Did the Exodus Really Happen?

The Israelite Exodus from Egypt is among the most important and popular stories of faith. Everyone knows the story. But what do we make of its history? Did it really happen, or is it just a myth?

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[Jemalacane]

"The Bible is not a history book concerned with facts. It's a theological book concerned with truth." So, how exactly are facts and truth different?

[patriciahaskins]

Perhaps I'm wrong (I don't think so), but I believe the Exodus *did* happen and just as I have been taught. I'm Catholic. I'm an elderly person. If I'm wrong, I'll take it up with Jesus when I see him.

[splashpont]

Did the Exodus really happen? Of course, it did. (I saw the movie with Charlton Heston.)

I am unsure if there's value to this 7-minute academic discussion for those unfamiliar with theological bible studies. The creation stories and those early chapters of Genesis are one thing. The book of Exodus is another. Without the pre-requisite study (including of other disciplines) that are required for such a topic as this, often confuses the average Catholic with a child's catechism understanding of doctrine. (Fundamentalists are a different audience.)

Faith formation (for Catholics) deals more with: What is the value of the book/pericope for our faith--and my faith/life?

[unlieverything]

Father, while I love your videos and how they have helped me grow closer to the faith, I think I can’t agree with this video. While I agree that some things like the number of Israelites are not meant to be taken literally, I personally believe that the stories like the Israelites being chased to the Red Sea did indeed happen. I hate disagreeing with a priest but I believe that most of what is said about the Exodus in the Bible really did happen historically. I also understand that sometimes, even priests can make mistakes, so I will not take this one video as a sign that every single other video is automatically wrong. Thank you for your channel, Fr. Casey. You have helped me learn a lot more about my faith.

[Ajay-njvx]

Fr casey, I m sorry, I disagree. I will close my eyes and trust the bible. It doesn't matter how it happened or is it possible like that. Atleast I know that the lord really guided them. I request you to refer and quote "catechism of catholic church" for reference and teachings in the video. I will update this comment after some catholic reference to what i understood from this video.

1. Jesus did not deny the old testament but assured it by quoting it and said he was there when events happened.

[AndysBrainblog]

Well done Father Casey, you've been brave here posting a potentially unpopular opinion. I'm a recent Convert to Catholicism and one of the main things that brought me over was a non compulsory attitude to Biblical literalism.

[aslvoter]

In northern Sri Lanka, during Civil war, (in 1995) more than 500, 000 adults (in addition to children) left the main area of Jaffna (by walking and in push bikes) and moved to other areas in a single night. They all left through a single bridge during heavy rain. It did create a long queue, but the crowd managed to go through the plan in about 12 hours.
It did create a queue, but around 10 mile queue.

[simplystartingsmall]

St. John 5: 42-47
"But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in the name of my Father, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive glory one from another: and the glory which is from God alone, you do not seek?Think not that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that accuseth you, Moses, in whom you trust. For if you did believe Moses, you would perhaps believe me also; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

These are the words of Christ himself when addressing the Pharisees on their unbelief. Based on the words of Jesus Christ himself I believe I will be far less likely to fall into error by believing the stories of the Old Testament are literally true then other wise.

[belle]

Not so clear to me but I somehow understand a bit. This is an interesting topic. I felt like I want to study the Bible even more.

[danielalah]

I guess he was studying this for months... 7 minutes in a video is not enough, maybe we should be more humble and not try to attack him for what he's sharing with us, he probably knows more than us, but 7 minutes is not enough.

[neiladrianorilla]

I got emotional reading exodus to duetoronomy, most especially the part where Moses asked God to also enter the promised land: then he went to a mountain and looked at the promised land. Viewing it from afar...

[paradisecityX]

"The Exodus: How It Happened And Why It Matters" by Rick Elliot Friedman is a must read for this topic

[mikemorales]

BCE is meant to say before the common era but as Christians what is wrong with BC, Before Christ?

[collidingforces]

Isn't that what Faith is all about? have complete trust and confidence in God and with that God's doings in men through history and what has been written? "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” – John 20:26-29 I don't need evidence. I believe!

[PC-luzf]

I’m a Jew and it’s a tough question did it happen? No evidence will ever turn up so it’s all faith.

[j.r.r]

Fr. Casey, I hope you see this because I would really like some guidance. So after watching this video I’m somewhat discouraged. You see, everywhere I turn to I am told “ well, it didn’t really happen like that but it’s a story to give you an idea of what happened”. Let me give you an example other than Exodus: So the other day I was listening to relevant radio and a man called in to ask the host about the Rosary. The man was told that St. Dominic’s story was just a Pius story and that it basically wasn’t true. This makes me think of Our Lady of Las Lajas where Our Lady appeared and left an image of her giving the Rosary to St. Dominic, is that apparition false then? I also saw an article about how the promises of the rosary aren’t real. Just a Pius belief. Well, my mind now is going to this really gray area where I’m wondering if eventually everything in the Bible and in Catholic tradition ( Big T and small t) will be seen as just a myth meant to teach us a bigger truth. I’m talking the Nativity( considering we have no record of the census), the resurrection, etc. If that’s the case, what’s the point of following a religion? And I’m genuinely asking. Like, why am I following, and trusting, and believing when in the end it’s all just a myth meant to teach me something? Why sacrifice my life for something I don’t even know is actually real? If it’s all just a myth meant to teach me something, why join religious life? Why fast, why stay up late praying the Rosary after work when I could be sleeping? Why miss the chance to have fun with my friends out of prudence? Why offend so many people by believing that homosexual marriage is wrong, that abortion is wrong, etc. in the name of loving a God who may just be a myth meant to teach me something? I’m going through a major crisis here lol And didn’t Moses appear during the transfiguration? If Exodus didn’t happen like the Bible says, if it happened in waves, then there wasn’t a Moses and if there wasn’t a Moses then is the transfiguration also just a story meant to teach us something?? I’m so confused. I mean, what a waste of a life if all this was just a myth. I mean, what makes it different from Greek mythology then? If the gospel stories are just a story meant to tell us what Jesus meant to the people, then crap! I’ve thrown my life away. Omg, think of Carmelite nuns, think of the martyrs.

[frayzoid]

Thank you for this video Fr Casey! I always used to believe that all parts of the Bible were to be understood in a strictly literal way and ultimately this led to me being an atheist for many years, and I still struggle with this when reading the OT. It's a shame to see so much hate for this video when this is the kind of understanding of scripture that will help bring more sceptical people (like I was) back into the church, and at the end of the day I doubt there is a risk to someone's salvation if they believe that the number of people in the Exodus was not exactly 600, 000 people!

[knights]

"If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." Well if Moses cannot be trusted Seems like another Modernist angle on yet another bible passage. Yes I am Catholic; yes I have a theology degree from an accredited University; and yes I do believe the Exodus occurred as it is written in the Bible (including the parting of the Red Sea, and not some wet tootsies from crossing a boggy marsh). You should follow this video up with the one about the feeding of the 5000 really being Jesus convincing 5000 to share the food they hid under their cloaks.

[dalexxterminator]

BCE? Seriously, if you are discussing with the academic people its an acceptable term, but you are preaching as a priest of God! So its not appropriate!

[michaelverde]

Wouldn't it have been helpful that while Jesus was with the Apostles he could have clarified to others when he spoke about "the new Exodus" and said, "by the way, you know that the old Exodus involving the crossing of the Rea Sea, didn't actually go down like many of you were taught.". That would have been really helpful.