Exodus and Conquest
Israel leaves Egypt under Moses, receives the law at Sinai and enters Canaan under Joshua. The earliest mention of Israel outside the Bible falls at the end of this era.
The exodus is the founding event of Israel’s faith and the pattern the New Testament uses for redemption. Scholars who accept a historical exodus place it either about 1446 BC, from the figure in 1 Kings 6:1, or in the thirteenth century BC, from archaeology and Egyptian records. Around 1208 BC the Merneptah Stele names a people called Israel in Canaan.
Events of this era
- c. 1447 or c. 1261 BC, traditional dateThe Call of Moses
In Exodus Moses, born under Pharaoh’s order to kill Hebrew boys and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, flees to Midian. At Horeb a voice from a burning bush reveals the divine name and sends him back to bring Israel out of Egypt.
- c. 1446 or c. 1260 BC, traditional dateThe Exodus from Egypt
Exodus tells how, after a series of plagues and the first Passover, Israel leaves Egypt under Moses and crosses the sea, in which Pharaoh’s pursuing army is drowned. The rest of the Bible looks back to this event constantly.
- c. 1446 or c. 1260 BC, traditional dateThe Covenant at Sinai
In Exodus Israel hears the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and accepts a covenant sealed with blood. While Moses is on the mountain the people make a golden calf; after his intercession the tablets of the law are written again.
- c. 1445 or c. 1259 BC, traditional dateThe Tabernacle and the Priesthood
Following instructions given on Sinai, Israel builds a portable sanctuary to house the ark of the covenant. Aaron and his sons are ordained as its priests, and the yearly Day of Atonement is laid down.
- c. 1445–1406 or c. 1259–1220 BC, traditional dateForty Years in the Wilderness
At Kadesh-barnea the Israelites refuse to enter Canaan after their scouts report on it, and are sentenced to wander until that generation has died. Forty years after leaving Egypt their children camp opposite Jericho.
- c. 1406 or c. 1220 BC, traditional dateThe Farewell and Death of Moses
In the plains of Moab Moses renews the covenant with the generation born in the wilderness, writes down the law and hands the leadership to Joshua. He sees the promised land from Mount Nebo and dies there without entering it.
- c. 1406 or c. 1220 BC, traditional dateCrossing the Jordan and the Fall of Jericho
The book of Joshua tells how Israel crosses the Jordan on dry ground, camps at Gilgal and keeps its first Passover in Canaan. Jericho’s wall falls after a seven-day procession around the city, and Rahab, who had sheltered Joshua’s spies, is spared.
- c. 1380 or c. 1195 BC, traditional dateCovenant Renewal at Shechem
Near the end of his life Joshua gathers the tribes at Shechem, recounts their history from Abraham to the conquest and calls on them to choose whom they will serve. The people pledge themselves, and he sets up a stone as witness.
- about 1208 BC, estimated dateIsrael Named on the Merneptah Stele
A granite stele set up at Thebes for Pharaoh Merneptah celebrates his victory over Libya. Its closing lines name Israel, beside Ashkelon, Gezer and Yanoam, among the defeated. It is the earliest known mention of Israel outside the Bible.