Passover – Are Jews Celebrating An Event That Never Took Place?

Almost every scholar who has studied the evidence has concluded that the Israelites exodus from Egypt did not take place (at least not as the Bible describes it).

On his radio show today, Dennis Prager said: “There are people who argue the whole slavery thing is a story. For 3,000 years Jews have been celebrating an event that did not take place. It sounds odd. I have no doubt it took place.”

Why would it be any odder than Christians believing in Jesus dying for three days and then going up to Heaven? No non-Christian believes this.

Also, no scholar who’s studied the evidence believes that the Jews have celebrated Passover for 3,000 years.

History.com says: For centuries, scholars have been debating the details and historical merit of the events commemorated during the Passover holiday. Despite numerous attempts, historians and archaeologists have failed to corroborate the tale of the Jews’ enslavement in and mass exodus from Egypt. Although the ancient Egyptians kept thorough records, no mention is made of an Israelite community within their midst or any calamities resembling the 10 biblical plagues. There is also no evidence of large encampments in the Sinai Peninsula, the fabled site of the Jews’ wandering, or any sudden fluctuation in Israel’s archaeological record that would indicate the departure and return of a large population.

A handful of scholars, including the first-century Jewish historian Josephus, have suggested a link between the Israelites and the Hyksos, a mysterious Semitic people—possibly from Canaan—who controlled lower Egypt for more than 100 years before their expulsion during the 16th century B.C. Most modern academics, however, have dismissed this theory due to chronological conflicts and a lack of similarity between the two cultures.

About Luke Ford

I've written five books (see Amazon.com). My work has been covered in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and on 60 Minutes. I teach Alexander Technique in Beverly Hills (Alexander90210.com).
This entry was posted in Dennis Prager. Bookmark the permalink.