The Exodus Decoded

The Exodus Decoded is an intriguing documentary shown on the History Channel that tries to scientifically validate the events stated in the Bible in the Book of Exodus. Filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici spent ten years investigating this topic and has come up with some very interesting results. The catalyst for so much of the Book of Exodus falling into place, scientifically speaking, is that he believes the current dating of when these events were supposed to have occurred is not accurate. To put it plainly, he poses the question "If, in the future, historians decided that World War II took place in the 1990's, all of their exploration would find no evidence that it ever occurred." By moving back the date of the Exodus about two hundred and fifty years, to around 1500 B.C., suddenly everything begins to fall into place.

You find evidence of a Joseph in power in Egypt. You find evidence of a Pharaoh who's name in Hebrew means "brother of Moses." You find that Pharaoh had a son who died young, perhaps during Passover. You find documented Egyptian writings that tell of the exodus from the Egyptian point of view. You have a nearby volcano that coincides with the plagues. You find, as others have recently discovered, that the parting of the Red Sea was mistranslated and, in the original Hebrew was actually the parting of the Reed Sea, or fresh water lake. In the end, the filmmaker proposes physical evidence of the parting of the Reed Sea, he claims to find the true Mount Sinai and, most amazingly, the first real picture of the ark of the covenant which houses the Ten Commandments.

What's even more amazing about this is that, because no one thought of the Exodus occurring in his proposed timeframe, no one else was looking or interpreting information right in front of them that would support it, including the picture of the ark. It's an amazing show that covers a lot of ground. When you put it all together it makes for a compelling documentary. It will air again on September 7th, so if you can watch it, if you can't TIVO it. It will be left thinking about it days after watching it.