JEWS IN CAPTIVITY

It’s simply incomprehensible to me that people still believe tens of thousands of Jews were slaves in Egypt, even though Egyptian’s (who were masters of record-keeping) kind of forgot to mention that. They also forgot to mention the ten plagues, the escape of the Jews, and the death of the pharaoh’s entire charioteer corps. Archaeologists have been combing the desert for generations and have yet to come across the slightest evidence that a large group camped there for forty years.

Science has tried to provide an explanation; that there was a massive volcanic eruption which would account for all ten of the plagues AND the pillar of smoke by day and fire by night. There would also have been white flakes falling from the sky, but I hope the fleeing Jews didn’t actually eat the volcanic ash and call it mana (perhaps that would fall under the 25% embellishment rate). Science even accounts for the death of the first-born, as the eldest son was usually given night duty over the livestock, who were ill and dying. This doesn’t quite explain the death of pharaoh’s son, as I believe he had people to do that.

But another bizarrely missing piece of the puzzle in the Bible is the name of this pharaoh. Certainly they all knew his name, especially Moses who was supposedly brought up in his household. Yet it’s never once mentioned. It’s a small detail, but telling. Other things that seem strange; that God sends Moses to demand the release of the Jews, but God hardens pharaoh’s heart against Moses. Why would he do that? Another small but extremely annoying detail.

As for the parting of the Red Sea (or the Reed Sea, or the swamp), again Science offers the possibility of a tidal wave, where the water first withdraws (seemingly completely) then rushes back with incredible force. However, there’s never been a tidal wave which would allow forty thousand people and a corps of charioteers to cross the seabed (or swamp) before rushing back and drowning them. Even four hundred people is extremely unlikely. Four people might make it.

Of all of these events, we can say, “Ah, it was miraculous; God at his showiest,” or we can accept the simplest explanation; that the whole episode was caused by nature. Add to that the fact that there weren’t enough Jews in Egypt to even warrant a mention, and apparently the ten plagues weren’t worth mentioning, either, and Pharaoh didn’t have a name, no one camped in that desert, and for all it’s great holiness apparently even the Jews can’t remember which mountain Sinai is, and I think logic must guide us to dismiss this entire story.

For these reasons, I believe in the Holocaust, but I don’t believe in the Exodus. I’m interested in hearing your opinion!