The Strand Study Bible

JUDGES JUDGES BC, in the 5th year of Merneptah’s reign. Called “ Merneptah’s Israel Tablet ,” the word “Israel” occurs in the middle of the second line from the bottom. It says: Plundered is Canaan. Israel is desolated; his seed is not. Palestine is become a widow for Egypt. According to some chronologists, Thutmose III appears to be the pharaoh of the Exodus, not Rameses II (See Historical Note after Exodus 2:25 ). Rameses II, Merenptah’s father, could not have been the pharaoh of the Exodus for two reasons: 1. Chronologically speaking, Rameses II (1299-1232 B.C.) lines up with the judges in the book of Judges, not Moses (who died in 1448 BC) According to the Amarna letters, which were written by the inhabitants of Canaan to Amenhotep III (1445-1410 BC) and Amenhotep IV (1410-1383 BC), urging them to send soldiers immediately into Palestine in order to assist them in defeating the “Habiri” (Hebrews), the Jews were already occupying the land of Canaan under Joshua. In fact, in one of the Amarna letters concerning the rout of the king of Pella these words occur: “Ask Benjamin. Ask Tadua. Ask Joshua.” Chronologically speaking, at the time the letters were written, Rameses II (the “supposed” pharaoh of the Exodus) wouldn’t have even been born yet, seeing Amenhotep III and Amenhotep IV lived almost 100 years before Rameses II was born. Which means, by the time Rameses II was born (c. 1322 BC), Israel would have already been in the land of Canaan for 125 years. How then could Rameses II be the pharaoh of the Exodus when Israel had already departed from Egypt and occupied the land of Canaan? 2. Secondly, according to the Merneptah Tablet (written c. 1225 BC), the nation of Israel had already settled into the land of Canaan and was being chastened by the LORD by the time this letter was written Remember his letter: Plundered is Canaan. Israel is desolated; his seed is not. Palestine is become a widow for Egypt. According to the Bible, Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after the exodus. Then Joshua took 5 more years to conquer Canaan (Josh 11:23 & 14:10-11). After that Joshua led the nation of Israel for good and for God over the next 50 years (Josh 24:29-31). Add another 40 or so years for good behavior on the part of those who “outlived” Joshua (Josh 24:31) and you have a grand total of 135 years of God’s hand of blessing and protection upon Israel ( before God had to start chastening Israel for bad behavior – The book of Judges). According to secular history, Rameses II only ruled for 67 years (from c. 1299-1232 BC) and his son Merneptah for 10 years (from c. 1232 – 1222 BC). That’s a total of 77 years. 77 years from the time Moses left Egypt would have put the nation of Israel exactly in the middle of God’s blessings under Joshua’s leadership, not God’s chastening according to Merneptah’s Tablet. 6:5 According to Judges 8:10, there were approximately 135,000 Midianites. 6:11 Gideon’s name means “feller; great warrior.” Gideon is referred to 2 times in the NT (Acts 13:20 and Heb 11:32). 6:12 CHRIST called Gideon, “ thou mighty man of valour .” Yet according to verse 11, Gideon was in hiding. Whereas we only see what we are (cowards), God sees what we can be (valiant). 448