The Exodus has become a core tradition of Western civilization. Millions read it, retell it, and celebrate it. But did it happen?
Biblical scholars, Egyptologists, archaeologists, historians, literary scholars, anthropologists, and filmmakers are drawn to it. Unable to find physical evidence until now, many archaeologists and scholars claim this mass migration is just a story, not history. Others oppose this conclusion, defending the biblical account.
Like a detective on an intricate case no one has yet solved, pioneering Bible scholar and bestselling author of Who Wrote the Bible? Richard Elliott Friedman cuts through the noise — the serious studies and the wild theories — merging new findings with new insight. From a spectrum of disciplines, state-of-the-art archeological breakthroughs, and fresh discoveries within scripture, he brings real evidence of a historical basis for the exodus — the history behind the story. The biblical account of millions fleeing Egypt may be an exaggeration, but the exodus itself is not a myth.
Friedman does not stop there. Known for his ability to make Bible scholarship accessible to readers, Friedman proceeds to reveal how much is at stake when we explore the historicity of the exodus. The implications, he writes, are monumental. We learn that it became the starting-point of the formation of monotheism, the defining concept of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Moreover, we learn that it precipitated the foundational ethic of loving one’s neighbors — including strangers — as oneself. He concludes, the actual exodus was the cradle of global values of compassion and equal rights today.
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Review
“The Exodus displays, yet again, the unique gifts of Richard Elliott Friedman, whose work always embodies the mastery of an accomplished biblical scholar, the eye of a literary detective teasing out the mysteries from an ancient text, and the skill of a born storyteller. A page-turner.” (Jonathan Kirsch, author of *The Harlot by the Side of the Road*)
“A treasure! When Richard Elliot Friedman thinks Bible, new light shines. The Exodus is not only an argument for the reality behind the Exodus story, but is itself a revelation. Let Richard Friedman guide you from slavery to freedom, and teach a transformative Biblical lesson along the way.” (Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson, American Jewish University)
“A fresh and compelling perspective on the exodus [that] demonstrates its link to the foundational concepts of monotheism and the ethical command to love all others. Friedman not only has produced a cogent analysis of the scholarship on these significant issues but also has given us a page-turner.” (Carol Meyers, Duke University)
“Friedman’s Exodus is accessible and up-to-date with a marvelous scholarly summary of the latest theories and data; his own Levite hypothesis may be the most compelling answer to one of the most important ancient puzzles in world history.” (Thomas E. Levy, University of California, San Diego)
“Friedman’s brisk and learned account of the biblical and historical evidence paints a compelling picture of where the Israelites came, their evolving view of God, and how it all fits together.” (Peter Enns, author of *The Sin of Certainty*)
“An engaging book, masterfully written.” (Thomas Römer, Professor at the Collège de France and the University of Lausanne)
“Richard Elliott Friedman has the rare ability to make biblical scholarship widely accessible and exciting. This gripping read integrates a careful interpretation of the biblical text with the latest archaeological discoveries, yielding a compelling argument in favor of the Exodus.” (Jodi Magness, senior endowed chair in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
“An engaging discussion of the Exodus traditions in the Bible, their origin, and their importance. Written in the clear and lively style we have come to identify with Richard Elliot Friedman, who has done more than any other scholar to introduce the intricacies of biblical scholarship to a broad audience.” (Marc Brettler, editor of *The Jewish Annotated New Testament*)
About the Author
Richard Elliott Friedman is one of the premier bible scholars in the country and a professor of Hebrew and comparative literature at the University of Georgia. He is the author of the bestselling Who Wrote the Bible? as well as The Hidden Face of God, The Hidden Book in the Bible, Commentary on the Torah, The Bible with Sources Revealed, and The Exile and Biblical Narrative. He lives in Athens, Georgia.