Most histories of ancient Israel no longer consider information about the Exodus recoverable or even relevant to the story of Israels emergence. Nevertheless, the discussion of the historicity of the exodus has a long history, and continues to attract attention. The consensus among biblical scholars today is that there was never any exodus of the proportions described in the Bible. According to Exodus 12:37–38, the Israelites numbered about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children, plus many non-Israelites and livestock. Numbers 1:46 gives a more precise total of 603,550 men aged 20 and up. The 600,000, plus wives, children, the elderly, and the mixed multitude of non-Israelites would have numbered some 2 million people, compared with an entire Egyptian population in 1250 BCE of around 3 to 3.5 million. Marching ten abreast, and without accounting for livestock, they would have formed a line 150 miles long. No evidence has been found that indicates Egypt ever suffered such a demographic and economic catastrophe or that the Sinai desert ever hosted (or could have hosted) these millions of people and their herds. raceandhistory/historicalviews/doubtingexodus.htmraceandhistory/historicalviews/doubtingexodus.htm
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 11:49:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015