The Evangelical Contribution to Understanding the (Early) History of Ancient Israel in Recent Scholarship

Abstract

Although some evangelical scholars have responded to the recent movement toward historical minimalism, not enough is being done. If responsible, evangelical, historical perspectives are to bring some balance to the scholarly debate, evangelical scholars must publish more of their work in academic presses and in trade journals where they cannot be ignored. For the present writer Egyptology and sojourn-exodus narratives are of special interest. It is concluded that the principal components of the biblical story of Israel's presence in Egypt, their enslavement, their departure, and their sojourn in the Sinai wilderness are consistent with archaeological evidence. There is little justification in the conclusion that the biblical narratives lack any historical basis, but are late fictions. The theological implications of this issue are not insignificant.