Lesson 13

Question 1

• Discuss the history of the Ancient Near East and its relationship to the history of the nation of Israel

Question 2

• Describe hermeneutical issues surrounding archaeological investigation and the biblical record

Question 3

• Identify key historical figures in Egypt and Mesopotamia

Answer 3

1. Mesopotamia
a. The Chalcolithic Period (4300-3200 B.C.)
i. Sumerians
ii. Before the bronze age
b. The Early Bronze Age (3200-2200 B.C.)
i. Classical Sumerian age (2800-2360 B.C.)
ii. The Empire of Akkad (2360-2180 B.C.)
iii. Guti
c. The Middle Bronze age (2200-1550 B.C.)
i. The Ur III period (2060-1950 B.C.)
ii. Period of weakness
2. Egypt
a. Third dynasty (2600 B.C.)
b. First Intermediate (2100-2000 B.C.)

Question 4

1. What are the arguments for the early and late dates for the Exodus? Analyze and evaluate the arguments for both.

Answer 4

B. The late date of Exodus
1. Archaeological evidence (Destruction levels in Palestine)
2. Rameses II (1290-1224 B.C.)
i. Pharoh who gave the order to build cities mentioned in Exodus
3. The numbers in 1 Kgs 6:1
i. Argues that these numbers are symbolic and not literal
4. Evaluation
a. The interpretation of archaeological data
a. Based on faulty models of conquest
b. Cities were not destroyed as much as taken over
b. Rameses II (1290-1224 B.C.)
a. Not enough time for all the events in Exodus to occur
c. The time frame is squeezed

C. The rest of the dates based on an early date
a. Exodus: 1446-1440 B.C. (1 Kg 6:1 – 4th yr of reign (480 yrs after exudos)
a. Reign of Solomon = 971
b. 4th yr = 966
c. Subtract 480 (1 kg 6:1)
d. = early exodus date = 1446

  1.	Abraham born (2166 B.C.)
  2.	Isaac born, Abraham 100 years old (2066 B.C.)
  3.	Jacob born, Isaac 60 years old (2006 B.C.)
  4.	Jacob's migration (Israel in Egypt 430 years [Exod 12:40]; 1876 B.C.)
  5.	Exodus (1446 B.C.)

Question 5

2. Who were the Pharaohs during the time of Joseph and Moses?

Answer 5

C. Joseph
1. Sesostris II (1897-1878 B.C.)
2. Hyskos (1690-1580 B.C.)
3. Amosis (1550 B.C.)
D. Moses
1. Thutmose I (1528-1510 B.C.)
2. Hatshepsut (1490-1468 B.C.)
3. Tutmose III (1490-1436 B.C.)
4. Amenhotep II (1436-1413 B.C.)
5. Thutmose IV (1413-1405 B.C.)