Archaeologists Find Evidence that Proves Moses Led the Israelites From Egypt to the Promised Land

By: Stephanie Bontorin | Last updated: Aug 23, 2024

There are new secrets about the world being discovered all the time. Archaeologists have just uncovered new information about the Biblical city that existed in the ‘Promised Land’ where the Israelites settled after being led by Moses out of Egypt.

The Israeli Antiquities Authorities shared their recent findings from the city of Zanoah. The group revealed new research about stone walls, pottery, and other artifacts that date back more than 3,200 years and point to a thriving civilization.

The Promised Land

The Old Testament describes an area called the Promised Land, which was called Canaan. It is said that the Israelites visited the city around 1406 and 1407 BC after wandering the desert for 40 years.

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Digital illustration of a man on a camel walking toward the ruins of Ancient Egypt

Source: Depositphotos

The new information from the researchers shows that real artifacts like broken jar handles with the name of a king inscribed in them from the Bible prove more evidence of the Biblical story of Moses.

The Exodus Story

In the story of Exodus, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. After being rocked by 10 terrible plagues, the Pharoah agreed to release them.

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A man holding the Bible and turning a page of it.

Source: Rod Long/Unsplash

This is where Moses becomes an integral figure in Biblical lore – he led them out of Egypt and miraculously parted the Red Sea to allow his people to walk to safety.

The Ten Commandments

The scripture then says that once the group reached the Sinai Peninsula, Moses received the 10 commandments as a gift from God.

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A painting depicting Moses carrying the two tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments

Source: Wikimedia

The group kept moving on their journey, however, and finally reached the southern border of Canaan. Unfortunately, the group was too scared to enter the city and was then condemned by God to spend decades in the wilderness.

A Transfer of Leadership

The years spent at the oasis of Kadesh Bernea allowed the Israelites to wander the desert and finally reach the eastern border of Canaan.

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A large sand dune in the desert while the sun is going down

Source: Tim De Groot/Unsplash

However, before the Israelites ever entered the Promised Land, Moses died and was subsequently buried on Mount Nebo. 

Joshua Becomes the Leader of the Israelites

Since the group still needed a leader, the Book of Joshua states that Joshua took over as the head of the wandering Isrelaites people. 

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A painting depicting Moses and Joshua bowing to the Ark of the covenant

Source: Wikimedia

Under the command of their new leader, the early Jews ventured towards the Promised Land across the River Jordan and conquered Jericho on the way.

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The Book of Joshua Reveals Some Evidence

In the Book of Joshua, specific information about the city is revealed. Joshua 15:34,36 outlines the boundaries to the cities and tribal allotment of Judah inside the Promised Land.

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An empty desert with multiple small sand dunes

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The area includes Zonoah, where archaeologists have found several ancient stone walls and important artifacts.

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Archaeological Evidence of Moses

Despite the lengthy accounts of Moses in the Bible, some scholars are still uncertain whether these were historical events or simply mythological tales. 

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A photograph of a male archaeologist writing at a site

Source: Wikimedia

As the vast majority of the prophet’s life is said to have taken place sometime around 1,400 BCE, it has proven somewhat challenging to find any evidence to prove he actually existed or to back up the biblical stories.

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Researchers Unearth Evidence of Israelites in the Promised Land

Archaeologists believe they finally unearthed evidence of an ancient Israeli presence in the Promised Land following an excavation conducted at Zanoah on behalf of the Israel Electric Corporation.

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A photograph of archaeologists excavating a site

Source: Wikimedia

According to reports, the team of researchers discovered several artifacts that could have belonged to an Iron Age group descended from the original Israelites led to Canaan by Moses and Joshua. 

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The Biblical Nehemiah

Zanoah is referred to as Nehemiah in the Bible, and it is located not far from the borders of the Promised Land. Nehemiah is also mentioned on several occasions throughout the Bible. 

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A photograph of a small archaeological building in Zanoah

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According to one section, it was settled by Jewish exiles who ventured back to Israel after being freed from captivity in Babylon. 

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Descendants of the Egyptian Israelites

According to Biblical scholars who have studied the region, the Jews who resettled in Nehemiah are the descendants of Israelites who had followed Moses into the desert and eventually onwards to the Promised Land. 

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A photograph of Ancient Egyptian Sailors

Source: Wikimedia

This appears to be backed by evidence sourced from the Book of Exodus. 

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What the Archaeologists Found

In March of 2019, the research team excavated a large area that uncovered walls with rows of large, white rocks.

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The exterior of large ancient walls at an archeology dig

Source: Patty Apostolides/Unsplash

The white walls were believed to be retailing walls for farming terraces, which were used to make flat planting areas and protect steeper soil from erosion. This type of architecture shows an incredibly advanced civilization.

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Researchers Claim Findings Are Indicative of Biblical Passage

The archaeologists discovered a small clay jar handle accompanied by a stamp at the site, allowing researchers to date the find. 

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A photograph of a woman holding a bible

Source: Freepik

The archaeologists propose the item was indicative of a passage from the Bible that reads, “The pottery item was fired at a high temperature and [was] of excellent quality.”

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What the Preserved Pottery Shows Us

Broken pieces of pottery can often reveal important information about an ancient culture. For instance, they can show what type of food and drink they consumed or whether they used the pottery as a storytelling tool.

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An old broken pot made of red clay

Source: Trnava University

In this case, the pottery pulled from the ground included a stamp on the handle that said “of the King,” which refers to King Hezekiah’s reign in Judah in 701 BC.

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The Life of Hezekiah

The life of King Hezekiah is described in the Bible book 2 of Kings, chapters 18-20.

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An artist's depiction of what King Hezekiah looked like

Source: Wikimedia

The story says that the king reopened the Temple of Solomon, which was called ‘the First Temple,’ and was built on the spot where God created Adam originally. Hezekiah also smashed the bronze snake statue that God commanded Moses to make.

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Important Findings in the Ground

The pottery fragments pulled from the earth were dated to when Israelites were said to have arrived in the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering.

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A selection of old pots and other artefacts

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The team also found a number of pottery fragments that dated over the next 900 years, which shows that the advanced civilization could prosper for a lengthy time.

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Ornate Decorations Found

The findings of ornately embellished bowls and pottery show that the community that had lived there had the time and ability to explore their artistic flare, which is another sign of a well-functioning society.

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An ancient city in ruins with tall walls

Source: Boris Ulzibat/Pexels

‘It has a wide rim adorned with a decoration of three concentric bands separated by gaps: the external and internal bands are narrow and feature a rope decoration, while the central band is wide and features an intermittent grid pattern,’ the researchers shared in the study.

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Other Remnants Found

The team says that they found other items, such as iron tools, nails, and large bronze strips used for welding iron.

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A wall and several statues as part of an ancient city

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‘While it is likely that some of the finds originated in the ruin and were subsequently washed down the slope over the years, the majority of the finds, especially those dating from the early Byzantine period, relate to farming activities conducted on the hill slopes,’ the researchers said.

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Items Dating to the Byzantine Era

“While it is likely that some of the finds originated in the ruin and were subsequently washed down the slope over the years,” explain the researchers. 

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A depiction of a Roman army

Source: Wikimedia

“The majority of the finds, especially those dating from the early Byzantine period, relate to farming activities conducted on the hill slopes,” they added

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The Historical Significance of the Site

Regardless, the diverse range of items, dating back thousands of years, showcases the site’s importance and historical significance. 

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A photograph of Moses leading the Israelites

Source: Getty Images

Further investigations at the site in the future could provide more archaeologists with additional evidence to support their claim that the legends of the Biblical figure Moses and the journey of the Israelites to the promised land are based on historical events.

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The Discovery of Noah's Ark

A similar story of a discovery that aimed to add historical value to the Bible was reported several years ago after archaeologists suggested they had discovered Noah’s Ark.

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An artist's depiction of Noah's ark

Source: Wikimedia

According to the Bible, God instructed Noah to construct an enormous boat capable of carrying two of every animal on Earth. The ark would save these animals and his family from a cataclysmic flood. 

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Durupinar Formation

In 2021, a team of researchers excavating Mount Ararat in Turkey proposed that an enormous geological feature could actually be the remains of Noah’s Ark. 

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An artists drawing depicting Noah and the animals from the ark

Source: Wikimedia

The excavation was conducted at the Durupinar formation, situated in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı, by the Mount Ararat and Noah’s Ark Research Team. 

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Archaeologists Date the Formation

The Durupinar formation is an enormous 538-foot geographical feature that, from above, clearly resembles the shape of an enormous vessel. Locals have long suggested that the feature is what remains of Noah’s Ark and have revered the site for centuries, if not thousands of years. 

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A photograph of several scientists checking test results

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According to dating conducted by researchers, humans were active in the region between 5,500 to 3,000 BCE.

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The Significance of the Findings

AICU Vice Rector Professor Faruk Kaya shared his thoughts on the discovery made several years ago, highlighting the alignment with the biblical event. 

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A photograph of an archaeologist working at a site

Source: Wikimedia

According to WION, “He pointed out that the flood associated with the biblical Noah occurred approximately 5,000 years ago. While the dating results are compelling, it is important to acknowledge that the presence of the vessel itself cannot be confirmed through dating alone. Further extensive research and analysis are needed to reveal conclusive evidence.”

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