypt” in ancient texts. Amihai Sneh, Tuvia Weissbrod, & Itamar Perath, “American Scientist”, 1975.
The Wadi Tumilat and the “Canal of the Pharaohs”. Carol Redmount, “Journal o Near Eastern Studies”, 1995.
The Route of the Exodus from Egypt. George Robinson, 1901.
The Lost Sea of the Exodus. Dr. Glen A. Fritz. “Geotech” 2016.
The Route of the Exodus, the Location of Mount Sinai and Related Topics. Randall Styx, 2002.
Where Did the Red Sea Crossing Take Place? Chrsitopher Eames, 2021.
The Sacred Bridge. Anson F. Rainey & Dr. R. Steven Notley, 2005.
CREDITS
Developed & Hosted by Michael Lane. Produced & Edited by Charlotte Fohner. The Exodus Itinerary Sites Their Location from the Perspective of the Biblical Sources. Michael D. Oblath, 2004. • Did the Israelites Cross the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds? Gly Williams, 2016. • Science and the Miracles of the Exodus. Colin Humphreys. “Europhysics News” 2005. • The Miracles of the Exodus: A Scientists Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories. Colin Humphreys, 2009. • The Israelites in Egypt: An Archaeological Outlook on the Biblical Exodus Tradition. Jonathan D. Bless. University of Wisconsin La Cross, 2011. • Exegetical and Contextual Facets of Israel’s Red Sea Crossin. R. Larry Overstreet, 2003. • The Location of the Sea the Israelites Passed Through. Ferdinand O. Regalado, 2002. • Gold of the Exodus. Howard Blum, 1998. • In Search of the Mountain of God: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Sinai. Robert Cornuke & David Halbrook, 2000. • Evidence for an Ancient Egyptian Frontier Canal: The remnants of an artificial waterway discovered in the northeast Nile Delta may have formed part of the barrier called “Shur of Egypt” in ancient texts. Amihai Sneh, Tuvia Weissbrod, & Itamar Perath, “American Scientist”, 1975. • The Wadi Tumilat and the “Canal of the Pharaohs”. Carol Redmount, “Journal o Near Eastern Studies”, 1995. • The Route of the Exodus from Egypt. George Robinson, 1901. • The Lost Sea of the Exodus. Dr. Glen A. Fritz. “Geotech” 2016. • The Route of the Exodus, the Location of Mount Sinai and Related Topics. Randall Styx, 2002. • Where Did the Red Sea Crossing Take Place? Chrsitopher Eames, 2021. • The Sacred Bridge. Anson F. Rainey & Dr. R. Steven Notley, 2005. • The Exodus Revealed: Search for the Red Sea Crossing, Discovery Media Productions, 2001 ADDITIONAL ART, FILM, & PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: • Photo by James Coleman, Ivan Bandura, Giga Khurtsilava, Shifaaz shamoon, and Spencer Davis on Unsplash • Stock Video from Pexels by Sean JOHNSTON, Vimeo and The Instagrapher • Bathymetric Chart of the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba) compiled by John K. Hall, Zvi Ben Avraham, 1978, (Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Geological Survey of Israel, Marine Geology and Geomathematics Division) • NASA, STS040-152-180 (5-24 June 1991), Public Domain, https://images.nasa.gov/details/s40-152-180 • Wikimedia: Little Savage (Public Domain), Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0), Von A. Petermann (Public Domain), Jeff Dahl (CC BY-SA 4.0), annie brocolie (CC BY-SA 2.5), Shmuliko (Public Domain), israeltourism (CC BY-SA 2.0), deror_avi (CC BY-SA 3.0), Ynhockey (CC BY-SA 3.0), Henrik Sendelbach (CC BY-SA 3.0), Briangotts (CC BY-SA 3.0) • Satellite imagery from Google Earth • Fishing charts: fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com • Dr. Glen Fritz, ancientexodus.com • The Exodus Revealed: Search for the Red Sea Crossing, Discovery Media Productions, 2001 • Stock Music provided by lynnepublishing and SplashStudio / Pond5 #redsea #redseacrossing #exodus #egypt #hebrews #israel #escapefromegypt #moses #biblehistory #christianity #apologetics #christianhistory
episode 4: Where is Mt. Sinai? | 40 Minutes
The Hebrews are now free from Pharaoh’s army and headed to Mount Sinai, also called Mount Horeb throughout the Bible. If you search online or in a variety of Bible atlases, you will find a dozen mountains identified as Mount Sinai. Which one is correct?
One of the challenges with identifying locations from the past is that names can change, and established traditions can obfuscate actual evidence. Similar to how we identified the most likely candidate for the Red Sea crossing in the previous episode, we will go through the clues from the Bible and compare them to what we find in the field to help identify the most likely place for the Biblical Mount Sinai.
ADDITIONAL READING/RESOURCES
The Exodus Itinerary Sites Their Location from the Perspective of the Biblical Sources. Michael D. Oblath, 2004.
Did the Israelites Cross the Red Sea or the Sea of Reeds? Gly Williams, 2016.
Science and the Miracles of the Exodus. Colin Humphreys. “Europhysics News” 2005.
The Miracles of he Exodus: A Scientists Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories. Colin Humphreys, 2009.
The Israelites in Egypt: An Archaeological Outlook on the Biblical Exodus Tradition. Jonathan D. Bless. University of Wisconsin La Cross, 2011.
Exegetical and Contextual Facets of Israel’s Red Sea Crossin. R. Larry Overstreet, 2003.
The Location of the Sea the Israelites Passed Through. Ferdinand O. Regalado, 2002.
Gold of the Exodus. Howard Blum, 1998.
In Search of the Mountain of God: The Discovery of the Real Mt. Sinai. Robert Cornuke & David Halbrook, 2000.
Evidence for an Ancient Egyptian Frontier Canal: The remnants of an artificial waterway discovered in the northeast Nile Delta may have formed part of the barrier called “Shur of Egypt” in ancient texts. Amihai Sneh, Tuvia Weissbrod, & Itamar Perath, “American Scientist”, 1975.
The Wadi Tumilat and the “Canal of the Pharaohs”. Carol Redmount, “Journal o Near Eastern Studies”, 1995.
The Route of the Exodus from Egypt. George Robinson, 1901.
The Lost Sea of the Exodus. Dr. Glen A. Fritz. “Geotech” 2016.
The Route of the Exodus, the Location of Mount Sinai and Related Topics. Randall Styx, 2002.
Where Did the Red Sea Crossing Take Place? Chrsitopher Eames, 2021.
The Sacred Bridge. Anson F. Rainey & Dr. R. Steven Notley, 2005.
Histories. Herodotus.
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Book II.
Finding Etham. John Shreier, Biblical Research, August 21, 2019.
CREDITS
Photo by Marc Wieland, James Coleman and Tk Zeal on Unsplash | Wikimedia: Chadner (Public Domain), Noamdahary (CC BY-SA 4.0), Aaadir (CC0), Hanay (CC BY-SA 3.0), zstadler (CC BY-SA 4.0), Hoshvilim (CC BY-SA 4.0), NordNordWest (CC-BY-SA-3.0 DE) | Stock Video from Pexels by Adrien JACTA | “Why Saudi Arabia’s Hidden Biblical History Could Be at Risk” CBN News Report 10/31/2022 by Chuck Holton | Andrews Jones (Discovered Media), discoveredsinai.com, YouTube.com/@DiscoveredMedia | Satellite Imagery from Google Earth | Stock Music provided by mv_production, & lynnepublishing / Pond5
Enjoying this content? Help Evidence 4 Faith create more courses for believers across the globe by donating today! DONATE NOW
For more on Archaeological Evidence of the Exodus, check out this course The Ipuwer Papyrus | 22 min