Exodus - an Authentic Record of Events

The Bible is the inspired word of God. This page is a continuation in a series of articles about the Bible as God’s word.

Part 2     Exodus - an Authentic Record of Events

We noted previously the statement in 1 Kings 6:1 which indicates that the exodus occurred 480 years before the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, which is now understood to have been 966 BC. But how much confidence can we have in that date?

King Ahab is mentioned in the Kurk Stele*, when he joined some allies to fight the Assyrians in 853 BC. That was 78 years after the end of Solomon’s 40 year reign in 931 BC = 853 + 78. Solomon’s 4th year was 36 years before that—931 + 36 = 967 BC.

*See “Kurkh Monoliths” in Wikipedia, The Mysterious Numbers of the Israelite Kings by E.R. Thiele, page 54-55, and The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, “Chronology”, page 273.

One good test of authenticity in a narrative is in the successful fitting together of several overlapping and interpenetrating periods of time which are defined in it. In the case of the book of Exodus the bar is raised even higher with various other parts of Scripture containing related definitions of time periods.

For starters it can be confidently stated that all the numbers which are given in connection with the events described in Exodus, can be assembled into an orderly and consistent chronology.

Since this data has been presented by different people at different times in different books of Scripture, it would not be rational to expect perfect chronological harmony if it were a fictional story.

Many writers in modern times having assumed that this story, which includes supernatural occurrences, is a folk tale. They have also imagined that they have discovered inconsistencies and discrepancies in the numbers, which, if true, would tend to support their case.

But a careful review of the given data shows that there are no such inconsistencies. This means that the narrative can all be expressed in one harmonious chronology, so the reader can be confident in the truthfulness and integrity of those who wrote Exodus and related Scriptures.

We can also be confident that divine power was truly put into motion when God sent Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, after He had demonstrated His supremacy. In preparation, God sent Jacob’s grandfather Abram into Canaan when he was 75 years old - Genesis 12:4.

Last time we saw how God explained to Abraham that his promised descendants would “be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them” but that they would return to Canaan in “the fourth generation” - Genesis 15:13-16.

In the meanwhile Abram’s wife Sarai became impatient of her barrenness and gave her slave girl Hagar to Abram as another wife. Hagar bore to Abram, when he was 86 years old, a son, Ishmael - Genesis 16:3-6.

After this, when Abraham had reached the age of 100, his son Isaac was born - Genesis 21:3-5. Verse 8 tells how Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. This evidently aroused some jealousy in Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, whom Sarah found “mocking” Isaac (v. 9). This mockery was the first of various kinds of affliction of Abraham’s descendants from 1846 to 1446 BC, the “four hundred years” - Genesis 15:13, which ended at the exodus.

Reference Event Year B.C. (*=estimated)

Acts 7:2-4 Promise given, Abram 70 leaves Ur 1876 - Notes 1, 3

Genesis 12:4 Abram 75 to Canaan from Haran         1871

Genesis 15 Covenant confirmed, Abram 85         1861

Genesis 16 Ishmael born, Abram 86                         1860

Genesis 21:1-7 Isaac born, Abraham 100         1846 - Note 2

Genesis 46:6, 47:9 Jacob moves to Egypt, aged 130 1656 - Note 4

Exodus 12:31-42 The Exodus from Egypt                 1446 - Notes 1, 2 4, 5

1 Kings 6:1         Temple construction begins                966 - Note 5

                          in the 4th year of Solomon’s reign

Notes

1. Covenant to Abram to Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430 years 1876 - 1446

2. Birth of Isaac to Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400 years 1846 - 1446

3. Covenant to Abram to Jacob enters Egypt . . . . . . 220 years 1876 - 1656

4. Jacob enters Egypt to Exodus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210 years 1656 - 1446

5. Exodus to temple construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480 years 1446 - 966