Does The Bible’s Exodus Date Coincide With Egyptian Chronology ?
I Kings 6:1 states the Exodus took place “480 years” before the temple construction commenced, prior to Solomon’s 4th year as king. Solomon’s reign began 970 BCE, thus the temple construction began in 967 BCE. Egyptian records and archaeological evidence indicate the expulsion of the Hyksos was in 1570 BCE. If the Hyksos expulsion were the Exodus date then the temple construction date would be “480 years” later in 1094 BCE. which was before kings Saul and David who preceded Solomon. So, the Hyksos expulsion does not coincide. Ex. 1:11 specifically mentions the children of Israel being used as slave labor to build the city of Raamses. But, the first Pharaoh named Raamses came to the throne in 1320 BCE. Egyptian records state Raamses II, who ruled 1279-1213 BCE built the city of Raamses. If the I Kings 6:1 number of “480 years” is to be taken literally, then the temple construction period would have been long after Solomon’s reign in the mid 8th century BCE. So, the bible contradicts its
