Have you read: James K. Hoffmeier proof of the *Exodus*?

Question

Here is some of the info:
James K. Hoffmeier sought to refute the claims of scholars who doubt the historical accuracy of the biblical account of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt. Analyzing a wealth of textual, archaeological, and geographical evidence, he put forth a thorough defense of the biblical tradition. Hoffmeier now turns his attention to the Wilderness narratives of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers

As director of the North Sinai Archaeological Project, Hoffmeier has led several excavations that have uncovered important new evidence supporting the Wilderness narratives, including a major New Kingdom fort at Tell el-Borg that was occupied during the Israelite exodus. Hoffmeier employs these archaeological findings to shed new light on the route of the exodus from Egypt.

How is this so different from a person uncovering World History events by archelogical evidence?

Answer 1

If he could ever amass sufficient evidence, it would be a matter of world history.

However, a majority of Archeologists consider his conclusions to be founded on insufficient evidence.

One big strike against the Exodus is that there are no Egyptian records of it, and the Egyptians were shameless record keepers. In documenting many battles against the Hitites, which the Egyptians lost and lost SPECTACULARLY, the Egyptians still documented, to the horse and to the chariot, the number of losses endured.

The loss of so many slaves all at once would have been a MASSIVE blow to Egyptian economics, yet there is no evidence of a slouch of that magnitude in any of the financial documentation we've so far found.

Hoffmeier has far, far from proven that the Exodus happened. He has some good evidence for, but it's circumstantial at best, and there is much evidence against the Exodus, so the current archeological balance is that the Exodus did not happen.

Answer 2

Have you actually read the Book? I'd try reading William Dever's most recent book as well as Finkelstein and Silberman's for the archaeological evidence from within Canaan, and Lester Grabbe's article (no longer available online) about the numbers and other features within the Exodus story itself.

There may be a layer of historical fact underlying the Exodus tradition, but the vast majority of the evidence shows that the story is not entirely factual/historical.

I have some useful links on my web page at http://blue.butler.edu/~jfmcgrat/bible/ot/exodus.htm

Answer 3

I followed a series of links a while ago after reading this comment:
"An archaeological find that impacts biblical criticism is the recently discovered Ebla tablets. ...in northern Syria by two professors from the University of Rome-Dr. Paolo Matthiae, an archaeologist; and Dr. Giovanni Pettinato, an epigrapher. The excavation of the site began in 1964. ..."
Finding ancient cities mentioned in the Bible is not in itself proof of the truth of the Bible's stories. But do these Ebla Tablets (see link below) provide other evidence beyond confirmation of place names?
"The Importance of the Names on the Ebla Tablets

The names of the prophets identified in the Ebla tablets are of the greatest importance as this was the first time that they had been encountered in historical documents of such age. This information, dating back to 1500 years before the Torah, was most striking. The appearance in the tablets of the name of the Prophet Abraham recorded that the Prophet Abraham and the religion brought by him had existed before the Torah.

Historians analyzed the Ebla tablets from this perspective, and this major discovery regarding the Prophet Abraham and his mission became the subject of research with regard to the history of religions. David Noel Freedman, an American archaeologist and researcher into the history of religions, reported, based on his studies, the names of such prophets as Abraham and Ishmael in the tablets. (3)"

Answer 4

So, one guys writes it, it must be truth? Why is it that no other archeologists agree with this man's conclusions?? Why is it that the Egyptians were notorious record keepers, yet they seem to have forgotten to keep a record of the loss of all of their slaves during the Exodus??

He may have "put forht a thorough defense of the biblical tradition" - but this defense has been refuted!

Answer 5

Are you refering to this book?
http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/24172/subject/AncientReligion/?view=usa&ci=9780195130881

He didn't recover anything. He just pointed out that the evidence does not justify saying there were never any Jews in Egypt.

That's not evidence of a Bible story, any more than the existance of sheep and goats proved there was a Jesus.

Now, how about the fact that in the time of the same Pharoah mentioned in the Genesis story of Joseph his tomb creators listed his great deeds and the rationing system, and the droughts, which are in the Bible, are not mentioned? Did they hide that?

Answer 6

Mormons have books that claim proof that the Native Americans are descended from the Lost Tribes of Israel.

JWs produce books to defend their strange views.

Christian Scientists constantly produce false studies to suggest that prayer really heals.

Religion produces more fraudulent claims than any other segment of society.

If you want to be lied to, you can always find someone willing to do it for you.

Answer 7

No, but will look into it.
Have you read, Eternal Destination, by John Bevere?

Answer 8

no I haven't
thanks