After the parting of the sea

Question from Curious on 3/24/2008:

OK, I know this was just a scene in a movie, so maybe some of it isn't 100% accurate, so maybe this is a moot question. But I'm curious if you or anyone might know. Watching the Ten Commandments, after Moses & God made the sea come together again and all Pharoh's soldiers were drowned, Pharoh (Yul Brynner) goes back to his palace and when the woman almost is taunting him, he throws his sword down, sits on the "throne" and replies to the woman, alluding to Moses, "His God is God."

Do we know anything about pharoh after that? As if he really did have such a reaction, did he change his ways?


Answer by Matthew Bunson on 4/7/2008:
In the Old Testament, no name is given for the ruler of Egypt during the Exodus. He is called only “Pharaoh.” The question hinges on which Pharaoh was ruler of Egypt at the time of the Exodus, and scholars have always been divided on this issue. The chief reason for this is that we do not know with certainty what year the events of the Exodus took place, and even the difference of a few decades, obviously, could change which pharaoh was on the throne.

Several names have been proposed over the years, ranging from the 18th century B.C. to the 12th century B.C., which is a considerable range. The one most often suggested is Ramesses I the Great, although Ramesses II is also considered a strong candidate, as is his son, Merneptah, whose Merneptah Stele mentiones the existence of the ancient Israelites in Canaan during his reign. Finally, a recently advanced name is Pharaoh Ahmose I.

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