History Shorts: 5000-1250 B.C.

The Ten Commandments:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/10/history-shorts-ten-commandments-1250-bc.html

Atlantis:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/10/history-shorts-atlantis-1600-bc.html

The Code of Hammurabi

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/09/history-shorts-code-of-hammurabi-1790.html

The Domestication of the Horse:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/09/history-shorts-domestication-of-horse.html

The Birth of China:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/08/history-shorts-birth-of-chinese.html

The Pyramids:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/08/history-shorts-pyramids-2600-bc.html

Story Telling:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/07/history-shorts-story-telling-and.html

Mesopotamia:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/06/history-shorts-mesopotamia.html

Ten Plagues of Egypt

Could the ten Plagues of Egypt have occurred? Of course. The question is whether or not they could have occurred in a short period. Some think they never happened. Some think they did happen, but occurred over a long period of time. Could they have happened in quick succession? It is possible.

Let’s assume there was a volcanic eruption (yes back to volcanoes). Here is how an eruption could have pulled off the ten plagues:

1. Water turned to blood. Pollution from an eruption turns the Nile Red. This kills the fish.

2. Frogs. The frogs left the polluted river. Kermit is not dumb.

3 and 4. Biting Bugs/flies. Frog population is depleted leading to a bug invasion.

5. Disease. Bad water, dead animals, lots of insects=disease.

6. Boils. Same explanation as 5.

7. Fire hail. Volcano-duh!

8. Locusts. Locust swarms are common today, so this is nothing unusual for this area with or without a plague. However, dead predators and dead crops means more locusts.

9. Darkness. Volcanic Ash.

10. Death of the firstborn. OK, this one is tougher. However, if the food supply was cut because of the volcano and volcanic ash contamination, then the first born would have received most or all of the rations. The end result was illness from poisoning. Another explanation is sleeping arrangements. Sleeping closer to the ground was a privilege as it was cooler. The first born usually received this privilege. When gasses were released due to geologic activity, they were poisoned.

Also, the parting of the Sea of Reeds (not the Red Sea) could have been achieved by a Tsunami caused by an eruption. This is not to say a volcanic eruption caused these events or that they even happened. However, it is an explanation based on science.

Exodus

Did the Exodus occur? Let's take a look at the evidence...

The traditional date for Exodus used to be around 1450 BC or so. There is no evidence for this other than the Bible. Since that has to be taken with a grain of salt, 1450 BC is not a likely date.

There is some archaeological evidence for a migration of people around 1250 BC. However, history is full of mass migrations of people for various reasons. There is some evidence of the destruction of ancient cities around this time as well. That would fit. However, some cities, Jericho in particular, do not seem to have been destroyed during the correct time frame based on a 1250 BC Exodus.

The best case for Exodus as described in the Bible is about 1600 BC. The Thera Volcanic Eruption on Santorini could create conditions that could cause the plagues described in the Bible. However, the date of the eruption is debated. There is also an Egyptian Stele that describes a plague from an unknown god.

So, did Exodus happen?

Considering history is full of mass migrations, there is probably some truth in the Bible story. However, this is probably how it went down: A group of slaves left Egypt led by Moses. They were monotheistic. They ran into a group of nomads from Canaan. The two groups merged and became rather large. They eventually wandered into the promised land.

Why is this important? Modern Israel claims descent from the Ancient Israelites. A 5000 year claim legitimizes Modern Israel's claims to Palestine. So, what happened 4000 years ago matters!!!