Jewish Exodus
The Jewish Exodus refers to the biblical account of the Israelites' departure from slavery in Egypt, traditionally dated around 1450 B.C.E., although some scholars suggest it may have occurred in the thirteenth century B.C.E. The narrative centers on Moses, a key leader who, after being divinely commissioned, confronts the Egyptian Pharaoh, often identified as Ramses II. The Exodus story highlights a series of ten plagues that ultimately compelled the Pharaoh to free the Israelites, though he later attempted to recapture them. The dramatic crossing of the Reed Sea, where the waters are said to have parted, is a pivotal moment in the narrative, symbolizing divine intervention. Following their escape, Moses plays a crucial role in forming the Israelites into a unified community, culminating in a covenant with God at Mount Sinai, where they are designated as His chosen people. This event marks the foundation of a monotheistic Israelite identity and the eventual establishment of an Israelite state in Palestine. While the historical accuracy of the Exodus is debated among scholars, it remains a significant cultural and religious milestone in Jewish history.
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Subject Terms
Jewish Exodus
Related civilizations: Pharaonic Egypt, Israel.
Date: traditionally c. 1450-c. 1430 b.c.e.
Locale: Egypt
Exodus
The dates of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt are a matter of debate; traditionally the Exodus is dated at circa 1450 b.c.e., but scholars also agree that two key figures in the Exodus, the Jewish leader Moses and the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, were contemporaries of the thirteenth century b.c.e. Today, scholars agree to disagree, some believing that the Exodus may be a matter of myth. In about the seventeenth century b.c.e., the Israelites had migrated into Egypt and settled in the eastern Nile Delta as guests of the pharaoh. Eventually, however, the Israelites fell out of royal favor, and they had even become state slaves by the end of the fifteenth century b.c.e.
Moses was divinely commissioned to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. His mission became a contest with the pharaoh, perhaps Ramses II. A series of ten plagues that visited Egypt and culminated in the deaths of the firstborn sons of Egyptian families, persuaded the pharaoh to release the Israelites. Nevertheless, he later changed his mind and tried to stop them at the Reed (traditionally the Red) Sea. Then, according to the Bible, a miracle occurred: God parted the waters, allowing the Israelites to cross in safety; the pursuing Egyptians were drowned when the waters returned.
After the Israelites’ escape, Moses shaped the refugees into a distinctive, cohesive community. At Mount Sinai, the Israelites made a covenant with God, whom they credited with liberating and choosing them as his special people. Later, the successors of Moses established a monotheistic Israelite state in Palestine.
Bibliography
Bright, John. A History of Israel. 3d ed. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1993.
Finegan, Jack. Let My People Go. New York: Harper and Row, 1963.