Was it really Rameses II who was the Pharaoh when the Exodus happened?

According to the midrash, the Pharaoh of the Exodus was named Adikam. He had a short reign of four years before drowning in the Red Sea. The Pharaoh who preceded him, whose death prompted Moses's return to Egypt (Exodus 2:23, 4:19), was named Malul. Malul, we are told, reigned from the age of six to the age of one hundred.

The book of Jasher (mentioned twice in the Bible) verifies this. In Jasher Chapter 77, we read that Adikam was very wise but thick in the flesh, and of short stature about 1 cubit and a span. He was exremely ugly and had a beard that reached to the floor. He was the 2nd son of Malul also known as Meror, King of Egypt. Adikam exceeded his father in wickedness and the yolk over the children of Israel.

Answer

According to 1 Kings 6:1 the Exodus occurred about 1440 BC and Raamses II reigned later around 1250 BC which is the date which most people hold as the Exodus date.

Little archaeological evidence is found to support the late Exodus date but plenty supports the earlier date under a different Pharaoh. Thus the Biblical date is here supported by the data.

Some interesting data which seems to support this is the following. Although the mummy of Amenhotep II (who ruled c. 1450-1425 BC) was discovered in 1898, with no sign that he drowned at sea, a close perusal of the Biblical account in Exodus14:23-31 does not state that he entered the sea with his army, which was destroyed when the waters returned.

If Amenhotep II was the pharaoh of the Exodus, then his son would have been killed in the tenth and final plague (Exodus12:29). What is interesting to note in this regard
is that it appears likely that Thutmose IV (who ruled c.1425-1412) was not the eldest son of Amenhotep II. Between the paws of the sphinx at Geza is what is called the 'dream inscription' where the young future ruler dreams that he would one day be pharaoh. Such a dream would have been pointless if he was the son of Amenhotep II, since the right to rule was at that time passed on by family right, so it would have naturally fallen to him anyway, not requiring any justification in the form of a dream.

Source: The New Unger's Bible Dictionary, Merril F Unger:Chicago, Moody Press,1988. P386

Answer

It's highly probable that the Pharaoh at that time was Amenhotep II .

First answer by ID1189549015. Last edit by PeteNco. Contributor trust: 290 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 3 [recommend question]