In the original Hebrew Bible they crossed the Yam Suf, or Sea of Reeds. ibid.
A 2000-year-old rock carving found on the plateau. ibid.
The conclusion is no Israelites ever dwelt in Egypt. Dr Rolf Krauss
One tiny nation conquered again and again – it was the Israelites. Empires Special: Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites: By the Rivers of Babylon, PBS 2003
They were the people of the Book, the people of Abraham. ibid.
The Israelites would change human history as much as any empire that ever existed. ibid.
The Judeans decided to fight for their survival as a people. They chose to fight not with spears and swords but by writing a book. ibid.
A guide to how the Judean exiles should live. ibid.
The Judean scribes began to re-write and edit together stories about their past ... the Hebrew Bible. ibid.
God gave Moses his laws ... The Ten Commandments were the heart of a binding covenant between God and the Israelites. ibid.
The story of King David ... The Israelites already had a king called Saul ... David was like a son to Saul. ibid.
The last remaining tribe of Israel: Judah. ibid.
The Book of Deuteronomy banned the worship of Asherah and other pagan gods. ibid.
After Josiah’s death the kings that followed him re-established the worship of Ashara and other gods. ibid.
God decided to send the Judeans into exile and start over. ibid.
In the 6th century B.C. Judean captives in Babylon wrote the first edition of the Hebrew Bible. After they returned to Jerusalem this new book would define the Judean people. Empires Special: Kingdom of David: The Book and the Sword
In 63 B.C. the Roman general Pompeii led his legions into the land of Judea. Empires Special: Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites: The End of Days
The triumph of the Romans produced a crisis of faith amongst the Jews. ibid.
The zealots made a public declaration of war against Rome. ibid.
In 70 A.D. after a siege marked by starvation and terror of crucifixions the Roman army broke through the walls of Jerusalem. Empires Special: Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites: The Gifts of the Jews
There would also be a monumental challenge from within: a breakaway form of Judaism called Christianity. ibid.
Masada: one rebel group was still holding out against Rome. ibid.
The rebellion began among a band of outlaws living in the countryside. Their leader was called Simon bar Kokhba. ibid.
The Romans now set themselves the goal of wiping the Jews from Judea. ibid.
The Romans changed the name of the region from Judea to Palestine. Then they banned all Jews from Jerusalem. ibid.
In the centuries ahead, this new prejudice of Christians towards Jews would lead to anti-Jewish laws, violent attacks and mass evictions. ibid.
In 737 B.C. the northern kingdom of Israel threw off its subservient basalt status and aligned itself with Assyria’s great rival Egypt. A bad move ... Within a decade the northern kingdoms were no more ... The twelve tribes of Israel became the lost tribes of Israel. Richard Miles, Ancient Worlds: Age of Iron, BBC 2010
A mysterious cave known as the Cave of Letters; historians believe that 2,000 years ago this desolate cave was used as a hideaway by Jewish refugees escaping the oppressive rule of the Roman empire. But what actually happened here? ... What could the ancient letters and objects found here tell us about their plight? Nova: Ancient Refuge in the Holy Land, Richard Freund reporting, PBS 2004
It was an Israeli expedition in 1960 that made the Cave of Letters famous. ibid.
Hadrian’s wrath knew no bounds. ibid.
This find convinced Freund this cave was indeed occupied in the year 70 following the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. ibid.
If the [Merneptah] Stele is correct, then it establishes that Hebrews were living in the Promised Land – the land of Israel – by 1211 BCE. Therefore the Exodus must have taken place prior to this date. There is no other mention of Israel or Hebrew slaves in the Egyptian records. Biblical Mysteries Explained: Exodus, History 2006
Faced with total catastrophe Pharaoh relents and the Hebrew slaves are set free. The Old Testament says that Moses led more than 600,000 men, women and children out of Egypt on foot. The Exodus symbolises the birth of Israel. Moses guided the slaves to the Promised Holy Land where the capitol of Jerusalem was eventually established. The Ten Plagues of the Bible
Why did the Hebrew authors of the Bible omit all of the important historical names of Egyptian pharaohs? Why did they mix up historical fact with myths and legends? The big question is, What did they have to hide? Researchers of both Bible and Egyptian history have concluded that the Hebrew authors of the Bible covered up the fact that the Hebrews and Egyptians shared the same royal blood-line. But why? Why the cover up? Ring of Power, 2008
They worshipped Egyptian gods. Followed Egyptian laws. And violated Jewish-Hebrew laws. This meant they had to hide their Hebrew identity, not just from the Egyptian people but from the Hebrew people as well. They had to keep their royal Hebrew-Egyptian identity and their worship of Ah-men hidden with royal power circles and secret societies, just as they’ve done to this day. ibid.
To put it in one word: I believe that Judaism knows nothing of revealed religion, in the sense in which that is understood by Christians. The Israelites possess divine legislation. Moses Mendelssohn
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. Exodus 1:13&14
And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. Exodus 2:25
And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:7
Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. Exodus 12:40
I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. Exodus 33:3
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.
And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;
Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.