The Merneptah Stele

The Merneptah Stele is a large stone slab on which is written, in hieroglyphics, the boasting of the Egyptian pharaoh Merneptah about his military victories in Canaan. It is dated to around 1210 BC, and is significant for being the earliest external—outside of the Bible—reference to the people of Israel.

The stele confirms the earlier date of the Exodus, before 1400 BC, as opposed to later dates that posit an Exodus around 1200 to 1150 BC. The stele would have been produced during the time of the Judges, when “Israel had no king,” and the hieroglyphic symbols used confirm that, as opposed to the city-states Ashkelon and Gezer, Israel had no king.

This is a stunning independent confirmation of Bible history. Below are two good videos discussing the Merneptah Stele:

“And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.” Judges 10:11-13