In the history of Egypt have they ever mention their defeat to the Israelites?

Question

I'm talking about during Moses time

There was a known pastor who argued that Egyptians never recorded their defeat because it's a mighty empire brought down by slaves. It would be shameful to them .All this time I never paid attention until hearing the fact.

Answer 1

This is a very good question. I was interested myself when i saw your question if there is. There has been no evidence in writing in Egypt of the events described in the bible.

However, there is quite alot of circumstantial evidence that something happened in Egypt.

For example - Merneptah Stele - a slab of rock with writings on it dated 1210 B.C and written during the reign of Merneptah (who succeeded Ramesses II as Pharoah of Egypt), does mention 'Israel' and states that Merneptah, the king of Egypt, boasts that he has destroyed his enemies in Canaan.

He states: Plundered is the Canaan with every evil; Carried off is Ashkelon; seized upon is Gezer; Yanoam is made as that which does not exist; Israel is laid waste, his seed is not; (ANET 1969, 378).The word "Israel" here is written in Egyptian with the determinative for people rather than land.

The Merneptah stele places the biblical exodus of the Israelites not during the reign of Rameses II, but during that of his successor Merneptah.

What is also interesting from reading the websites is the discovery of bowls - execration texts - The Egyptians practiced the magical cursing of their enemies by inscribing pottery bowls and figurines with the names of their enemies, and then smashing them to break the power of their enemies.

One of the enemies "Iy-'anaq" is named which may be related to the Anaqim or giants who dwelt in Canaan before the conquest (ANET 1969, 328). There is the ruler of "Shutu" named Job. Shutu is probably Moab the sons of Sheth.

There is also the papyrus texts - Egyptian text called the Ipuwer Papyrus. The text was discovered in the Papyrus Leiden 334, having been copied by 19th Dynasty scribes (c.1200 BCE; 6th century BC)

The Ipuwer Papyrus is very interesting. It describes a Disaster in Egypt that is similar almost word for word with the Exodus story. For example, it says "Plague is throughout the land. Blood is everywhere." 7:21 "... there is blood throughout all the land of Egypt." "Forsooth, the land turns round like a potter's wheel."

However, other scholars have placed the Exodus not during the reign of either Merneptah or Rameses, but during the reign of Pepy II.

If you have the time and the patience to do the reading, its a very interesting subject which u can debate until your blue in the face.

Answer 2

During Moses times there was no war. The Israelites were slaves that helped built the Pyramids and they fled Egypt with the help of God. So there is no defeat for the Egyptians. They were simply unlucky. I am not sure if anything was written about that period in their history, maybe it was not that important to them?

Answer 3

No. In fact there is no mention of the mighty state of Israel in the records of Egypt, Assyria, the Hittites and other empires that should be contemporary. Very strange. There are two possibilities. A remarkable conspiracy to suppress the facts or the Bible exaggerates the importance of Israel.

Answer 4

Yes they have and Gamal Abdul Nasser died shortly after the defeat due to the fact that Egypt lost the war and due to the fact that it took only 6 days.