The Book of Exodus is one of the most dramatic and theologically significant books in all of Scripture. It tells the story of slavery, miraculous deliverance, the Ten Commandments, and the birth of a nation — Israel. But when exactly was it written? Who wrote it? And is it historically reliable?
These are questions that both faithful believers and serious scholars have wrestled with for a very long time.
Who Wrote the Book of Exodus?
The traditional answer — held consistently by Jewish and Christian scholarship for thousands of years — is that Moses wrote Exodus, just as he wrote the other four books of the Pentateuch (Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
This is not a guess. The evidence is strong and comes from multiple directions:
- The Bible itself directly states Moses wrote things down. Exodus 17:14 records God telling Moses "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered." Exodus 24:4 states "Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said."
- Jesus confirmed Mosaic authorship, referencing the Pentateuch as "the Book of Moses" in Mark 12:26 and John 5:46–47
- The Jewish tradition has always attributed Exodus to Moses without question
- Early Church Fathers unanimously affirmed Moses as the author
- Moses was uniquely qualified — raised and educated in Pharaoh's palace, he would have been trained in Egyptian writing and record-keeping, making him perfectly suited to write a detailed historical account of the Exodus events
Critically, Moses was not writing about events from a distant past. He was an eyewitness and participant in virtually everything recorded in Exodus — from the burning bush to Mount Sinai to the construction of the Tabernacle.
When Was Exodus Written?
If Moses wrote Exodus, the dating depends on when Moses lived — and specifically when the Exodus from Egypt occurred.
There are two main scholarly positions:
The Early Date — 1446 BC This is the date favoured by most conservative biblical scholars and is based on 1 Kings 6:1, which states that Solomon began building the Temple 480 years after the Israelites came out of Egypt. Since Solomon's Temple is well-established as beginning around 966 BC, adding 480 years puts the Exodus at approximately 1446 BC.
Under this view, Exodus was written sometime between 1446 BC and 1406 BC — during Israel's 40 years in the wilderness — making it approximately 3,400 to 3,500 years old.
The Late Date — 1290–1250 BC Some scholars, particularly those who connect the Exodus to the reign of Ramesses II (one of Egypt's most famous pharaohs), prefer a later date of around 1290–1250 BC. This view is popular in academic and archaeological circles but relies heavily on identifying Ramesses II as the Pharaoh of the Exodus — an identification the Bible never actually makes.
Under this view, Exodus would still have been written by Moses, just slightly later — around 1290–1250 BC.
Could Moses Really Have Written Exodus?
Some critics argue that writing was not sufficiently developed in Moses' time for him to have authored such a detailed text. This objection has been thoroughly dismantled by archaeology.
Writing was well established long before Moses. Consider:
- The Ebla Tablets (dated ~2400 BC) show advanced writing existed 1,000 years before Moses
- Egyptian hieroglyphics and hieratic script were fully developed and in wide use throughout the period Moses lived in Pharaoh's palace
- The Proto-Sinaitic script — one of the earliest alphabetic writing systems — has been found in the Sinai Peninsula and dated to around 1500 BC, right in the timeframe of Moses
- Moses, raised as an Egyptian prince, would have received the finest education available — almost certainly including writing in multiple scripts
Far from being unable to write, Moses was arguably one of the most educated and literate people of his entire generation.
What Do Critical Scholars Say?
Just as with Genesis, the Documentary Hypothesis (JEDP theory) challenges Mosaic authorship of Exodus. Under this theory, Exodus was compiled from multiple anonymous source documents and reached its final form as late as the 5th or 6th century BC — more than 800 years after Moses.
However, this theory continues to face serious criticism:
- No manuscript evidence of these supposed separate sources has ever been discovered
- Ancient Near Eastern literature routinely uses multiple names for God and shifts writing styles — features the Documentary Hypothesis treats as "evidence" of different authors but which are entirely normal for ancient writing
- Archaeological discoveries have repeatedly confirmed details in Exodus that critical scholars once dismissed as legendary or fictional
- Even many secular scholars today have moved away from the classical Documentary Hypothesis, recognising its weaknesses
What Does Archaeology Say About the Exodus?
This is one of the most debated topics in biblical archaeology. Some scholars claim there is no archaeological evidence for the Exodus. But a growing body of evidence suggests otherwise:
The Ipuwer Papyrus — An ancient Egyptian document that describes a series of catastrophic plagues — water turning to blood, widespread death, darkness, and chaos — strikingly parallel to the Ten Plagues of Exodus. While the exact dating is debated, many researchers believe it describes the same events from an Egyptian perspective.
The Merneptah Stele (1208 BC) — This Egyptian monument is the earliest non-biblical reference to Israel by name, confirming that Israel existed as a people in Canaan by 1208 BC — entirely consistent with the biblical timeline of the Exodus and wilderness wandering.
Avaris and the Hyksos — Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Dab'a in Egypt (identified as ancient Avaris) have uncovered evidence of a large Semitic population living in Egypt, with structures consistent with an Israelite-style settlement, dated to the period consistent with Israel's time in Egypt. Archaeologist Manfred Bietak's work here has been groundbreaking.
Semitic Slaves in Egypt — Egyptian records from the relevant period do document the use of Semitic slaves in construction projects — consistent with the biblical account of Israelite slavery.
A Simple Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1526 BC | Moses born in Egypt |
| ~1486 BC | Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian |
| ~1446 BC | The Exodus — Israel leaves Egypt |
| ~1446–1406 BC | Moses writes Exodus during the wilderness years |
| ~1406 BC | Moses dies; Israel enters Canaan under Joshua |
| ~400 BC | Old Testament canon largely complete |
| ~150 BC | Earliest surviving Exodus manuscripts (Dead Sea Scrolls) |
| Today | Exodus remains one of the most read and studied books in history |
Why Does It Matter When Exodus Was Written?
The dating and authorship of Exodus directly affects its credibility and authority. If Moses — an eyewitness participant — wrote Exodus shortly after the events occurred, it stands as one of the most powerfully authenticated historical documents of the ancient world.
If, on the other hand, it was written by unknown editors 800 years later, its reliability as a historical record becomes far more questionable.
The biblical, historical, and archaeological evidence consistently points to Moses writing Exodus around 1446–1400 BC — as an eyewitness, under divine inspiration, recording one of the greatest acts of God in human history.
How Is Exodus Different From Genesis?
This is worth noting because it directly affects how each book was written:
| Feature | Genesis | Exodus |
|---|---|---|
| Author's relationship to events | Compiler of ancient records and revelation | Eyewitness and direct participant |
| Primary source | Divine revelation and ancient records | Personal experience and divine inspiration |
| Time period covered | Creation to ~1800 BC | ~1526 BC to ~1406 BC |
| Written approximately | 1446–1400 BC | 1446–1400 BC |
Genesis required Moses to compile ancient records and receive divine revelation about events he did not witness. Exodus, by contrast, is largely Moses writing his own life story — the story he lived, breathed, and experienced firsthand.
Conclusion
The Book of Exodus was almost certainly written by Moses between 1446 and 1400 BC, making it approximately 3,400 to 3,500 years old. Moses was uniquely qualified — educated in Egypt, present for every major event, and divinely inspired by the same God who parted the Red Sea and spoke from the burning bush.
Archaeological discoveries continue to support the historical reliability of Exodus, and the manuscript tradition shows it has been preserved with extraordinary faithfulness across thousands of years.
The story of Exodus is not just ancient history. It is the story of a God who sees suffering, hears crying, and acts powerfully to deliver His people — a story that finds its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus Christ, the final and greatest Deliverer.
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." — Exodus 20:2
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who wrote the Book of Exodus? Moses is the traditional and most well-supported author of Exodus, confirmed by the Bible itself, Jesus, Jewish tradition, and early Church Fathers. Moses was an eyewitness to the events he recorded.
Q: When was the Book of Exodus written? Most conservative scholars date Exodus to approximately 1446–1400 BC, during Israel's 40 years in the wilderness. This makes it around 3,400 to 3,500 years old.
Q: When did the Exodus from Egypt happen? The most biblically consistent date, based on 1 Kings 6:1, places the Exodus at approximately 1446 BC. Some scholars prefer a later date of around 1290–1250 BC based on Egyptian archaeology.
Q: Is there archaeological evidence for the Exodus? Yes. The Ipuwer Papyrus, the Merneptah Stele, excavations at Tell el-Dab'a (ancient Avaris), and Egyptian records of Semitic slaves all provide evidence consistent with the biblical account of the Exodus.
Q: Was Moses educated enough to write Exodus? Absolutely. Raised in Pharaoh's palace, Moses would have received the finest Egyptian education of his time, including advanced writing skills. Writing was well established in Egypt long before Moses was born.
Q: Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus? The Bible never names the Pharaoh. Popular candidates include Thutmose III or Amenhotep II (for the 1446 BC date) and Ramesses II (for the 1290 BC date). The debate continues among scholars.
