Week 5: Exodus Flashcards
Exodus Event
Exodus: “a going out”
The entire rest of the Pentateuch is the Exodus. The Exodus event is the most important event in the Hebrew Bible.
The story thus far has been about Creation, Covenant & Family. There is an expectation that God should intervene in history to liberate Israel.
The last word of the book of Genesis is Egypt…then we turn to Exodus.
What 3 moments is the Exodus Event comprises of?
- Deliverance (Exodus 1-15)
- Covenant (Exodus 19-Deuteronomy)
- Entry into the Promised Land (Joshua)
What do we research to study the Exodus as a Historical Event?
- Biblical Material
- Archaeological Evidence
- Comparative ANE Literature (more than just stories, but also correspondence in royal documentation)
‘Ibri
Abram is known as ‘bri:
“one from beyond”
“from over there”
“from away”
Abraham is from Ur (Babylon). Foreignness is embedded into his identity; he and his family are the people from “over there.”
Hebrew:
“from beyond”
“foreigner”
The word Hebrew comes to be known as “foreigner” and is used by other groups referring to Israelites. Hebrews are associated with foreginess. It is not an internal word; rather, it is a word that outsiders use.
Joseph’s Status in Egypt
Joseph, though a foreigner, rises to a position of authority in the Egyptian court.
“Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen; and they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly.” (Gen 47:27)
Joseph dies and is embalmed in a coffin (ark) in Egypt (Gen 50:26).
“But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.” (Exod 1:7)
Joseph is a dream interpreter and he is in charge of rationing food and grain
We are given the sense that Egypt has taken a hold of the Promised Land, and it might be where the Hebrews are supposed to be
Biblical Dating of the Exodus
Gen 15:13: The period of captivity will be 400 years.
Exod 12:40: The period of captivity lasted 430 years.
Biblical dating of the Exodus is usually done backwards from the building of the Temple by Solomon (950 BC).
1 Kings 6:1 says Solomon built the Temple, 480 years after the Exodus (1430 BC). But, after adding all the time periods mentioned in Exodus to 1 Kings, we end up with over 550 years after the Exodus event, which would now be 1500 BC.
Archaeologically and Politically: 1480-1500 BC is too early for the Exodus to have happened.
Entry into the Promised Land implies that Israelites are in control in Canaan. But we know that in 1500 BCE, the Israelites were not in control of Canaan, Egypt was (this is why political history is important).
Why is the biblical dating of the Exodus inconsistent?
Biblical dating is inconsistent, because it is not the intention of the Bible. Telling a historically accurate story in regard to time was not the concern.
Overview of Egyptian History
Around 3000 BCE, Menes (King of Upper Egypt) united both Upper and Lower Egypt, beginning the dynastic history of Egypt.
The population was stretched out around the Nile River, and the many settlements conformed into one group under one political rule, with a large population surrounding very fertile land.
This made Egypt very strong politically, and Egypt went through a series of dynasties. Between 3000 BCE and ~1000 BCE, Egypt had a series of dynasties divided into roughly 3 periods:
The Old Kingdom (2675-2130 BCE)
The Middle Kingdom (1980-1630 BCE)
The New Kingdom (1539-1075 BCE)
Egypt was a colonizing dynasty and tried to gain control over fertile crescent. Between each kingdom there was a period of upheaval where various groups would struggle for power.
Where do scholars search for an Exodus event in history?
There is a gap where Egypt does not have control and Egypt’s control is temporarily overthrown, so it is in these little gaps that scholars search for an Exodus event (Note: the likelihood of slaves escaping is low when nation is strong, but higher when nation is weakened).
Hyksos Period
1630-1539 BCE
A period when non-Egyptians held power in Egypt.
“Hyksos”: “foreign leaders”
Between the Middle and New Kingdoms, an outside group of Semitic peoples known as the Hyksos ruled Egypt for about a century. They came from North of the Mediterranean. It is possible that they were related to Israelites.
The Hyksos Period is too early to form the context of the Exodus, BUT it suggests that it was possible for a group of outsiders to be living and established in Egypt
This is an aspect of Egyptian history that reflects Biblical content. (Is there a time when a foreigner was powerful in Egypt? Yes, Joseph.)
The Egyptian records preserve history of foreign people in power in Egypt (The Hyksos).
Why is the Hyskos period important for dating the Exodus?
The Egyptian records preserve history of foreign people in power in Egypt (The Hyksos).
This is an aspect of Egyptian history that reflects Biblical content.
New Kingdom (1539-1075 BCE)
Egypt regained control.
Egyptian princes gradually regained control (not only of Egypt, but also of Canaan) and began to expand territories eastward into Canaan.
Egypt was not only controlling itself, but also all the small towns and villages along the Northern Coast (Canaanites, Indigenous).
Under Thutmoses III, the New Kingdom reached its height of power. Thutmoses III established the pax aegyptica (Egyptian Peace: a result of conquest and taxation).
The peace was held in Egypt by taxation, slavery and brutal conquest of any uprising.
Egyptian administration established outposts and small towns in Canaan.
Egypt kept excellent documentation of historical records, through letters called…
The Amarna Letters (1400-1350 BCE)
The Amarna Letters
1400-1350 BCE
Correspondence passed between the administration in Egypt and those living in Canaan.
During the New Kingdom, Egypt controlled Canaan as a province. Most settlements were along the coast; the coast was more desirable, which meant that everyone else wanted it too. As a result, there was trouble and Egyptian commanders needed help.
They reached out for help through writing letters.
In the Amarna letters, the Egyptian commanders in Canaan seek assistance against marauding bands of ’Apiru as well as assistance keeping the peace between themselves.
What happened during the New Kingdom that is important for dating the Exodus?
During the New Kingdom, Egyptian outposts in Canaan, and Egyptian supply cities are challenged by Apiru, who are enslaved if caught. From the Egyptian perspective, Apiru is a blanket term used for unwanted outsiders. Enslaved Apiru would frequently try to escape captivity.
