Patterns of Evidence: Exodus - Director's Choice Edition

This documentary is a real eye opener. Well done and well researched.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this documentary! It really brings things to light that I never thought of...and apparently many others had not, either. So much detail, and engaging cinematography, graphics, and production. I watched it several times when I rented it, and I am likely to purchase it next time I want to watch. This will probably be very soon.

I've watched all 3 parts of this docu-series. This video was the first part of the search by one man for answers to what happened in the Exodus from Egypt. As a bible believing, Jesus redeemed, Holy Spirit filled, sinner saved by grace I count it a joy to see the process my fellow believers go through in their journey to greater understanding of biblical history. This documentary encouraged me, confirmed my understanding of the history in Exodus & blessed my life in ways unexpected.I encourage you to watch this docu-series if you get the chance. If you are skeptical of science, just realize, there is an agenda behind every scientific purpose. In my opinion, these are some of the most common driving forces I've seen behind the science someone is doing: their beliefs (which includes evolution as well), finding proof or disproof, exploration of the unknown, discovery in what's new, money, fame, power, social status, needing to belong or have like minded associations, just to name a few. I consider these areas & more when watching anyone's views on their scientific findings, including the opinions & facts presented by experts.For me, if a scientist contradicts the biblical perspective, I deem their account of what happened as opinion. Based on the fact that the one who wrote the biblical account, often times, had a first hand perspective of the event/s.

Excellent Christian Movie

I could watch this once a month. It's so edifying and interesting. The film's creator is honest and humble, or it sure comes off that way. I appreciate the way he presents opposing opinions, but he does so in a way that usually displays the folly of their opinions. And no, this is not his bias coming through; it's simply a relation of the evidence he has uncovered which many stubbornly refuse to accept based upon historical or confirmation bias - plain pride, really. It's sad but extremely common in academia and in (related) matters of faith/religion. It's the very reason early pioneers in astronomy were ridiculed and persecuted for their factual discoveries. People resist change to the status quo, especially when they have a stake in retaining it, such as their academic reputation!Highest possible recommendation for this film, as well as his other film: The Moses Controversy. I truly admire this man and his work. Christianity needs more men like him.

I just received this video. I had ordered it with some hesitation because I once also ordered -- through Amazon -- a recommended "proof of Exodus" sort of video and found it to be a sham."Patterns of Evidence" is not that sort of video.The subject, of course, is intriguing and is part of Judaism, Christianity, and evidently (according to one of the sources in the video) also included in the Qu'ran -- so it is an event that "matters," to some extent to many groups of people.The narrator/filmmaker has made a lengthy film linking what he finds to be "patterns of evidence" pointing to the historicity of the exodus of the Hebrew peoples from Egypt a very long time ago. Obviously, the event is not noted by signposts in the sand saying "This is the city of Avaris where the Hebrew slaves lived and worked," and so on. Without that, historians/archaeologists and other interested parties must look for clues (like Sherlock Holmes??) that suggest reality or legend.I am aware that a nation or people-group can pass down a story faithfully from generation to generation. Folk anthropologists among the ancient Hawaiians, New Zealanders, Mayans and more have found that, IF a people wanted to, they could pass a story down "with word for word accuracy" --that phrase was the most amazing part!! -- if they wanted to.Of course, it does not mean that what they have passed down is true, unless, of course, you really DO believe in Balder the Elder, or etc. It just means that they COULD.I did some family-history work on one of my family surnames and discovered along the way that the old story of French Huguenot descent was not just something my father had told me, but that everyone with that surname who is remotely related to me -- has also heard that account; and some wonky tenth cousin actually did the footwork and found it legitimate. SO -- if a single family can pass a story down for 500 years, cannot a nation? A Native American activist, in one of his books, set out to demonstrate that some Native American stories -- thousands of years older than the Exodus event -- were accounts--accurately passed down -- of legitimate geological occurrences.And much of this thinking would be behind any expectation that a search for "patterns of evidence" could actually point to the biblical Exodus. As one historian said in the film, why would anyone tell a story about their national origins in slavery? Believe me -- no one I have met doing family history is looking for THAT sort of genesis, either -- though surprises and shocks do come when studying ancestors' lives.The filmmaker has interviewed a wide range of people -- an agnostic, a rabbi who believes the whole story, a rabbi who believes none of it, minimalist archaeologists, maximalist archaeologists, people with high credentials in the field of Near Eastern archaeology, and people with more of an interest than a five-star background. His selection of items for his "patterns" is interesting. I can see that I have read SOME of it elsewhere --- for ex., James Hoffmeier (who is interviewed several times in the movie) demonstrates in his own books the presence of various "patterns of evidence," such as the increasing number of Semitic peoples in New Kingdom Egypt..There are some items that I will have to think or read more about -- or re-read. I was not too sure about his use of the work of Kathleen Kenyon re Jericho. I know she did not believe in a biblical Exodus and her findings at Jericho disappointed those who were looking for a Cecil B. deMille set ("with a cast of thousands"). Kenneth Kitchen, a conservative Egyptologist, said in one of his books that "there is far too much imagination" exercised over what the actual fall-of-Jericho might have looked like.But that is why this film is a film that gives everyone "something to think about." He does give you an honest day's work for an honest day's wage in terms of presentation, flow of story, range of interviews, production, etc. But you have to do the rest of the work -- look into the details, consider other arguments -- on your own.The film has been rightly critiqued by some on these boards for scoffing too easily at the "prejudices" of archaeologists who deny the Exodus out of hand or say it could not have been at the time period that this filmmaker proposes because Ramesses HAD to have been the Pharoah of the Exodus. If the latter is their only reason, then I would say they are a bit too dogmatic, but they may have other reasons for their objections. Do they? We are not told.A fascinating period of ancient near eastern history -- the whole era of the New Kingdom (or Middle, if you are looking there). I have seen other comments made by people on these boards comparing Moses to Akhenaten and saying Moses plagiarized the Law Codes of Hammurabi. These are not issues that are part of the documentary film. Others, elsewhere, have said Moses could not have been Akhenaten (wrong century, for starters, and while Akhenaten WAS a monotheist, it seems Moses' views may have evolved over time) and that the Law Codes not only may not have been original to Hammurabi (in other words, it was not MOSES who did the plagiarizing!!) but they were more concerned with property rights while the Mosaic laws focused on individual rights.As I said -- the film will give everyone something to think about! Enjoy!!

After watching this, I watched a number of other movies by the same person. It is impossible for most people to go to all of these places and interview experts. It's great to have someone who can do it and record it for us. I'm a visual learner and so this was very useful. I've written down the experts and the places and the other information for me to start my own secondary research. I just purchased David Kohl's book that he wrote after the interviews in this movie. I was the most impressed by him (even though I don't agree with everything he says) since he is an agnostic and approaches the Old Testament as a historical document, so he's going to be a little less biased.The so called expert that I thought was a totally ridiculous was Maarten Raven. The way he dismisses the Ippuwer Papyrus--"he imagined it" "he didn't see it." How does he know? Just because you say so, Mr. Raven??? Lot more I would like to say about him, but this is about the movie.

Wonderful and encouraging. Well worth the price. There is good and convincing evidence for the exodus.

I had originally watched this documentary when it was on Netflix, and had to own it to share it.In an episode of the originally aired “Cosmos” series, hosted by Carl Sagan, Carl makes this statement: “We wish to find the truth, no matter where it lies.” But do we? Do atheists in general really want to find the truth, or do they want to define it?Patterns of Evidence, Exodus is a documentary that lays out the evidence for the Biblical Exodus, and while the physical evidence itself is not refuted, the conclusions which can be drawn are refuted as simply being too fantastic to be believed, or not in keeping with the preconceived timelines which have been established over the past several decades. Paradigms, once embraced, are not easily overcome; even when the evidence for believing the historical narrative is both ample and clear.I recommend this Documentary not perhaps because it can convince those dead set against believing in Biblical history, but because for those who have this faith it is helpful to know that our faith need not be blind. The proof of what we believe is right there in the archaeological record. It is supported by geographical names and places and even contemporary manuscripts wholly apart from the Bible itself. It is hiding in plain sight; and when that fact is refuted, it is because the disparagers have an a view and an agenda: to deny the very existence of the God of Israel.

This is well done document movie. You should see this and the newone, Patterns of Evidence: The Moses Controversy

Really interesting and thoroughly researched. Viewer left to make up own mind on evidence provided. Very thought provoking

I bought this along with the Moses Controversy and they are extremely good, well-researched, inspiring and factual.Providing sound foundations for events of Biblical times and historical background of Egypt. Beautifully presented and engaging from start to finish. If this is your area of interest, these DVDs will not disappoint.

The Bible is true, and it's chronology is right on!