Posted on 04/14/2006 5:58:16 AM PDT by timsbella
A provocative $4-million documentary by Toronto filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici claims to have found archeological evidence verifying the story of the biblical Exodus from Egypt, 3,500 years ago.
Religious Jews consider the biblical account incontrovertible — the foundation story of the creation of the nation of Israel. Indeed, they celebrated the Exodus Wednesday night and last night with the annual Passover recitation of the Haggadah.
But among scholars, the question of if and when Moses led an estimated two million Israelite slaves out of pharaonic Egypt, miraculously crossed the Red Sea ahead of the pursuing Egyptian army and received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai, has long been a source of contention.
Absent definitive proof, archeologists have argued variously that the biblical account is simply a nice fable or that it may have happened, but not on the scale suggested by the Book of Exodus. Nor is there any consensus about when it might have occurred.
Now, in Exodus Decoded, Mr. Jacobovici says he has found almost a dozen overlooked relics that confirm the biblical story.
(Excerpt) Read more at theglobeandmail.com ...
Well, if you read the Bible, it was only a little over 600,000 Israelites that Moses led out of Egypt.
That figure is a count of males between the ages of 20 and 60. It leaves out younger & older males, and all females.
You are correct. When I go to some of my documentation and resources I see that what you say is correct.
I was taught about the Sea of Reeds too. But I've read more recent works that say that King James actually got it right and Red Sea is correct. So I don't know which is correct.
Didn't see it. :')
Bumping for a great read later
It was on the History Channel Sunday night. Since they replay everything, you can probably catch it before long.
Thanks for the ping!
I missed the first showing; since History Channel repeats programs, I will try to catch a rerun.
Thank you for highliting one of my Biblical pet peeves. God has a name, USE it!
It drives me nuts that most translations use some weirdo "The LORD, the LORD Almighty" or whatever instead of just using the proper noun from the Hebrew or Aramaic. It's quite frustrating, really.
I don't take cable. In fact, for the most part, I *can't* take TV...
The first borns dying was explained in the documentary. The first born male egyptians were exalted above all other children. They slept in beds close to the ground whereas other children often slept on the roof. The theory espoused in the documentary based on a similar event that happened somewhere in Africa in the 1980s was that an earthquake caused an underground gas leak to rise to the surface forming a low-lying lethal cloud of gas to kill people that were close to the surface. Like I said above, there was a similar instance of this in Africa in the 1980s in which hundreds of villagers were killed as they slept. The archaeologists also found some mass graves dating back to the same time period as the Exodus (1,500 BC) and all the skeletons in the grave were young males.
Definitely try to catch a repeat of the show. It was very interesting and I found that a "scientific" explanation of the Exodus did more to solidify my faith than to explain it away since it lends credence to the fact that it actually happened and I believe that God can manipulate the natural resources of the earth. Nothing happens by chance.
Bingo! The biggest problem that anyone has in matters like this is in accepting as 100% true all of the events - we don't experience miracles (at least not overtly apparent ones) like in Biblical days, so it is very much an act of faith to accept them.
At the same time, you can't take everything on faith (nor should you). I am of the view that G-d has given us a brain, eyes and ears for a reason - to use them to validate our faith in Him - and the use of science in this manner does exactly this.
More to the point, the chain of events is so particular and so peculiar as to be unique in history (though similar events like the gas disaster in Africa have occurred) - and not only are they unique, but they occurred at just the right time, and in just the right sequence to free the Hebrew slaves and allow them to travel to Mt. Sinai to hear G-d delivering the 10 Commandments. The science here allows one to easily counter those who say "its just a story, that stuff never happened." Of course, as I said in earlier posts, I have a bit of trouble with the exact timeline used in the documentary, as well as some of its playing fast and loose with passages from the Bible, but overall it was very refreshing to see a scientist say that the Exodus was a very real historical event.
Thanks, piperpilot!
That would explain it if only the first born CHILDREN were killed - but the Bible doesn't say the first born children - it says the first born. That obviously includes adults, who wouldn't necessarily be sleeping on beds close to the ground. In addition - Egypt is a very hot climate - the most "favored" person would certainly be sleeping on the roof - not close to the ground.
BTW, I saw the documentary and most of it made sense - all except this part. I just don't see how escaping gas would only kill first borns and not everyone who breathed it.
And when you add to that the fact that God told Moses to bring the people out at that precise time, it just solidifies it for me. It would be different if God said nothing and Moses was simply being opportunistic in saying to the people, let's get while the gettin' is good.
It is on again tonight (8/24) at 8 EST and 7 CST (presumably with reruns 4 hours later). Call a friend or relative and have them tape it for you. If you're interested in archaeology (and I know you are), then this is must viewing.
From what I've read in this thread, I doubt it. :') I'll wait for it to come out on video.
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