Challenging The Conventional Egyptian Chronology

For today's article we will looking at some information that will challenge the traditional dates that we get for the reign of  the pharaohs of egypt which differ from the timeline that we get from the bible. 

Introduction

In 1994 a PHD student by the name of David Rohl in London had published a Revised chronology for Egypt. Even though we do have a series of dates that are absolute from 763 b.c forward, but any further back from this and historians must become detective in order to create a chronology.

So how do Historians make a chronology? The will take and sum up the reigning years of all the Egyptian rulers and from this work backwards from the time of Christ. Secular historians will doubt the bible because the dates they get don't correspond with their list of kings (conventional). So why should we create a new chronology? For one, dynasties can and do reign concurrently instead of in succession, secondly radio carbon dating from an excavation contradicts the conventional chronology, and modern discoveries challenge how archaeologists handle the sothic dating system with the revised dates supporting the newer chronology. Some historical papers known as the Armana letters record the exploits of  one particular Hebrew leader named Labaya. With the new chronology it's feasible that this was Saul.

Joseph's Tomb

This more modern chronology puts Joseph during Amunak the thirds' reign this is 147 years more recent than traditionally given. To further support this Archaeologists have discovered evidence of flood levels which correspond to Joseph's reign that indeed prove the seven years plenty and seven years famine, spoken of in scripture. Furthermore, curse tablets remain which confirm the presence of a number of israelites that occupied Egypt during this time, including Jacob and Joseph.

They have also found what is likely Joseph's grave. This tomb is intact, hasn't been plundered, it bears the attributes of an Egyptian tomb as well as Joseph's non Egyptian roots. This is a grand tomb with a statue of the original occupant; which is clean shaven, has a throw stick, and of course a coat of many colours.

Israelite oppression in Egypt

There's the painting from the tomb of Nakht and Rekhmire. Then we have Anthropological evidence from skeletons found in revaras that demonstrate that the Israelites experienced health difficulties on the count of poverty as well as malnourishment. It was during Sobec Hotep's fourth reign that the decree to slaughter all the male infants went forth, and throughout the excavation sites their graves were discovered. The number of graves of infants were 65% instead of the normal 25%. Additionally we see that the graves of the following adult population contained 5 females for 2 males.

There are Christian historians who say that the exodus happened in 1447 b.c., however the secular ones claims that it occured around 1279 to 1213 b.c. The Pharaoh Ramesses has been erroneously pinpointed as the Pharaoh of Exodus. The bewilderment which arises from names of places can be clarified if only we consider the need to identify ancient places with a contemporary readership.

The death of the firstborn as recorded in Exodus has been confirmed. They've  found in the vara's in the 13th dynasty sites, burial pits where the victims were discarded. Their bodies weren't arranged and no tomb furnishings were given; this indicates that it was done in haste because the rituals weren't performed.

The Sun Stood Still 

There is an astrophysicist whose name is Wayne Mitchell that confirmed the redating of the exodus by using accounts of the eclipse. The time of Joshua and the conquering of Canaan is dated to the middle bronze-age, we also discover that the cities that he warred against during this period were definitately in ruins.

The date in which God stopped the sun is supposedly on the 13th of July 1406 B.C. is this was so Joshua could defeat the retreating armies, but is there any support for this extra long day... absolutely. Not only is there the Greek historian Herodotus that tell of records in Egypt which mention such a long day, but there's also six other accounts that record in their history an unusually long day at the same time of Joshua's. The Indian/Hindu account is the most clear.

What's also exciting to find out is that both the covenant stone as well as Joseph's second burial site was discovered in their archaeological context. Two Astrophysicists named Totten and Morda have determined that Joseph's position during the time of the occurrence (sun standing still) was the only location where their positions would have been correct.

The Historical Figure Labaya

The definition of Saul's name is "asked for by the people", consider the similarities between Saul and the Hebrew leader Labaya. In the Armana letters it contains references to a class of people named the habiru, which is translated as Hebrew. These people showed a outstanding parallel to David's war bands once Saul lost favor with God.

The name Labaya means lion of God, Bronze tipped arrows have been uncovered in El Cadeer in 1953. They contained the inscription "arrow of the servant of the great lioness", this indicates that they possibly belonged to Saul's archers. Also consider these similarities; Labaya's home town was captured by the philistines when he is away fighting another tribe, his hometown is said to have a sacred site and he regains it by force, his child was discovered to be helping a group of rebels unbeknownst to his father. The death of Saul is also said to mirror Labaya's. Additionally, the Ugarit solar eclipse lends even more favour for the new chronology's placement during this time.

So in conclusion we see in light of all this evidence that the traditional Egyptian timeline should be changed to line up with that of the latest scientific discoveries.

Reference: Egyptian chronology and the Old Testament by Dr. Mark Woolmer
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