The Book of Exodus is one of best known pieces of scripture in the world. It tells the story of how the Jewish people, with some divine assistance, escape from Egypt and make their way to the land of Israel.
Whether this migration really happened is deeply controversial and is something that I’m not going to get into in this article.
Instead what I’m going to talk about is some intriguing research, done by Professor James Hoffmeier of Trinity International University, which suggests that the events may be set in New Kingdom times – specifically the era of the Ramesside kings. His work also adds some insight into the exact route the Israelites took in the story.
Highlighted Quote:
“We should be open to the possibility that the memory preserved in the exodus tradition has one that goes back to a much earlier date than perhaps some people have thought.”
It’s long been a common stereotype that Akhenaten was a pacifist, someone who avoided warfare when possible. If you read Heritage Key’s article on Nazi Egyptology you will see that the Nazis hate him for that precise reason.
But recent research, presented this weekend at an Egyptology symposium in Toronto, shows that the Amarna leaders – including Akhenaten, King Tut and Nefertiti - all supported a sizable fortress in the Sinai desert.
Located at Tell el-Borg it was a formidable bastion. It was 120 meters east-west by 80 meters north-south. The walls were four meters thick (at the base) and it was at least partially surrounded by a moat.
Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern History and Archaeology
Professor James Hoffmeier is Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern History and Archaeology at Trinity International University. He holds a doctorate in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from the University of Toronto.
He was born and raised in Egypt, living there until he was 16. He is the author of several books including Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition and, Israelin Egypt: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Exodus Tradition.
He is drector of the Tell el-Borg Archaeological Project. The site is located in the North Sinai Desert. His team has found the remains of two forts, one dating to the 18th dynasty – the Amarna period, when Akhenaten, King Tut and Nefertiti reigned. They have also found a second fort dating to the Ramesside period (19th and 20th dynasties). Fieldwork is now complete and the team is in the process of publishing their results.
I’m going to be filing more detailed blogs at the end, once I have the time to do a proper write-up of all the research.
For now here are some news-briefs that I want to fill you in on.
-The Seila Pyramid is flat! No – it is not a step pyramid. It is a true pyramid. Professor Kerry Muhlestein of Brigham Young University, presented the latest research.
A team of engineers, using GPS equipment, completed a 3D model of the pyramid recently. Combined with (unpublished) excavation results it is now clear that it is not a step-pyramid.
The Book of Exodus is one of best known pieces of scripture in the world. It tells the story of how the Jewish people, with some divine assistance, escape from Egypt and make their way to the land of Israel.
It’s long been a common stereotype that Akhenaten was a pacifist, someone who avoided warfare when possible. If you read Heritage Key’s article on 
The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, and the 
