Product Description

Scholars of the Hebrew Bible have in the last decade begun to question the historical accuracy of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus. The reason for the rejection of the exodus tradition is said to be the lack of historical and archaeological evidence in Egypt. Those advancing these claims, however, are not specialists in the study of Egyptian history, culture, and archaeology. In this pioneering book, James Hoffmeier examines the most current Egyptological evidence and argues that it supports the biblical record concerning Israel in Egypt.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #584031 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 280 pages

About the Author
James K. Hoffmeier is Professor of Bible Studies and Archeology at Wheaton College, Illinois.

Customer Reviews

A survey of evidence for the Israelites being in Egypt
In this book, James Hoffmeier reviews several lines of evidence relating to the Biblical account of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt, from Joseph to Moses and the Exodus. As well as summarising a number of recent theories - both sympathetic and hostile - concerning this, he draws on textual, climatic, chronological, and archaeological information to build up a picture confirming the plausibility of the Old Testament account.

Among other things, he assesses the validity of recent claims that the narrative is most at home in a late (first millennium BCE) context, and shows that these are based on selective rather than careful use of evidence. Many individual pieces of evidence are drawn out showing that the details fit more comfortably in a mid-second millennium time-frame.

The book is quite academically written and needs careful reading, and would benefit from more maps and diagrams scattered through the text, but is a fascinating and compelling read.