There is little evidence for an invasion of Palestine at the end of the Late Bronze Period. When this is done there is found abundant evidence for the presence of large numbers of Semitic slaves at the time of Moses, the devastation of Egypt and the sudden departure of these slaves.Ī reduction of the chronology of Egypt would also be reflected in the interpretation of the archaeological ages in Israel. The solution to this problem is a recognition that the chronology of Egypt needs to be reduced by centuries, bringing the 12 th dynasty down to the time of Moses and the Exodus. Nor is there archaeological evidence for an invasion of Palestine under Joshua during this period. But there is no evidence from 18 th dynasty Egyptian records of a major disaster such as would have resulted from the 10 devastating plagues that fell on Egypt, or of the destruction of the Egyptian army during this period. According to Bible chronology the Exodus occurred about 1446 BC.

By the traditional chronology of Egyptian history the 18 th dynasty ruled from about 1550 to 1320 BC.