The Alternative Exodus Theory You May Not Have Heard About
Vassal Mismanagement, a Growing Cult, and Some Petty Infighting
The story of the Exodus is one of the best-known stories of the Hebrew Bible. It’s a foundational tale for the Jewish people, and the images and promises it makes to God’s people remain vital for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Key figures in the story, especially Moses and Aaron, have purported tombs near Petra that remain major pilgrimage sites to this day. The story has been captured in film in two notable adaptations, one famous one starring Charlton Heston, and another more recent version starring Christian Bale (although the superior telling of the Exodus will always be Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt).
The contours of the story are easy enough to capture: the descendants of Joseph lived Egypt for four hundred years until a Pharaoh (who is never named but has, over time, become associated with Rameses II) came to power who had forgotten Joseph. He forced the Israelites to do labor in the form of brickmaking and building store cities. Fearful of their numbers, he ordered that the midwives kill any Hebrew boys that are born, but let the girls…