Some scholars (e.g. those of the Copenhagen school) deny the reality of the Exodus, and posit that the stories are part of a myth of the Babylonian Jewish community.

For the most part, however, the debate tends either toward a 15th cent. date or a 13th cent. date for the Exodus event. Neither position is without difficulties.

This is a synopsis of the data.

 

Evidence Supporting 15th Century On Cross-examination
1Kgs 6:1 puts the start of Temple construction in the 4th year of Solomon's reign (which according to Theile, began 970 BC) and places the start of Temple construction as 480 yrs after the Exodus. Couldn't the "480 years" be an idiom for 12 generations (12X40) but in reality a generation is only c. 25 yrs (12X25 = c. 300 yrs.) or less? At any rate, there were 19 generations between the exodus and Solomon (from 1 Chron 6:33-37). Nineteen @ 25 = 475.
Jdg 11:26 puts 300 years between Jepthah (c. 1100) and the Conquest

Jepthah is no historian; probably had no records. This is likely a rough guess.
Acts 13:19-20 puts 450 years as the time from the Exodus from Egypt to David's conquest of Jerusalem.
In his "Dream Stela," Prince Thutmose IV (c. 1421-1412) is promised the throne by god Har-em-akht, implying he was not the Crown Prince. This fits Ex. 12:29 that the Crown Prince died in the 10th Plague. [See ANET, p. 449] Possible, but his older brother could have died from a variety of causes.
Biblical record requires that the Pharaoh of Moses' younger manhood reigned over 40 years. Only Thutmose III and Rameses II do. The "40 years" in the wilderness is not to be taken literally.
Jdg 4:23-24 claims that Deborah and Barak "destroyed Jabin" the king of Hazor. Archaeologists date thetotal destruction of Hazor at late 13th cent. [See ABD, III,87-88] The periods of individual judges overlapped.
The Merneptah Stela (c. 1229) cites "Israel" as a nation in possession of territory along the Levant (Canaan) indicating the Exodus had to be much earlier. [See ANE1, p. 231] Fifty years would be adequate.
The Amarna Tablets (c. 1400) recount invasion of Canaan by the abiru or Apiru. The abiru or Apiru are not Israelis.
The period of the Judges will not fit into the c. 150 years required by a "late" 13th Cent. Exodus The periods of individual judges overlapped and the numbers are figurative.


Evidence Supporting 13th Century On Cross-examination
The 480 of 1Kgs 6:1 should be understood as an idiom for 12 generations, "forty" being an idiomatic reference to a generation. In reality, an average generation spanned c. 25 years. (12X25=c.300) 1 Chron 6:33-37 indicates that there were 19 generations between the exodus and Solomon. Assuming a 25-yr generation, 19X25 = 475 yrs from Solomon's 4th yr. Further, the ascending Heb. word order of " 480" in 1 Kgs 6:1 comports with technical and statistical reporting. (Descending order used in poetic or "rough estimates.")
Ex. 1:11 says Hebrews built the city of Rameses. This must have been in honor of Rameses II (1304-1237). Ex. 1 includes a period of oppression (including the Pithom & Rameses building projects) (1:11), significant Hebrew population growth leading to Egyptian feelings of insecurity (1:12), a decree to slaughter newborn males (1:16), followed by the birth of Moses (2:1) and 80 years of experience before leading the exodus (7:7). Thirteenth-cent. theorists posit a 1340 date for Moses' birth requiring Pithom and Raamses to be built well prior to 1420. This undermines the claim that the city was named after pharaoh Rameses (1279-1213 B.C.) Further, the name "Rameses/Raamses" appears in Joseph's time (Hyksos period). (See Gen. 47:11)
Ex. 12:40 indicates the Israelis lived in Egypt for 430 yrs. which does not correlate with the Hyksos period (1750-1550). The Hebrews aren't Hyksos. Joseph arrived in Egypt 95-140 yrs. before the Hyksos invasion.
Edom, Moab and Ammon were not established in the 15th cent. There is evidence of settled society at Timna in the Arabah in the early 14th cent.
Archaeologists date the destruction of Lachish, Debir, and Bethel in the 13th cent. These are not listed among the cities destroyed by Joshua. The destruction could be later at Egyptian hands.
Archaeologists date the destruction of LB Hazor at c. 1230. Jdg. 4-5 report Deborah and Barak's defeat of Jabin, king of Hazor. If Joshua had destroyed Hazor in 1230, what was Jabin ruling in Jdg. 4?
Thutmose III (c. 1504-1450) was apparently not a major builder. But what to do with evidence that he did live & build in the delta? [See London & N.Y. obelisks]
The Bible says nothing of the attacks of Seti I (1318-1304) and Rameses II (1304-1237), implying Israel was not in the land until later. Greater Egyptian control of the Land Between most likely explains the periods of security. Further, Egyptian action was against the Canaanites.
An early Exodus requires an earlier date for the Patriarchs and this is impossible. The Patriarchs fit Middle Bronze I.

After G. Archer, Survey of OT Introduction.

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