Where is outside evidence for Biblical events surrounding the Exodus?

Recently the Associates for Biblical Research released a two-part program (condensed into one episode) interviewing Dr. Gary Byers, an expert in archeology who has specialized in understanding how the Amarna Letters (1350 to 1334 B.C.), written just under a century after the Exodus (approx. 1446 B.C.), connect to the Israelite conquest of Canaan during the same time period (video link below).

For a little background: the Amarna Letters are a trove of clay tablet cuneiform communications between Egypt and its subordinate city-states in what we know as the Land of Canaan, which was part of the eastern empire of Egypt at that time. They repeatedly call for help from Egypt against various raiders called “habiru”. Some of whom were very likely Israelites fulfilling the conquest of the land God had given them, as well as other groups that were harassing Egypt’s client states during a time when the Egyptian government was unable to project power effectively.

These letters were found in a place called Akhetaten (modern Amarna, Egypt), founded by the rebel king of Egypt, Akhenaten, who ruled in the mid 1300’s B.C. Akhenaten moved the centers of Egyptian power to this new city and attempted to pursue a semi-monotheistic religion. He ultimately failed, and Egypt returned to its previous systems, but it never regained the prominence that it had had under Akhenaten’s family dynastic line, the 18^th Dynasty of Egypt. The same dynastic line with whom Moses interacted in previous generations, during the Exodus.

This video is a helpful to watch because it places the events of the Conquest of Canaan (approx. 1406 to the 1320’s B.C., found in the books of Numbers, Joshua and Judges) into the context of regional events at that time. Though it is no surprise that archeological evidence consistently supports the biblical record, it is valuable to see where God’s hand in history has worked, and thus will continue to work through His people.

Below is the link to the video produced by “Associates for Biblical Research – Digging for Truth”:

Title: “The Ancient Egyptian Amarna Letters and the Exodus: Digging for Truth Episodes 251/252”

Link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YTUxc2XF9Po?si=P5ZQ2lo3o6n-aBZd

God has invested much in us, His truth and salvation. And He is consistent:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them,” Hebrews 13:8-9.

Let’s reflect that same commitment to God every day in our faithfulness to the way of life that has been committed to us!

-Randy Stiver & Amanda Stiver