by jimwalton » Wed Sep 16, 2020 3:26 pm
> Do you know if there are any groups that have searched for chariots or weaponry belonging to the Egyptians in the Exodus?
Many have searched for ANY evidence of the Exodus. If you mean specifically in water, the answer is yes, people have looked.
> I know the exact location of the Exodus crossing is up for debate
True. No one knows where it was.
> But has their ever been things found that hint at the Exodus potentially happening?
No, there is no evidence for the Exodus, not even near some of the potential locations that are guessed at.
> Is there anyway that the artifacts could be buried under sand or unseeable to the common diver? I’m not sure if artifacts ever get buried underneath layers or what not.
Anything is possible. Artifacts do get buried. But we hardly know where to look.
> Is there a chance things could be unearthed?
Yes, anything is possible. The whole science of archaeology is based on the chance of artifacts getting unearthed.
> Is there any certainty among archaeologists that the Exodus definitely didn’t happen?
There is widespread opinion among secular archaeologists that the Exodus didn't happen. But absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. New things are discovered all the time.
> I realized why no one could ever have found any trace of the Pharaoh’s lost army.
It is correct that ancient Egyptian chariots were made of wood, as were the spear and arrow shafts. The spear heads and arrowheads would be made of metal, so they might possibly be found. Egyptian armor was probably mostly leather, but some metal may have been present. Finding evidence of the Exodus in these kinds of artifacts is close to impossible.
He's also correct that in an era where everything was made by hand, they would salvage whatever they could from previous manufacturing (like chariot parts, armor, weapons, etc.)
> Is this a viable or correct conclusion?
It is a very viable conclusion. Your professor is thinking straight.
> Wouldn’t the spears they used be made with metal edges and those would sink?
Not metal edges, but metal points. It might be possible to find those, but we don't even know where to look. And if we did find some, who would be able to say those were from the Egyptian army pursuing the Israelites? It's a virtually impossible situation to verify archaeologically.
> Would a tsunami like event push these things to the edge of the Red Sea where people could take their belongings?
It is not believed at this point that the crossing of the Reed Sea happened at a large body of water. The return of the water to its normal place would indubitably shove debris all over the place. Even if it didn't, people could swim and they had boats. If they came across salvageable material, they would no doubt salvage it.
> Do you know if there are any groups that have searched for chariots or weaponry belonging to the Egyptians in the Exodus?
Many have searched for ANY evidence of the Exodus. If you mean specifically in water, the answer is yes, people have looked.
> I know the exact location of the Exodus crossing is up for debate
True. No one knows where it was.
> But has their ever been things found that hint at the Exodus potentially happening?
No, there is no evidence for the Exodus, not even near some of the potential locations that are guessed at.
> Is there anyway that the artifacts could be buried under sand or unseeable to the common diver? I’m not sure if artifacts ever get buried underneath layers or what not.
Anything is possible. Artifacts do get buried. But we hardly know where to look.
> Is there a chance things could be unearthed?
Yes, anything is possible. The whole science of archaeology is based on the chance of artifacts getting unearthed.
> Is there any certainty among archaeologists that the Exodus definitely didn’t happen?
There is widespread opinion among secular archaeologists that the Exodus didn't happen. But absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. New things are discovered all the time.
> I realized why no one could ever have found any trace of the Pharaoh’s lost army.
It is correct that ancient Egyptian chariots were made of wood, as were the spear and arrow shafts. The spear heads and arrowheads would be made of metal, so they might possibly be found. Egyptian armor was probably mostly leather, but some metal may have been present. Finding evidence of the Exodus in these kinds of artifacts is close to impossible.
He's also correct that in an era where everything was made by hand, they would salvage whatever they could from previous manufacturing (like chariot parts, armor, weapons, etc.)
> Is this a viable or correct conclusion?
It is a very viable conclusion. Your professor is thinking straight.
> Wouldn’t the spears they used be made with metal edges and those would sink?
Not metal edges, but metal points. It might be possible to find those, but we don't even know where to look. And if we did find some, who would be able to say those were from the Egyptian army pursuing the Israelites? It's a virtually impossible situation to verify archaeologically.
> Would a tsunami like event push these things to the edge of the Red Sea where people could take their belongings?
It is not believed at this point that the crossing of the Reed Sea happened at a large body of water. The return of the water to its normal place would indubitably shove debris all over the place. Even if it didn't, people could swim and they had boats. If they came across salvageable material, they would no doubt salvage it.