Director posits proof of biblical Exodus

The Globe and Mail ^ | 14 April 2006 | Michael Posner

[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.

[50sDad]

Some claim that the phrase "Jesus of Nasareth, and King of the Jews", hung over the Cross, supposedly becomes in Hebrew an acrostic for "YHWH". (Others debate it as just a cool Ancient Urban Myth.) Google this:

Acrostic YHWH Jesus

It would explain the Pharasees going ballistic over it.

Has anyone here seen Dean Jones in a video called "St. John in Exhile"? First act is a one-man passion play, and second act is a recounting of Revalation, as if John were speaking to a group of faithful who came to visit him on Patmos. Electric! A wonderful presentation, dramatic, humorous, and it really makes the Disciples seem like people such as you and I, rather than Holy Supermen. I recommend it.

[Reaganesque]

Could be. But this other show, whose name I can't recall right now, gave rather compelling arguments as well. Again, either way, the story's details are far less important than the fact that God led Moses and his covenant people out of bondage. Finding out the exact route and the actual circumstances surrounding the Exodus will be quite interesting and is a worthy inquiry, it's just not the most important part of the story.

[ExcursionGuy84]

Where do you get YAH WEH?

I've seen & heard it spelled & written as such before. Maybe I'm just following the usual American-English manner of "mutilating" any pure forms of a foreign word/term.

but you're right: it is YHWH...or am I supposed to leave out the W.

Anyway, I was just spelling it the way I'd heard it pronounced.

[buck61]

The number of crossing the Red Sea may even be greater than
2,000,000. At the time of the event only men were counted according to some scholars. Why women and children were not counted in the Old Testament I can not answer, I'm sure some can however.

[doc30]

I remember a show on the History CHannel when they were talking about Rameses and Moses. The Egyptians never recorded their defeats, only their victories. And when they did list their victories, they were listed as victories against a certain country or land. But there was one reference to a victory in a raid against the Hebrew people. It was very interesting because it referenced the Hebrews and a people, not as a nation or country. The Pharoh at the time was after Rameses, so the thinking is that this was a small Egyptian raid against the Hebrews before the founding of Israel while the Hebrews were 'wandering the desert.' The show ended with the archeologist standing in front of Rameses munmmy and saying that we were looking at the remains of a man who may actually have laid eyes on Moses.(in an archeologiacally sense the word 'may' is used here, not as a statement of religous faith).

[Lewite]

Reply to post #17

go to www.ynca.com or www.uonyc.org and read "The Missing "J". It is 48 pages and can be printed.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Thanks! Believing Christians take Exodus as God's Truth and Word, just like believing Jews.

[buck61]

Instead of all the tech on the word Yahweh just use the words,
tell them, (I am sent you).

[Galena Nevada]

There are some things that just have to be taken on faith. The need to explain God's miracles and power in view of our finite understanding is senseless. Attempting to explain how natural phenomenon could lead to the plagues or the crossing of the Red Sea ultimately just undercuts our faith. "Dispute not because you see not."

[buck61]

And the Jews use the same tactics on relict's from the Christian era. They, the Jews would not want proof that my Savior Jesus Christ, has already came to the earth and is soon returning with great glory and majesty for those who have excepted him.
I just get carried away thinking of that wonderful coming event.

[aruanan]

And the Jews use the same tactics on relict's from the Christian era.

I've not heard of that. Jews consider Christianity to be dependent on Judaism, not a denial of its origin. There's a wealth of artifacts all the way back into the first century.

[BibChr]

Simple, factual answer: Hebrew OT was originally vowel-less; now has vowel-points to indicated pronunciation.

There is good reason to believe YHWH was pronounced "Yahweh" (i.e. ancient Greek did it iabe or iao).

There is no rational basis for objecting to adding vowels -- unless one will also insist on dropping Abraham for 'brhm, or Jacob for y`qb, and so forth.

Dan
Biblical Christianity BLOG
Pyromaniacs

[BibChr]

pingtyka

[timsbella]

I second that. To do otherwise would be to the detriment of both faiths.

[timsbella]

I agree, but it's still a wonderful feeling to point to the skeptics and say, "See, it happened, just the way they wrote it did!!!"

[TXnMA]

underwater cameras revealed formations of rock and coral(?) that could possibly be encrusted chariots. None of it was conclusive evidence but it did seem to make sense.

---

Are these some of the photos to which you refer?

 Clock balance wheel?

---

Since no scale is included, at least one photographed "chariot wheel" could be a clock part in an aquarium. The others are quite intriguing. I'd volunteer to do a proper archaeological evaluation (including measurements) -- if the "discoverrs" would share the UTM (GPS) coordinates...

[ExcursionGuy84]

...this discussion is getting too deep for a Friday.

Nonsense! Seeing as it is the Passover/Crucifixion & Resurrection weekend, it is always a good thing to discuss Biblical languages/ linguistics, especially in regards to the Names of GOD.

[bert]

.....Moses led an estimated two million Israelite slaves out of pharaonic Egypt.....

Ha....

Although there may have been an Exodus, it was such a minor event it was not mentioned in Egyptian history. The Exodus probably involved a handful of people that crossed the marshes. It took them decades to multiply to the point they could attack and secure a significant piece of realestate.

[timsbella]

The most recent interpretation is it wasn't the Red Sea, but the Reed Sea - shallow and as named, full of reeds, but made passable with a tsunami-like occurance. Seems entirely plausible given what we saw in Bande Aceh - and entire beach evacuated of water for many minutes only to be completely emersed with crushing waves. It may sound strange, but when I saw the footage for the first time, that's what came to mind.