Exodus Decoded

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The Exodus Decoded is a 2006 documentary created by Jewish Canadian filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici, in which new evidence regarding the alleged escape of Hebrew slaves from Egypt is explored. It is partially narrated by film director James Cameron, and also features input by Charles Pellegrino, author of Unearthing Atlantis. Jacobovici suggests that the Exodus took place around 1500 BCE during the reign of pharaoh Ahmose I, and coincided with the eruption of Santorini that most scholars believe ended the Minoan civilization, although this is usually dated to 1623 BCE (+/-30). In the documentary, the plagues that ravaged Egypt in the Bible are explained as having resulted from that volcanic eruption, and a related limnic eruption in the Nile Delta. While much of Jacobovici's archaeological evidence for the Exodus comes from Egypt, a surprising quantity comes from Mycenae, on mainland Greece.

The documentary made extensive use of computer animation and visual effects made by Gravity visual effects from Toronto. It ran for two hours and was first aired in Canada on April 16, (Easter Day) 2006 (Discovery Channel Canada). Shown in the US on August 20, 2006 (History Channel US), UK on December 23, 2006 (Discovery Channel UK) and Spain on December 25, 2006 (Cuatro).

Contents

[edit] Egyptian archaeological evidence

  • The Hyksos Expulsion, contemporaneous Egyptian records of the departure of the mysterious Semitic Hyksos people. Jacobovici suggests that the Hyksos and the Hebrews were one and the same, a thesis he supports with Egyptian-style signet rings uncovered in the Hyksos capital of Avaris (30°47'14.71"N, 31°49'16.92"E) that read "Yakov/Yakub ," (from Yaqub-her) similar to the Hebrew name of the Biblical patriarch Jacob (Ya'aqov).
  • The Ahmose stele, a stone tablet unearthed in Karnak by Henri Chevalier at an unknown exact date over 100 years ago.[1]In it, a god incurs one of the same plagues described in the Biblical account (darkness, also described as "a great storm"). The Exodus Decoded official website quotes the stele, "How much greater is this the impressive manifestation of the great God, than the plans of the gods!" This translation was, however, based on a note taken by Chevalier when the stele was found, in the early stages of hieroglyphic translation. They also state that they saw, on a copy of the stele, a section that refers to "parting water". This was shown, however, to be pronounced "mee", an alternate spelling of an ancient word for wine.[2]
  • Ahmose I. Jacobovici suggests that the name of the Pharaoh at the time of the Exodus may have been a pun(paronomasia). Jacobovici states that in Hebrew, the Egyptian name Ahmose would mean "Brother of Moses." The documentary also examines the mummy of Ahmose's son, Sapair, who appears to have died at the age of twelve. In the Bible, the pharaoh loses a son to the Plague of the Firstborn, although Jewish tradition says that the son of Pharaoh survived. Also, the name of Ahmose I was mispronounced in the documentary. In the documentary it was pronounced "ĀḤKH-mōsay", when it is actually pronounced "Ā-mōs". Also, while the Egyptian mos can become Mošə in Hebrew, it cannot happen in the reverse.[citation needed] The Egyptian "s" corresponds to the Hebrew "š" ("sh") when transliterating from Egyptian, however, in the reverse, "š" stays the same.[3]
  • Serabit el-Khadim turquoise mine, a labor camp in the Sinai with a Semitic alphabetic inscription that reads "O El, save me from these mines." The use of "El" suggests that it was written before the revelation at Sinai, supporting the thesis that Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt, although this inscription was undated. It has been noted, however, that Hebrews were never used in the mines, and that the labor force was solely Egyptian.[4]

[edit] Previous research

  • Jewish historian Flavius Josephus suggested in his work Contra Apion that the Hyksos were, in fact, the ancient Hebrews. His theories, however, are known to be based on false etymologies (which were, in fact, the basis of this claim), and he was also known to give much credit to his ancestors. Also, this identification was just used as a response to the anti-Semitic Exodus claim by Manetho.
  • This is a similar theory to that first expounded in the international best-seller Act of God written by British historian Graham Phillips. This ground-breaking book was published in 1998.
  • Much of this thesis has already been researched and published by Ralph Ellis. His work in this field is called Tempest & Exodus, which was first published in 2000. Ralph also links the Hyksos with the Israelite Exodus, and suggested that the Ahmose stele not only contains an account of the Exodus, but also has biblical 'quotes' engraved upon it.

[edit] Mycenaean archaeological evidence

  • Gravestones. Three of the stones marking the wealthy tombs of Grave Circle A in Mycenae, Jacobovici states, appear to depict the parting of the Sea of Reeds. A man on a chariot (who Jacobovici incautiously identifies as Ahmose I) is shown in pursuit of a man on foot (who he again identifies as Moses) who is holding what archaeologists have commonly referred to as a spear or sword, but which Jacobovici believes is Moses' miraculous staff. Above and below the scene are rows of swirls which, in the Exodus interpretation, represent water, although they are a very common Greek design with no relation to water. The common suggestion is that this scene depicts a chariot race, not a chase.
  • A Gold ornament excavated from one of the tombs in the Grave Circle is believed by Jacobovici to show the Ark of the Covenant against a background of the tabernacle altar. However, when you compare the photo of the gold ornament to the Biblical story of God telling Moses how to build the Ark, the descriptions differ in several ways. Jacobovici suggests that members of the Tribe of Dan may have emigrated to Mycenae after the Exodus. This, the documentary suggests, is why Homer refers to the buried at Mycenae as "Danaoi." The Greek myth states, however, that the Danaoi were descended from the Argosites under the matriarch Danae.

[edit] Scientific conjectures

Jacobovici suggests that the Biblical Exodus took place shortly after the eruption of Thera (now known as Santorini), which is thought to have happened some time between 1650 BCE and 1600 BCE. The dates are disputed, depending on whether you prefer to use archaeological dating results (1600 BCE to 1550 BCE), or radiocarbon dating results (1650 BCE to 1600 BCE). Jacobovici accepts a date around 1500 BCE. He goes on to explain how each of the Mosaic plagues, and even the parting of the Sea of Reeds, could be explained by earthquakes, faulting and a limnic disaster all caused by Santorini.

One possible scientific conjecture of the past has referred to a spot on the western end of a now-dried lake where it has been observed in the past to turn to a sandbar and facilitate foot travel when a low tide and a strong eastern wind coincide. Jacobovici refers to the possibility of the bed of the reed-filled lake rising out of the water due to geological movements, leaving the water on the sides and below the bed. The text of the story of Exodus 14:21-22 states that there were literal walls of water on either side, making this explanation incomplete. "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." Jacobovici's theories intend to provide some plausible basis for stories later embellished, thus a paucity of evidence for physical impossibilities like "walls of water" does not injure his hypothesis, although, interestingly, it would conflict with Jacobvici's beliefs, as he states the Torah is flawless.[citation needed]

His scientific theories are under much criticism. On the History Channel discussion board, it has also been noted by a person claiming to be a geologist that the calcite deposits-theory is purely impossible.[5]

[edit] Theology

The documentary notes that most historians consider the Exodus a "fairy tale," while others reject scientific explanations that are not explicitly miraculous. Jacobovici reminds that God, according to the Judeo-Christian description, can control nature, having an intimate understanding of it. His miracles may therefore be efficient and exploit natural cycles and logic.

The documentary ends with a voiceover saying, in effect, "Was the Exodus just a natural event or was it the Hand of God? We'll leave that for the viewer to decide."

[edit] Criticism

Detailed criticism of Jacobovici's assertions can be found on the Web site of the Biblical Archaeology Society. The site, for example, includes a review of The Exodus Decoded by Dr. Ronald Hendel, Professor of Hebrew Bible and Jewish Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.[6] As Dr. Hendel writes in his review, "The made-for-TV documentary, The Exodus Decoded, begins with some excellent special effects and a short excerpt from the Steven Spielberg-George Lucas thriller, Raiders of the Lost Ark. This introduction sets the stage for a fast-paced show with high production values and dramatic footage. Unfortunately, unlike the Indiana Jones movie, this film presents itself as non-fiction. Watching it is reminiscent of an expensive infomercial, in which the actor-salesman makes increasingly exaggerated claims for his product—it makes you lose weight, adds muscle, and makes you rich to boot. In this case, the actor-director is selling a highly dubious bundle of theories about the historical and scientific veracity of the Biblical Exodus" [emphasis added].

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013531&tstart=0&mod=1156859232351
  2. ^ http://boards.historychannel.com/forum.jspa?forumID=800000048
  3. ^ http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013655&tstart=0&mod=1156914779686
  4. ^ http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013655&tstart=0&mod=1156914779686
  5. ^ http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800013531&tstart=0&mod=1156859232351
  6. ^ http://jewishstudies.berkeley.edu/faculty.html#hendel

[edit] External links

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