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  • From: <david.kimbrough AT charter.net>
  • To: <david.kimbrough AT charter.net>, "Yigal Levin" <leviny1 AT mail.biu.ac.il>, "b-hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Cc:
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] Egypt, Canaan, & the Exodus
  • Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 21:19:14 +0000

The key point that is being missed in this entire
discussion of dating the Exodus, either based on the text
of the OT or other external evidence such as Josephus or
Menetho is that during the period in question, Canaan was a
province of Egypt. From the expulsion of the Hyksos in
1540 BC to at least the end of the nineteenth dynasty,
(1196 BC), but probably even into the 20th dynasty, Egypt
exercised military control over Canaan. Some kings were
active and aggressive (Thutmoses III, who recorded a
victory over Canaanite kings at a battle at Megiddo in 1456
BC) or while others were passive and inattentive (Amenhotep
IV, 1353-1336 BC aka Akhenaten, and the Amarna letters) but
all had control. Merenptah (1207 BC) was recording military
victories in Canaan. Ramesses III was able to decisively
crush the invading ?Sea People? because he had troops and
fortifications in Canaan at Djahy (1176 BC).

The idea that a group of Israelites (or indeed anybody)
would flee Egyptian oppression to Canaan during this period
just does not make sense. It would be like a group of
people in London who felt oppressed by Tony Blair and
decided to flee to Scotland for relief.


David Kimbrough
San Gabriel




  • [b-hebrew] Egypt, Canaan, & the Exodus, david.kimbrough, 05/31/2004

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