Exodus: Gods And Kings is not faithful to the Biblical account.
In December 2014, Exodus: Gods and Kings, starring Christian Bale and directed by Ridley Scott will be the latest Hollywood film that twists and distorts a Biblical story. Based on the account of the Exodus from the Old Testament, Exodus: Gods and Kings is riddled with Biblical and historical inaccuracies, false doctrine, racial miscasting and a theology that de-emphasizes God, sin and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like the disastrous, heretical Noah film, Exodus: Gods and Kings may be marketed to Christians at Christmas time but it is certainly not a Christian film.
The Trailer
Below is the trailer for the film:
The Prophecy of Moses?
Moses learns of his true identity and “the prophecy” from Nun, a fictional character never mentioned in the Bible.
From the opening scene of the trailer Moses is told by “Nun” (someone not mentioned in the Bible) about a prophecy the year Moses was born that he would be a great leader of Israel. This “prophecy” is not in the Bible and is instead taken from the writings of the ancient Jewish historian Josephus. Exodus: Gods and Kings put its own spin on this in the opening scene of the movie with Ramses and Moses preparing to enter combat. King Seti, Pharaoh at the start of the film, has a priestess cut open a bird to “read” its entrails. She then prophesies: “one leader will be saved, and his savior will one day lead.” (source). In the battle, Ramses finds himself in a near death situation, until Moses is able to rescue him, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
Moses’ rescue of Ramses fulfills the fictional pagan prophecy in the movie.
While it makes for great dramatic effect that there was a prophecy about Moses, the Bible tells no such account. Furthermore, Josephus records this as an Egyptian prophecy, divined by pagan sorcerers in Pharaoh’s court. Even if such a prophecy was made it would be nothing that Moses or any other Israelite would adhere or pay attention to because it did not come from the true and living God of the Bible. But Exodus: Gods and Kings distorts this by making the prophecy on par with the Word of God.
The Real Prophecy
The real prophecy in Moses’ life was about the birth of Jesus Christ, not his own birth.
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance… In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.- Genesis 15:13-14, 18-21.
This was the real prophecy from God, made to Abraham, the first member and father of the nation of Israel. It was the first prophecy of the Promised Land – the large land area in the Middle East which God would give to the nation of Israel to be their homeland. At the time of this prophecy Abraham, a faithful believer in God, had no children. Despite being close to 70 years old, he believed God’s Word and was declared “righteous” in God’s eyes for it (a perfect example of salvation coming by faith and not by and works or “good deeds” on our part). The world had been given over to sinful lust and pagan worship and thus The Lord was going to create His own nation guided by Him and His Word. This is confirmed in the Septuagint, the oldest version of the Old Testament:
When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God. And his people Jacob became the portion of the Lord, Israel was the line of his inheritance. – Deuteronomy 32:8-9.
With the nations of the world giving themselves over to the worship of fallen angels and idols, God raised His own people through Abraham. Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, was renamed Israel and his 12 children formed the 12 tribes. And through this nation, the promised Savior, Jesus Christ, would be born.
In the Bible, Moses teaches the Israelites God’s law. In the film, he teaches them how to fight.
Thus God was going to bless Abraham’s descendants with a land that was presently occupied by mighty nations. But first they would sojourn through the land of Canaan and Egypt for four centuries. Those four hundred years came to an end during the life of Moses. So if there was any prophecy that was relevant to the Israelites, it was this prophecy. They could have known “for a surety” that the time of their enslavement was coming to an end just as God had promised – 430 years from the time of the promise to Abraham and 400 years from the time of the birth of his son Isaac, the promised “seed” of Abraham.
Moses was born at a time when the tribes of Israel, who were formerly living well in Egypt as guests of Pharaoh, were soon put into slavery by a successor to the Egyptian throne who no longer cared for the Israelites or the God they worshipped. The Israelites were in Egypt thanks to the rise in power of Joseph, one of the twelve patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. Through God’s grace he had become second-in-command in Egypt and as reward for his stewardship of Egypt during a global famine, his extended family was permitted to live in the Egyptian town of Goshen. This arrangement allowed the family of 70 members to expand into a thriving community and nation of millions. But eventually, the courtesy ended:
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. – Exodus 2:6-14.
Moses was raised by his birth mother and thus knew his Jewish heritage all along. He also knew of the prophecy of the Messiah and it was this faith that moved him leave his life of royalty and ultimately follow God’s command to confront Pharaoh.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. – Hebrews 11:24-27.
In Exodus: Gods and Kings, Moses does not know his true identity. It is the fictional Nun who informs him of his Jewish heritage, saying his “parents never told him the truth” of his real destiny. Moses also does not even believe in God when the film begins and denounces God in a discussion with Nun. None of this is recorded in the Bible. The passage above from Hebrews shows that Moses not only believed in God, he purposely chose to side with the Israelites because he believed in the Promised Messiah. Hence Moses esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than treasures in Egypt.” Moses put his eternal salvation of his soul above being a wealthy prince who was going to hell. He was willing to give up sinful pleasures and put his faith in the Messiah so that he could be forgiven of his sins and have eternal life.
Moses’ mysterious identity is major issue in the film. Ramses learns from spies that Moses is in fact an Israelite and forces him to confess by threatening his sister (who was living in the palace hiding her Jewish origin). Here is a clip of the fictional ordeal:
After the confession, Moses is then exiled from Egypt. As he is escorted out of the kingdom, Egyptian soldiers salute their well respected brother-in-arms. Again, none of this is in the Bible. Moses was not escorted out of Egypt. He fled after a death sentence was imposed on him for murdering an Egyptian who was harming one of his fellow Israelites.
Wrong Pharaoh
Ramses II was not the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
“I was staggered to discover what kind of man he was and where he’d come from. I had no idea he was the counter-point to Ramses. I didn’t know how close their relationship was and that they were raised like half brothers, half cousins if you like.” – Ridley Scott, director of Exodus: Gods and Kings (source).
Ridley Scott’s statements shows the wildly inaccurate historical detail of the film as well. Ramses II, considered the greatest Pharaoh of Egyptian history, was born in ca 1303 BC and died in 1213 BC. The Exodus of Moses and the Israelites of Egypt took place in ca 1500 CB, almost 200 years before the birth of Ramses II. As show in our article “Did The Exodus Really Happen? Historical Evidence For The Exodus”, numerous historical sources, both Biblical and secular, support this. There is no historical record of Moses ever knowing or much less living alongside Ramses II or of any exodus during his reign. So from a purely historical standpoint, Exodus: Gods and Kings is incredibly inaccurate.
According to director Scott, Moses is like a “brother” to Ramses and potential heir to the throne of Egypt, who is passed over for Ramses. Again, there is no historical record of any of this (and as will be shown, the film is hundreds of years off in its setting for the Exodus). The significance of Pharaoh in the Exodus account was his pride and arrogance towards God. The first time Pharaoh speaks in the Bible, it is to proclaim: “..Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.“ Rather than worship God, his stubborn insistence on resisting and unbelief led to his conscience leaving him. And thus his hatred towards the Jewish people and Moses turned him into a genocidal maniac.
Even the death of his son did not move Pharaoh to repent.
In Pharaoh we see the same callous and dismissive attitude towards God, the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the hearts and minds of people today. As the world grows more hostile to God, any mention of the Bible and mocks anyone who would dare believe in the Christian faith, so has there been an increase in the sinful rebellion and sheer depravity of society. The Exodus account is clear that Pharaoh, who literally saw himself as a god-king, was going to be judged. Even after losing his own son, he refused to repent and acknowledge God. And his death in the Red Sea was a foreshadow of the defeat of Satan and the Antichrist and the judgment of all who live their lives in rebellion of The Lord.
Racism In The Casting of Exodus: Gods and Kings?
This shot of some of the casting for the Exodus film has gone viral.
“Egypt was –- as it is now -– a confluence of cultures, as a result of being a crossroads geographically between Africa, the Middle East and Europe. We cast major actors from different ethnicities to reflect this diversity of culture, from Iranians to Spaniards to Arabs. There are many different theories about the ethnicity of the Egyptian people, and we had a lot of discussions about how to best represent the culture. ” – Ridley Scott.
Exodus: Gods and Kings has already embroiled itself in controversy over the casting of almost all of the Egyptian royalty by White actors and reserving the roles for lower class Egyptians or slaves for darker skinned actors. #BoycottExodusmovie is one of the social media protests as many people are outraged over the predominance of Caucasian actors who look nothing like the portrayals ancient Egyptians made of themselves in their own artwork.
In the Bible, the daughter of Pharaoh saw the infant Moses floating down the river in an ark and had sympathy for the child:
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. – Exodus 2:1-10.
.@ExodusMovie sparks #BoycottExodusMovie backlash for whitewashing characters http://t.co/kXEuvhRwZd
— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) August 6, 2014
So Moses was readily identifiable as a “Hebrew” by Pharaoh’s daughter. But yet, he was still able to pass as her son, despite the death sentence imposed by Pharaoh on all Israelite children. So the physical appearance of the ancient Jews were somewhat similar to that of ancient Egyptians.
Many people have taken offense to depictions of Biblical figures as Caucasian or Europeans speaking with British accents and for some it has caused them to view Christianity as a “White man’s religion” and be turned off from it. Especially for a movie set in Africa (not to mention the roles of Moses and Joshua, two of the most famous Jewish people of all time, are played by non-Jewish actors). So even these erroneous portrayals can have spiritual consequences. And it is no surprise. The Bible says of Satan’s deception:
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:2-4).
Satan will use any method to distract and divert a person’s attention and heart from God, the Bible, their own sin and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. And entertainment has been a major vehicle in removing Godly values and faith and replacing it with worldly ideas and sinful lust. The racial animus caused by Biblically inaccurate films like Exodus: Gods and Kings are just one example.
“It also shows the hypocrisy of Hollywood,” Pastor Matthew Recker of Heritage Baptist Church added. Recker underscored that Hollywood promotes itself as being “tolerant” and promoting inclusion of people from all backgrounds and ethnicities. But when it is time to make a big budget movie, the preference for Caucasians in star roles extends even to historical movies about non-White peoples.
Ridley Scott confirmed Recker’s assessment with his recent comments about the casting of Whites exclusively in the prominent roles of his films:
“I can’t mount a film of this budget, where I have to rely on tax rebates in Spain, and say that my lead actor is Mohammad so-and-so from such-and-such,” Scott says. “I’m just not going to get it financed. So the question doesn’t even come up.” (source).
A Different Moses
In the Bible it is God who fights for the Israelites, not Moses.
“Bale’s Moses is a chiseled prince with boyish charms, deadpan sarcasm, and impatient arrogance—until his personal battles scour him into a wide-eyed, reluctant leader who pleads with Ramses, played by Joel Edgerton, not to test God. Bale described Moses as someone who was straining under the “incredible weight on his shoulders” as the chosen deliverer, pointing to the many times Moses “tried to get out of the gig. … You know, it’s a hard job.” ” (source).
Moses in the Bible was called to lead the Exodus by a direct conversation with God. After fleeing as a fugitive to Midian, Moses married and lived in this area outside of Egypt for 40 years. With the Pharaoh dead, Moses was called by The Lord to return to Egypt:
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
In the movie the burning bush was possibly a delusion of the “schizophrenic” Moses.
As Beginning and End has detailed in our article, “Is Jesus Christ The Angel of The Lord? – Finding Christ in The Old Testament”, this was a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ (an event that happens many times throughout the Old Testament). His title is “the Angel of The Lord.”
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Once again, the prophecy made to Abraham in Genesis 15, the real prophecy of the Exodus, is referenced by God. The 400 years of oppression and slavery is coming to an end just as God had promised.
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Moses clearly cared for his people and wanted to see them freed from bondage. His doubts rested with himself. He was indeed scared to confront Pharaoh and convince him to free his people. But in his doubt there is a critical spiritual lesson:
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
Moses’ concern revealed doubt because of his own status.
And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty. But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
The Lord used the plagues on Egypt to show He is truly ruler of all. Not pharaoh.
Notice it is God who will free the Israelites, not Moses. It is God who will get Pharaoh to yield and release the Jewish slaves, not Moses. It is God who will give the people favor, not Moses. The lesson here for Moses and for all people is that it is God who provides salvation. The Exodus and the journey to the Promised Land is all a type and shadow of the escape from bondage to sin and death that all people face, because all people are sinners. And God provides the only means of escaping sin and its curse (damnation) through Jesus Christ. This is the message of the Exodus. And God confirmed this to Moses by showing His supernatural power:
And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
God emboldened Moses by showing him two miracles. Leprosy was a deadly, incurable disease in the ancient world. And God both gave it to Moses and healed him of it in a moment. The God of the Bible does not seek blind faith. Christianity is based on informed faith. God has proven His word in the past and we are too trust it for our own futures.
In Exodus: Gods and Kings, Moses meets God right after suffering a severe head injury. The movie puts forth the idea that the entire meeting with The Lord could have just been a delusion and that Moses is having imaginary conversations with “his God.”
Put your faith in Jesus Christ, not the words of men.
Moses, being a sinful human like all other people, still had his doubts. And God reassured him by sending his brother Aaron with him. Aaron was initally charged with speaking to Pharaoh. Aaron performed a miracle in front of Pharaoh. He also turned the rivers of Egypt to blood after God commanded it. Aaron was the first High Priest of the newly-formed Israelite nation. And yet Moses confronts Pharaoh alone in Exodus: Gods and Kings.
Moses did not threaten Pharaoh with his own might. He warned of God’s judgment.
In the Bible, Moses and Aaron walk directly before Pharaoh and announce: “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.“ In Exodus: Gods and Kings, Moses sneaks into the palace in the middle of the night and quietly warns Ramses to free the Israelites because “something is coming.”
Moses Was Insane?
Christian Bale called Moses “schizophrenic” and “barbaric.”
Just as Russell Crowe, who played Noah in the heretical Biblical epic that came out last year, Christian Bale has now gone on record to rip Moses for being evil and mentally disabled:
‘I think the man was likely schizophrenic and was one of the most barbaric individuals that I ever read about in my life,’ he said. (source).
The Bible calls Moses a “friend of God.” Moses gave up his royal upbringing, wealth and status in order to lead the his enslaved people to freedom. When the Israelites were in the wilderness and rebelled against God, it was Moses who repeatedly pleaded to The Lord for mercy on them. He was a compassionate man who sacrificed everything for the freedom of his people and their reconciliation with God. Scripture says of Moses: “…was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.“ (Numbers 12:3).
So where does Bale get this type of impression about Moses? From the research he did regarding the story:
Bale had been keen to work with director Ridley Scott after hearing such good things from so many of his co-stars over the years and, when Scott suggested that Bale take on the role of Moses, the star went straight into research mood, taking in texts like Jonathan Kirsch’s “Moses: A Life” and Louis Ginzberg’s “The Legends of the Jews” as well as both the Torah and the Quran in full. (source).
The book concludes the authors of the Bible were liars.
Jonathan Kirsch’s Moses: A Life is a take on Moses based on one consistent principle: we should not believe the Bible. Here are some excerpts from the book:
“Yet much of what we think we know about Moses is simply made up, and much of what the Bible does say about him is left out of both sacred and secular art…But as we shall soon see, the real Moses has been concealed from us, sometimes by subtle manipulation of the ancient text, sometimes by pointed silence and sins of omission and sometimes by unapologetic censorship or outright lies, first by the priests and scribes who were the original authors and editors of the Bible, then by the preachers and teachers who were guardians of the ancient text…Devout tradition in both Judaism and Christianity has always felt obliged to portray Moses as unfailingly good, meek, dignified and devout, righteous and heroic – and that is why we do not hear much about the passages of Holy Writ in which Moses is shown to act in timid and even cowardly ways, throw temper tantrums, dabble in magic, carry out purges and inquisitions, conduct wars of extermination, and talk back to God. The real Moses – the Moses no one knows – was someone far richer and stranger than what we are customarily allowed to see” – (Jonathan Kirsch, Moses: A Life, p. 1-2.).
From the onset, this book tried to depict the Bible as being a false recording of history designed to paint Moses as a perfect hero, while hiding the “real information” about him from the public. Kirsch goes on to write that Moses was a magician who used the occult to perform his miracles. The book states:
“Sometimes he shows up in the guise of a sorcerer with as many tricks up his sleeves as a lounge-act magician in Vegas. Armed with the so-called rod of God – a shepherd’s wooden staff, but we might as well call it a magic wand- Moses works all kind of sideshow legerdemain to impress both Pharaoh and the ever dubious Israelites.” (Kirsch, p. 7-8).
Kirsch writes that Moses learned sorcery from his father-in-law Jethro who was, according to Kirsch, “a pagan priest. It was Jethro, not Moses who offered the very first sacrifice to Yahweh.”
This is one of the many erroneous statements in the book. The fact that Jethro or anyone would offer sacrifices to Yahweh, is a sign of worshiping the true God and not being a pagan. Furthermore, sacrifices go all the way back to Cain and Abel, the first two sons born to Adam and Eve. They both offered sacrifices to God, over 1,000 years before Moses or Jethro were born. Moses instructed the entire nation of Israelites to perform the Passover sacrifice while they were still in Egypt, as it was this sacrifice of a lamb without blemish and the subsequent place of the lamb’s blood on their doors, that saved them from the judgment of God upon Egypt in which every firstborn male was killed. Jethro’s sacrifice to God is until after the Israelites left Egypt and were in the wilderness (Exodus 18). Such blatant error is a indicator of poor Biblical scholarship from an author who does not believe the Bible and wants to disprove it outright to the reader.
To support the idea that Moses was mere myth, Kirsch says that once one gets past the first five books of the Bible, Moses barely mentioned. And by the New Testament, the name of Moses is “wholly discarded.” This of course ignores the fact that Moses is mentioned 79 times in the New Testament, with Jesus Christ referencing Moses frequently. And this the source material the man playing Moses relied on for the Exodus: Gods and Kings.
Where Is God In This Film?
The Biblical Exodus is about God’s judgment and salvation for those who believe.
Kirsch’s view of Moses, as a fictional character who was a barbaric tyrant who used magic tricks, underscores the theme of the film: no one is take the Bible literally and God was not truly responsible for the miracles.
“If there’s one Old Testament image everyone knows, it’s the parting of the Red Sea. And when shooting that scene in Exodus: Gods and Kings (in theaters Dec. 12), director Ridley Scott knew that he want to treat the incident as realistically as possible. “You can’t just do a giant parting, with walls of water trembling while people ride between them,” says Scott, who remembers scoffing at biblical epics from his boyhood like 1956’s The Ten Commandments. “I didn’t believe it then, when I was just a kid sitting in the third row. I remember that feeling, and thought that I’d better come up with a more scientific or natural explanation.”” (source).
Exodus: Gods and Kings takes a similar route of providing a scientific explanation for the ten plagues that God inflicts on Pharaoh for his refusal to free the Israelites. The parting of the Red Sea is explained by cyclones which Moses is able to lead his people past before it crushes the Egyptians. As Beginning and End detailed in our article “The Prometheus Film: Alien Deception Continues”, Ridley Scott does not believe the Bible:
“Darwinism seems to be logical,” Scott says, launching a long trajectory of a response. “You come from something on all fours, to something that stands upright and gathers fruit from trees, and then realizes that it’s a lot more convenient to walk upright, so now you have Homo sapiens.
“Ape-to-man, it makes sense — you can even look at the drawings and the diagrams of why it makes sense. And I don’t think that God touched a rock and suddenly there was man. It’s not that simple. (source).
In addition to his belief in evolution, Scott stated that he believes alien beings assisted with the creation and evolution of humanity. So it should be no surprise that Scott thinks of his own explanations for the miracles in Exodus: Gods and Kings rather than attributing them to God.
11-Year Old Isaac Andrews plays the role of God.
Given his rejection of the Bible, it should not surprise that Scott cast an 11-year old boy to play God in the film. Isaac Andrews plays the role of God (in the form of a boy named Malak) when he appears to Moses at the burning bush:
“Sacred texts give no specific depiction of God, so for centuries artists and filmmakers have had to choose their own visual depiction,” Scott tells THR. “Malak exudes innocence and purity, and those two qualities are extremely powerful.” – Ridley Scott (source).
Depicting God as a child who is being “channeled” by The Lord is not only unfaithful to the Bible, it is blasphemous. In the film, the boy first meets a dizzy, injured Moses at the burning bush. Moses sees the child playing with dice (implying that God is just randomly playing games with humanity). He is often angry and petulant, yelling his orders at Moses and screaming for the death of the Egyptians. Unlike the Bible where Moses is fully in line with God’s plan, in Exodus: Gods and Kings, Moses repeatedly argues with “God”, questioning why he is being so harsh on the Egyptians.In the Bible, God is patient with Pharaoh, sending Moses and Aaron to reason with the King after each plagues. But in his arrogance and unbelief, Pharaoh not only refuses to let the Israelite slaves free, he makes them work even harder. At one point Pharaoh even acknowledges his error before God:
And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. – Exodus 9:27-28.
Pharaoh ended up going against his word and not letting the Israelites go, but his understanding of God’s judgment and sinful rebellion in face of his collapsing kingdom was clear. The entire Egyptian religion, with gods of water, crops, birth and other aspects of their lives was coming undone. This was a society steeped in the occult. The Lord was making the point to the entire nation that he was the true and only God. The point was to move Egypt to repentance. It was better to lose crops and repent than lose your soul to Hell for eternity. That is the purpose of God giving His Word to the world.
None of these points made into the film however. Rather than sending Moses to speak to Pharaoh after each plague, the movie has all the plagues happen in one rapid succession with Moses standing back and watching the destruction. Near the end of the plagues, a frustrated Moses angrily screams at “God”: “Is that it? Are you done?” None of this is in the Bible yet this is the outcome when a Biblical movie is being made by those who do not believe any part of the Scriptures to be true.
Evidence of The Exodus – Did The Exodus Really Take Place?
Is there historical and archeological proof of the Exodus? Yes, there is.
This discussion begs the questions: is there evidence that the Exodus actually took place? With plagues of hail, locusts, supernatural darkness, blood, the parting of the Red Sea and other miraculous phenomena taking place as the Bible records, is there any non-Biblical source that records these events? The answer from history and archeology is a resounding “yes”.
The Ipuwer papyrus records many of the plagues of the Exodus.
The Israelite enslavement in Egypt and the Exodus took place during the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt, which would be the eleventh twelfth and thirteenth dynasties. This period came to an abrupt end when the Hyksos, foreign Asiatic invaders, swept in and rapidly took over Egypt, ruling for the next 400 years. So what allowed this conquest to take place? It was that Egypt was ravaged by a series of disasters and plagues just prior to the Hyksos invasion. And this is recorded in the Ipuwer Papyrus, an ancient text written by an Egyptian scribe named Ipuwer, who records the aftermath of the plagues upon Egypt and the sweeping conquest of the Hyskos. And in his lamentation, the Egyptian scribe confirms much of the historical account of the Exodus as recorded in the Bible. One historian writes:
The synchronism, however, is still valid, and Velikovsky was quite right to connect the two accounts [the Biblical Exodus and the events of the Ipuwer papyrus]. But, rather than simultaneously describing the same plagues, it appears that Moses recorded Act I of the drama: the devastation of Egypt and the escape of the Israelites at the hand of the Lord; and that Ipuwer described Act II: the conquest of Egypt by the Hysksos on the heels of the Exodus. Velikovsky identified the Hysksos as the Biblical Amalekites whom the Israelites battled in the desert at Rephidim after crossing the Red Sea.4 That provides a further link between the two accounts. (source).
The Similarities From Secular History
There is historical, non-Biblical evidence of the Exodus.
Looking at the Ipuwer papyrus alongside Scripture reveals startling similarities:
- Earthquakes
Right after the Israelites left slavery, The Lord appeared to them in the wilderness. The Bible records God’s presence as causing a great deal of earthquake and volcanic activity:
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. – Exodus 19:18.
PAPYRUS 2:11 The towns are destroyed. Upper Egypt has become dry (wastes).
PAPYRUS 3:13 All is ruin!
PAPYRUS 7:4 The residence is overturned in a minute.
PAPYRUS 4:2 …Years of noise. There is no end to noise.
PAPYRUS 6:1 Oh, that the earth would cease from noise, and tumult (uproar) be no more.
- Plague of Blood
The plague of blood is recorded in Egyptian historical records.
Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood….And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. – Exodus 7:17-21.
PAPYRUS 2:5-6 Plague is throughout the land. Blood is everywhere.
PAPYRUS 2:10 Men shrink from tasting — human beings and thirst after water.
PAPYRUS 3:10-13 That is our water! That is our happiness! What shall we do in respect thereof? All is ruin!
For a much more detailed breakdown of the evidence of the Exodus, see our article: Did The Exodus Really Happen? Historical Evidence of The Exodus.
Exodus: Gods and Kings Is Not Faithful To The Bible
There is only one place to find the real story of the Exodus.
“They went off the biblical text, but the biblical text was very terse,” – Rabbi David Baron, technical advisor to Exodus: Gods and Kings. (source).
The account of the Exodus is one of the greatest stories in human history. It is the first recorded mass slave uprising. But much more than that it is a testmant to God’s sovereignty and salvation. It is a type and shadow of the slavery all people are in – slavery to sin. As all people are sinners and thus in bondage to it until they are freed. And that freedom comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ leads a person to free forgiveness and a new spirit that is free from sin and the sentence of hell. Pray for Ridley Scott and the cast of Exodus to learn the true meaning of the Exodus as much more than an adventure “myth.” It is a story that points us all to the true Promised Land: eternity in Heaven. Pray that not only they but anyone who has a hard heart towards God will not resist in arrogant disbelief like Pharaoh, but take on the humility of Moses, confess their sins and receive God’s free love and forgiveness.
I will of course end up having to watch this movie for the purposes of review, but I am grateful for your take on it.
A thought regarding the use of a pagan prophecy: We know that God has in times past spoken through those not of his own, and that Moses was raised as an Egyptian, not as an Israelite. Given these two points, is it possible to extrapolate that, should this prophecy have even existed, it was placed there specifically as yet one more opportunity to the Pharaohs to do the right thing?
Just a thought. Again, thanks for this insightful look at the film. (FYI: Hated Noah as well.)
Hey RETS,
Great to hear from you. And I am glad you recognize that the point of the article was not a boycott, but for Christians and those interested to know in advance that was this film is presenting is not the Biblical account – and thus not be deceived. (Although as was the case with Noah, I am sure some discerning believers who are looking for a Biblical movie, will not waste their money on a heretical version like this film).
As for the Egyptian prophecy – Josephus actually attributes it to Johannes and Jambres, the same two Egyptian sorcerers who try to rival Moses and Aaron throughout the 10 plagues. Is it possible The Lord used it to as a chance for the Pharaohs to repent? It’s possible as we see The Lord give Pharaoh numerous chances to repent in the Exodus account. But these were two Kings deeply embedded in the occult. So the odds that such a prophecy coming from their trusted sorcerers would make them want to kill the Israelites seem greater (hence it could have also been from Satan – which is what I am inclined to believe).
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the film. God bless. -B&E
I’ll be honest- Nothing prepared me for the trainwreck that was Noah. I was prepared for artistic license, and I knew the directing, producing and writing crew had consulted with Christians, Muslims and Kabbalah experts.
What got me was how off from ALL of those accounts they were- To the point where my question was quite literally “Why? Why go to all that trouble for nothing?”
I’m wondering what your first thought was, and I look forward to sharing with you my review of this movie.
Take care, and God bless!
For future reference:
Actors of fully Jewish background: -Logan Lerman, Natalie Portman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mila Kunis, Bar Refaeli, James Wolk, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Julian Morris, Adam Brody, Esti Ginzburg, Kat Dennings, Gabriel Macht, Erin Heatherton, Odeya Rush, Anton Yelchin, Paul Rudd, Scott Mechlowicz, Lisa Kudrow, Lizzy Caplan, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Gal Gadot, Debra Messing, Robert Kazinsky, Melanie Laurent, Shiri Appleby, Justin Bartha, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Margarita Levieva, Elizabeth Berkley, Halston Sage, Seth Gabel, Mia Kirshner, Alden Ehrenreich, Eric Balfour, Jason Isaacs, Jon Bernthal.
Actors with Jewish mothers and non-Jewish fathers -Jake Gyllenhaal, Dave Franco, James Franco, Scarlett Johansson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Radcliffe, Alison Brie, Eva Green, Emmy Rossum, Rashida Jones, Jennifer Connelly, Nora Arnezeder, Goldie Hawn, Ginnifer Goodwin, Amanda Peet, Eric Dane, Jeremy Jordan, Joel Kinnaman, Ben Barnes, Patricia Arquette, Kyra Sedgwick, Dave Annable.
Actors with Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers, who themselves were either raised as Jews and/or identify as Jews: -Andrew Garfield, Ezra Miller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alexa Davalos, Nat Wolff, Nicola Peltz, James Maslow, Josh Bowman, Winona Ryder, Ben Foster, Nikki Reed, Zac Efron, Jonathan Keltz.
Oh, and Ansel Elgort’s father is Jewish, though I don’t know how Ansel was raised.
Actors with one Jewish-born parent and one parent who converted to Judaism -Dianna Agron, Sara Paxton (whose father converted, not her mother), Alicia Silverstone, Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
I’m curious about how this rather impressive list applies to the commentary. Could you expound, Dee?
My husband and I went to see the movie opening night. From the very beginning there were multiple inaccuracies, but the last straw was when they blasphemed God by depicted as a rude and petulant little boy. After mutilating the most important and pivotal point in biblical history, we got up and walked out. We even got our money back.
I don’t fully blame the movie makers. The people who bear much responsibility are those who started the lie, stating Israelites were white or Arabic. And those who continue to perpetrate the lie that Jews are descendants of the ancient Israelites even when evidence has been provided. God will judge all those who lied in order to continue the suppression of the true Israelites as much as he judged Pharaoh for continuing his suppression of the Israelites. But we know that god hardened the heart of pharaoh so has he hardened the heart of the oppressors of the Israelites. As in the exodus so shall it be during the regathering of Israel scattered throughout the gentile nations. All these movies, some christian denial of true Israel is just the hardening of Pharaoh’s/Roman empire’s heart. Those who truly love/obey the god of Jacob must pray that he open their eyes to who the children of Israel are less they hate the apple of god’s eyes.
Two points:
1. There is a “Nun” in the Bible. Joshua’s dad.
2. You surmised the following in a misleading way: “In the Bible, God is patient with Pharaoh, sending Moses and Aaron to reason with the King after each plagues. But in his arrogance and unbelief, Pharaoh not only refuses to let the Israelite slaves free, he makes them work even harder.”
In brief, God pretty clearly did not desire the Pharaoh to repent.
““When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go” (Ex 4:21).
“For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed [k]throughout the whole earth.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires” (Rom 9:17-18).
Why harden the pharoah’s heart making it difficult for the hebrews to be let free? Tgats like a prisoner in jail who’s close to being on parol getting into a fight,it doesn’t make sense.
ChildofRa,
Hello again. I pray that you will consider the scriptures and points that I make. I think that a couple of scriptures that would help to clarify start with James 1:13-15.
James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of GOD; for GOD cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
From this passage we see that GOD doesn’t force or lead anyone to commit evil, anymore than Adam and Eve were considered not responsible for their actions in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-19). When the Bible states that GOD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, it is stating that GOD presented Pharaoh with the evidence that he, Pharaoh, wasn’t a god. If you look at the text, the Bible indicates on several occasions that pharaoh is responsible for hardening his own heart (Exodus 8:15,19,32 in comparison with Exodus 4:21, 7:3,13,14,22, 9:12,34, 10:1,20,27). You should also note that Exodus shows that Pharaoh acknowledges that he, himself, sinned against GOD:
Exodus 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
Exodus 9:28 Entreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
Exodus 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Exodus 9:35 And the heart of pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.
And again in Exodus 10:16-17:
Exodus 10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses an Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your GOD, and against you.
Exodus 10:17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your GOD, that HE may take away from me this death only (capitalization of GOD added, as elsewhere in my posts).
These scriptures don’t demonstrate a capricious being, an evil puppeteer bent on causing pointless suffering. Much like the prophecy concerning Judas betraying JESUS for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12 and Luke 21:18-21, 22:3-7), GOD was prophesying that in spite of HIS great miracles which would be performed and outdo any magic that Egypt could conjure up, Pharaoh and the Egyptians would still not acknowledge YHWH GOD as the true King of Kings. This serves as a reminder and example that people, although subject to GOD’s judgment, will choose to behave however they want, in spite of the consequences. And this is no different than today’s world of unbelievers. GOD could split the sky, show vast wonders beyond imaging, but people would write it off as an illusion, as a figment of their imagination because the other end of the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST (and this is also referring to the last book of the Bible, where the people literally ask for the rocks and mountains to fall on them to avoid being in the presence of GOD – Revelation 6:13-17) requires submission to this great GOD of wonders. Most of mankind is unwilling to submit to anyone, let alone to HIM to whom all must and will submit (either in this life or in the next – Hebrews 9:27 and Philippians 2:10,11).
But it doesn’t have to be eternal pain and suffering, as GOD intended that only for Satan and his angels (Matthew 25:41 states that hell wasn’t intended for man initially, but it will be the place of suffering and torment for all who deny JESUS as LORD and refuse to serve HIM). We submit to governments for protection and resources that we can’t provide ourselves. We submit to school syllabi and work schedules as well as family outings/meetings even when there doesn’t seem to be any direct benefit to ourselves. Why not submit to the only wise GOD who is worthy of glory and honor, both now and forever (Jude 1:25)? I pray that this is helpful for you and any others who have questions, but please note that I don’t and cannot know everything – only GOD does. And again, you must be willing to submit to HIM in order to get the answers you need, not the answers you want. May you be blessed in JESUS (know true peace and rest from the struggles of life by receiving salvation in this life and joy everlasting to come) through submission to HIM and acceptance of his gift of salvation (right-standing with GOD that comes through faith and belief in HIS SON JESUS and keeping JESUS’ commands in John 13:34,35 and Matthew 28:18-20 as well as Acts 1:8). Happy New Year!
Bye 4 Now,
Ben
Prynhawn Dda/ Good Afternoon and Hi
Hi Ben
I thought ChildofRa assumption of God was correct if we read Exodus 4:21. One has to read the scripture not as factual, but as stories. What has drawn my attention to your comments is that you quote the epistle (letter) of James (1:13-15) as a factual piece of evidence to berate the comments of ChildofRa. What is factual is that the earliest extant of the epistle of James is dated as late 3rd century.[McCartney, Dan G (2009). Robert W Yarbrough and Robert H Stein, ed. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: James. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. ISBN 0801026768.] On these very verses (James 1:13-16) Hellenistic (Greek) Jew believed that each person has both an evil inclination and a good inclination, because God created both.[page 388 NT section, The New Oxford Annotated Bible] The epistle of James was written in Greek by a highly educated Greek scholar, James was an illiterate Aramaic speaking peasant from Galilee. [Bart. D. Ehrman, Forged, p.198] Which is the consensus (excluding Fundamental Christians) of most biblical and Greek scholar.
Cofion (regards)
Jero Jones, Mab Cymru
Hello Craig Truglia,
I appreciate your use of and searching through scripture. I have a few scriptures that show the greatness of GOD’s mercy, that clarify HIS stance on Pharaoh.
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins hthat he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Ezekiel 18:22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto hijm: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Saith the LORD GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Ezekiel 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominationis that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
And then Peter reminds us concerning the pending destruction of GOD’s enduring and patient mercy:
2 Peter 3:8 the LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
GOD is letting us know through Ezekiel, that HE desires that all would turn to HIM, repent (to change our minds about thinking we know it all/don’t need GOD in our lives) and submit to HIS superior and better Way (JESUS – John 14:6). However, GOD is well aware that not everyone will submit. Some will even pass these evil practices on to their children (i.e., Numbers 14:18 and Deuteronomy 7:9,10)with the intent that they keep the family business going, therefore sowing the seeds depravity and moral bankruptcy. Unfortunately for Pharaoh and Egypt (the entire nation) they were unwilling to acknowledge and submit completely to GOD. They would repent for relief or respite, but would again harden their own hearts against GOD’s judgment (Exodus 9:34). Now in truth, it seems as if GOD is contradicting HIMSELF when you compare 2 Peter 3:8 and Ezekiel 18 (should read whole chapter for best context) against Numbers 14:18, especially where it says that GOD would visit the iniquity of the fathers onto their children to the 3rd and 4th generations. But, if you read it in its appropriate context, GOD is saying that if people continue in their wicked ways, HE cannot forgive them, because HE is a just GOD and must give a just judgment. HE can only forgive when the offender acknowledges that they’re wrong and repents. And that is what HE is saying today, and has always been saying. If we repent, humble ourselves, and turn from our wicked ways, then will GOD hear from heaven and forgive our sins (2 Chronicles 7:14). But if we keep saying, “I don’t need you to be good,” or “I can do it all by myself,” then the only thing that awaits us is judgment – wrath, and not mercy instead. Hope this helps, but if not, I will continue to search and encourage you to do the same. Be blessed as we approach the New Year to receive JESUS as LORD and Savior in your life. If this has already happened, may you be blessed to be emboldened to seek HIS glory and share HIS Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8).
Happy New Year and Bye 4 Now,
Ben
Hi B&E,
My parents and I were so looking forward to seeing this film since we’ve all watched Cecil DeMille’s interpretation of the book of Exodus, and we were hoping to see a more “modern” interpretation (the visual effects etc.) of it. Reading this article made me think twice about purchasing a movie ticket.. Biblical Christians should just read the book of Exodus instead of seeing the film 🙂
whoever wrote this article is dumb. First of all Nun is in the Bible Mentioned in Joshua 24:29, also Aaron is gonna be in Exodus god and kings he will be played by Andrew Tarbet
Hi Antonio,
Thanks for your comments. I would like to respond to your two points.
Nun in the Bible – Let’s look at Joshua 24:29, the verse you cite:
Your point that this “Nun” is the same character from Exodus: Gods and Kings, underscores everything that is wrong with this film. If this Nun, the father of Joshua, is supposed to be the same Nun played by Ben Kinglsey in the film, then it is extreme poetic license. Nowhere do we see any relationship between Moses and Joshua’s father in the Bible or even extra-Biblical texts. Hence my calling Nun, fictional. The character in the film is not in the Bible. Nor is he recorded in secular history. There is no Nun who was an advisor or confidant of Moses. It’s all made up. Using the name of someone from the Bible does not make that character “Biblical.” The same thing could be said of Moses in this film. Or of God, the 11-year old boy in the film. These are not Biblical representation. They are fictional reinterpretations.
As for Aaron, thanks for the correction! It is much appreciated. When the article was first drafted, Aaron was not listed on the cast list. But the BIblical points about Aaron still remain. It was he who spoke to Pharaoh initially and performed several miracles before him. Does Tarbet’s character do this in the film? Or is he just another fictional reinterpretation of a Biblical figure? -B&E
B&E,
Thanks again for your thorough investigation/evaluation of this movie. I had previously heard a comment by Christian Bale that he believed Moses to be schizophrenic and barbaric (not all that different from the comments of Russell Crowe in regards to Noah), but I am grateful that you make this information available for others that use this forum.
I have to say that it breaks my heart to think that there are still some Christians who will encourage watching this movie in the hopes of using it as a conversation-piece or lead-in to the Gospel. The unfortunate truth is that those hopefully but misled Christians miss the warning of Paul to the young pastor Timothy concerning people of the end-times that would seek/accumulate teachers unto themselves to hear things their “itching ears” desire as opposed to the truth, that we need to be saved from the wrath stored up as a result of our sins, that we need GOD to provide our Exodus out of our “Egyptian slavery” to sin and submit to HIS (JESUS/GOD/HOLY SPIRIT) Lordship and then follow the great commission/obligation to go back and warn others (much as Moses was sent back to Egypt under the authority of GOD to liberate HIS people).
2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.
I only pray that Christians have thoroughly read Genesis to Deuteronomy as well as the whole of the Bible to be able to effectively combat the false witness that Hollywood/movie-makers seem to be content to put out and confront the world with the truth of sin and the need for salvation that can only be found in JESUS (John 3:16-21; 14:6, Acts 2:38; 4:12, Romans 10:9-10).
Thank you again for your diligence to study of the scriptures, the time (I don’t know where you find it), the obedience to GOD and your boldness to speak out as well as your call for prayer not just for those who know they are wrong, but also for the lost sheep that follow them. May GOD continue to richly bless you in your witness, keep up the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:7) and keep me in your prayers that I would be emboldened to share the Gospel of JESUS during this time of increased intellectual (and someday soon physical) persecution for the glory of GOD. Be blessed and a blessing and bye 4 now.
Amen! We are surely moving closer and closer to persecution and living in the days of 2 Timothy. People are actively choosing to be deceived because they love escapism and entertainment more than the Truth. I believe that’s why the Bible says the love of most will grow cold. I pray every day for the Holy Spirit to take over and strengthen me for what’s ahead for believers so that I can stand.
I also hope you are not deceived into believing that the children of Jacob were white or Arabic or that they are Jewish.
One more historical inaccuracy in the film is actually rooted in the mistranslated number of Semitic slaves who left Egypt. The movie says 400,000 slaves escaped. English Bibles say 600,000 fighting men, or 2-3 million with women, children and the elderly. All of these numbers are wrong and make the scope of the EXODUS archaeologically and historically impossible. I give the full explanation about the number of people actually involved in the Exodus (when you understand ancient Hebrew) in my latest blog at http://www.reenactingtheway.com/blog
Interesting article. But no offense, I’m not buying what you’re selling.
Question one: Have you actually seen the film? Or are you reviewing the trailers? I ask this because the finished movie and these trailers will be very different things.
Question two: Are you writing this article based on what you want the film to represent? Or the actual quality of the filmmaking? Again, the two are very different things.
To me, this is a movie. Movies are designed, by nature, to sell tickets. There is no such thing, and never will be a such thing, as a 100% “biblically accurate” film. Because we will view everything subjectively. This goes for movies, and especially the Bible. If I wanted something exactly like what is depicted in the Bible…I’d just go back and read my Bible. People go to movies to be entertained. That’s why “Ben-Hur” was made. And “The Ten Commandments.” And “Exodus.”
Hi Paul,
Just as we did with the Noah article (which was written a year before the film came out), we are basing our article on the statements made by the director and the principal actors of the movie itself (with citation links all throughout the article). If there is a particular point that you find in error, please feel free to point it out. This article is not a “movie review.” I am not commenting on the quality of the film from an artistic standpoint. It is a warning to the many Christians who will want to see this movie under the assumption that it will be somewhat Biblically sound, that it is not faithful to the Biblical account.
A movie is an expression of a writer and director’s vision and ideas. Ridley Scott and the production team are fully entitled and well within their right to reinterpret and reinvent the Exodus story however they choose. And I, am just as equally entitled to offer a commentary on how much they deviated from the actual Biblical account.
Again, if there is a specific point that you find to be in error, please feel free to share it. I am always open to critique. -B&E
You are right that movies are about making money… They don’t care if the truth is twisted, just to suit the interpretation of scripture of any small minded agnostic/atheist… If moses was so pathetic, then why did God choose him in the first place?!! (God is lucky that his reputation doesn’t have to be defened by hellywood films, with the exeption of films like mel gibson’s, ‘the passion of the christ’, God bless him!!). Also, if the red sea parted at exactly the right time, and exactly the right place, just to let the israelites escape, and then come back at exactly the right time, to drown pharaoh’s army, that proves that it was AN ACT OF GOD =MIRACLE!! Even if it was caused by an earthquake, a tsunami, a tornado, or by the israelites’ donkeys farting in unison! HELLO?! Miracles are happening all around us, and if you are complaining that you just can’t see them, WELL JUST TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF YOUR EYES, and check out the stories and testimonies on the internet! And by the way, if someone made a film that distorted the life of mohamad, there would be a fatwa issued by the imams for his death…! We christians have to put up with alot from hellywood, lucky that we turn the other cheek! But filmmakers will have to answer to God in the end… Contact me: [email protected]
I really appreciate yall reviewing the so called Christian movies before they come. I was gonna watch this movie but wanted to check here first. I always check here first before seeing any Christian movie. Great article. Keep up the good work. Your bro-In-Christ.
I wrote about my view of noah in my own blog and will do the same for this film. One thing that im tired of hearing is hollywood isnt making biblical sound christian films
1. This is hollywood do you really believe they will make a good christian film? The only ones i can think of is the ten commandments,dreamworks the prince of egypt and joseph king of dreams.
2. Its a movie made for pure entertainment- even the harry potter films and lord of the rings took some liberties with the films liv tylers character arwen is not that active in the booms,she practically does nothing.
3. If you want a christian film make one yourself. Im tired of people complaining there is the left behind series which stars kirk cameron and its a christian film, why not go and support that company to make more films instead of waiting for hollywood to do so same for christian artist like katy perry. She started out christian nobody bought so now she’s singing about dark horses. Christianity is one of the largest religions in the world with islam in 2nd and judaism on 3rd. There enough of you to come together and support christian based media or shoot create your own. Thats what people of color did. Blacks couldnt get on vogue so we created ebony and essence,instead of mtv we created bet -just saying sometimes you got to put your words into action.
Hi ChildofRa,
Acts 4:12 really made the appropriate response to you. Many people criticize film productions for inaccurate depictions. Timbaland, the producer who made almost all of Aliyah’s music, has criticized the film. Should he be told “go make your own”? Do all of the people offended by the wildly inaccurate racial depictions in Exodus: Gods and Kings have no right to voice their feelings, unless they produce their own film themselves? That does not sound like a free-thinking society you normally advocate for. -B&E
^^@ child of ra
and what happened last week with the Aaliyah movie ?
everyone went on blogs/facebook and went off on wendy williams. ( the producer )
and what happened with the Temptations nbc movie ? ( one my favorites btw )
took to court .. ( according to wiki )
for defamation of character, and emotional distress because of the inaccurate depictions of events.
I read the book by Otis williams and the movie totally flips what he wrote.
if someone made a long winded film on the life child of ra and distorted it
your family wouldn’t be happy one bit
Christians have a right to write and critic and give others of our faith the heads up on FALSE DOCTRINES
when it comes to the portrayal of Bible events in films.
as a movie buff my library has tons of movies
but not one if it goes contrary to scripture
sites like this use the gifts God gives them ( defend the word, gospel outreach )
so that remark about make your own movies null and void
there are plenty of Christian films
I understand hollywood will never make sound Christian movies
I understand that they want that Christian money ( Passion of Christ $$$$$$ broke records at the time )
and if you wanna get deep , I understand these movies never point to the cross
in efforts of dilute the Gospel
Well i didnt see the aaliyah film nor temptations so i cant speak on that. You christians can critic the movie and complain and hollywood just gives you the middle finger. So just support the christian films that you have again whether christian,black white etc unless you support the business that are righteous then you’re not gonna get anywhere.
Also these biblical films are given the action movie treatment which is not surprising since there is actually something called tge action bible where the entire bible looks like a freaking comic book. I saw in walmart and i laughed cause jesus look like rambo.
http://www.theactionbible.com/mobile/overview.html
Over and over, Bible “purists” moan and groan about new movie versions of the old stories. It seems that if the remakes don’t replicate John Huston leading cute zoo animals to the ark or Charlton Heston in majestic tableau over the Red Sea, it is unacceptable. The fact is even these movies took liberties with scripture. Do you really think DeMille’s love triangle between Moses, Nefretiri and Ramses was in the Bible? Even DeMille used Josephus and the Midrash. Arononfsky’s NOAH drew upon Midrash, and the art of Gustave Dore. NOAH’s rock creatures were based on the Nephulum, the light spirit protectors, found in Jewish folklore of the NOAH story. A movie has to flesh out a narrative to make entertainment. I don’t get the nitpicking if it captures the essence of the story and starts a conversation. And for the record, God WAS present in NOAH. Not just in the 1950’s sort of way.
Christian Bale is correct. Moses is schizophrenic. He talks to a burning bush. Thanks to the awesome work of Dr. James Harris of Bringham Young University, it is now 100% confirmed that YHWH (“Yahweh”) is a snäke god. Actually, YHWH is a snäke god (Ea or Yah) and a tree goddess (Hawah or Asherah). They are Arabian fertility gods.
YHWH is the snäke of the Tree of Life or snäke-pole or caduceus. This is the rod of Moses and the brass idol he asked Hebrews to worship. Their symbol is the yin-yang Menorah. The base of the menorah is a snäke head and forked tongue. The tree branches are Asherah’s hot “bush,” tongued by Yah. This has been confirmed through inscriptions in the Negev desert and pottery during Moses’ time. The fellatio symbol or menorah is YHWH through proto-Canaanite or Old Negev script.
Yah is also a barbäric snäke since he has sëx with his mother, half-sister, daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter, just as Abraham has sëx with his half-sister Sarah. Abraham’s nephew Lot also has sëx with his daughters but the Bible considers him to be righteous. Abraham also has sëx with his maid Hagar, just like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, so everyone remembers him as Conan the Barbärian. Moses also saved 32,000 virg|n girls as plunder for the Hebrews after ki||ing thousands of their men.
Read http://tiny.cc/yahweh
Thanks for your comments. The main flaw with it is that the manuscripts of the Bible do not say this, nor will you find any Hebrew religious temples or schools that teach any of this. So it is has no credibility in any academic or religious circle. So I fail to see how Dr. Harris “confirmed” his snake-god theory. There is no support for it. -B&E
‘When you talk to God, it’s called prayer. When God talks to you, it’s called schizophrenia…’, according to ‘modern’ phsychiatrists. As for the sins of people in the bible, yes! Samson had illicit sex, so did king david. Apostle peter denied Christ 3 times in front of a teenage slave girl: ‘i don’t know the man’… That only proves that they were human, like all of us! But they REPENTED: ‘God, i’m sorry!!’ Unlike judas and God’s most glorious Angel- lucifer, who destroyed themselves, because they didn’t know the word ‘SORRY’… Only God is sinless, (and the gurus and their ‘new age’ followers… who believe they are gods incarnate…). Contact me: [email protected]
Thanks for the info I rather read the Bible.. Too bad that the movie could have of been powerful if the movie directors spoke the truth… Thank you!!!
Would like to make a comment concerning the prophecy you mention regarding the birth of Moses. Josephus does indeed record that a prophecy was told to the King by one of the “sacred scribes” (Antiquities of the Jews, 2.9. 2). However, your article seems to imply that Josephus said the name of the prophet was Nun, which is not the case. Josephus does not mention the name of the “sacred scribe.” The scribe foretells to the king that an Israelite would be born at this time, and he would bring the “Egyptian dominion low.”
What you fail to mention in your article which is critical to the historical story, and the connection the movie makes, is that the reason the king of Egypt has the Hebrew baby boys killed is due to this prophecy. You make the point in your article of how Moses is uniquely compared to Jesus, yet you have missed (and most Christians as well) a Huge piece of the story. Or have failed to tell it if you know it.
BTW, according to the ancient book of Jasher, it was Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, who prophesied, “behold a son will be born unto us from my father and mother this time, and he will save Israel from the hands of Egypt.” ( Jasher 68:1)
How rich our heritage if we are willing to learn.
Lmao “jesus looks like rambo” thats funny ra. Anyway “Exodus: Gods And Kings is not faithful to the Biblical account” was the first thing that caught my attention… like any of you know how exodus really went down, if at all. The bible is a fairy tale… should be found in books stores under “fiction”. It should not be considered a “history” book in any sense. There are NO other history books with talking burning bushes or magicians turning water into wine or zombies returning from the grave 3 days after they were killed… how is this book even feasible as truth?!
So I guess you just turn a blind eye to all of the Bible’s archaeological and historical evidence and call it a fairy tale. You faith is strong my friend. It takes a ton more faith to be an atheist than a Christian.
Hello everybody.
I’m just some random guy from Germany and please excuse my rusty English,
but – all thanks to God, of course – I have learned something recently.
And I thought I might as well share it with someone; I hope you don’t mind.
Well, I have certainly noticed the recent amount of so-called “Bible movies”
and I, too, had once been at a point at which I thought about things like
“I wonder how much they have lied and what they’ve made up” when it came to
such flicks.
However, that was then. And now is now and now – and again, as I’ve said,
all thanks to God – I’m fully aware of the fact that those kind of (and
similiar) questions shouldn’t even remotely exist to begin with.
Way, way before there are already several way more basic questions and
their related answers which are so significant that they’re directly ruling
out any possibility of additional and/or subsequent “problems” (as seen above).
Example:
Which has a – very, very likely, if not to say “definitely” – better possible
outcome, in terms of a positive fruit:
1. Investing 90 minutes in watching a movie (or whatever “visual entertainment”)
or
2. Investing 90 minutes in trying to help someone (with/because whatever)
I’m sure the answer is commonly known and as obvious.
The same goes for
What is better:
1. To spend amount x of money for a cinema ticket/optical media/bla
or
2. To spend the same amount x of money to buy something someone is in need of
Bingo. The answer is crystal clear.
And while there are more where they came from, here’s the big one:
Exodus 20:4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing
that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth:
And for the record, please notice that weight on “not” and “any”.
So…did those movies feature one or more – any – image of any likeness of
any thing such as mentioned in Exodus 20:4 ?
You bet your “christmas tree” or just one of your socks (even that dirty one).
Basically, when it comes to all this, all you need to do is to ask yourself
one (or a few) most basic, most simple question(s) and ta-daa, a few minutes
later, you should KNOW that watching ANY movie/”entertainment” is out of any
question; not an option, respectively.
Please do think about it.
Thanks for reading/your time,
some random guy from Germany.
PS: From time to time & most unfortunately, I am also still guilty when it
comes to wasting valuable time for the consumption of “entertainment media”.
But that’s another story.
@B + E – I have a question about free will. How could Judas have had free will if Jesus prophesized that Judas would betray him? And how can the anti-christ have free will when the Bible already prophesizes what he’s going to do?
Did he not do these things by his own will?
He does say:
Matthew 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
He did it of his own free will. Just because something is foreknown it is not a hindrance to free will.
Summergirl,
First off, Merry Christmas! I believe that Soldado Christiano made the appropriate point of noting that in spite of the fact that Judas’ behavior was foretold, it doesn’t absolve him of guilt for his behavior. Even take Pharaoh of Egypt and how he responded to GOD’s ultimatum to let HIS people go. It was his (pharaoh’s) pride that caused his fall and destruction. Rather than yielding to GOD Almighty, pharaoh believed that he, himself, was a god and could do what he wanted. He suffered the consequences. Now contrast that to Abraham, who obeyed GOD when spoke to him to leave his family and go to a land that HE would later show Abraham (Abram at the time – Genesis 12:1-3). Or even contrast Judas who betrayed JESUS to Saul, who initially persecuted the church/JESUS people but when confronted by GOD, he repented and went where GOD led him (Acts 9:1-30). We all have free choice, irregardless of GOD’s foreknowledge of our actions. Either we will choose to obey GOD when confronted with HIS presence or authority or we will ignore/disobey HIM and declare ourselves GOD. With choice, not just power, comes responsibility. So the question is, what will you do with HIS SON? Will you submit like Saul and glorify GOD (name change not required) or will you assert your authority and find yourself lacking in HIS sight (John 3:16-18, 36; Galatians 3:10-12; Exodus 20:1-17; Hebrews 9:27-28; 1 Peter 2:24). Again, be blessed and Merry Christmas.
Bye 4 now,
Ben
Sorry, but I forgot to note that pharaoh, during the time of Moses, had his story told in Exodus 2-14. Again, be blessed (in which I mean come to know fulfillment and not temporary happiness through believing and saving faith in) in JESUS.
Bye 4 Now,
Ben
Merry Christmas and thanks for the replies. But I still don’t get it.
I feel like because it was foretold, and I know that God can’t lie, that means it was inevitable.
Hi Summergirl,
This piece of scripture should help clear the air.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Acts 2:22-23 (KJV)
Here, Peter addresses this issue. Jesus’ death occurred as a result of the plan and foreknowledge of God. But it was the free, (and sinful) acts of human beings that executed that plan. Just because God already knows what your going to eat for breakfast, doesn’t mean you don’t have the free will to choose between a bagel or a piece of toast, He just knows what your going to choose. It’s pretty simple actually. 668 prophecies in scripture have come true, with still more to go! But in the end, you decide your fate and where you’ll spend eternity. Trust in Jesus! I pray this helps.
Oh I understand…I guess. Thanks.
Hi Summergirl,
Thanks for your question. The book of John reveals the true nature of Judas:
Judas never believed in Jesus. He was evil. He was a fake Christian carrying out false religion. In addition, he was a thief. He dishonored Jesus by objecting to Mary’s worship of Him. And only did so because he wanted to steal the money for himself. Someone with such a low moral character does not need to be forced to betray someone. Judas’ decision was in line with his corrupt heart. He was in it for himself from the beginning. The only thing leading him to betray The Lord was his own sinful ways, not God. Jesus was just able to predict the betrayal because He is all-knowing.
God knows every event that will take place in human history:
What we have to do is separate The Lord’s omniscience from our own free will. Just because The Lord knows you are going to do something, does not mean that you did not choose to do it on your own. The easiest analogy that comes to mind is parenting. Many parents know in advance with 100% confidence certain situations where their children are going to do something wrong. Something they specifically told that child not to do. And if the child does this bad thing, is it no longer free will? Of course not. The parent just knows the child and can predict the choices she is going to make. God’s knowledge goes beyond that. He knows us and knows the entire future. That does not change the fact that we are making our own decisions and responsible for our own actions.
And truly, we are all in the same situation as sinners. We are the disobedient children that God knew would violate His Holy Word. This is why Jesus Christ is called “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8). The plan of redemption through Christ was established before humanity was even created. Christ knew you would sin and chose to die for you. He knew the same for me. But certainly, I would never say I was forced to commit the many, many sins I have in my lifetime. Just as no one forced me to repent and believe in salvation by grace through faith in Christ. And God knew I would do that as well and be forgiven. I hope that helps. But if you have any further questions please feel free to ask. God bless. -B&E
Ok. Thanks for the explanation.
God made all vessels some for glory others for destruction. Of course someone had to kill the messiah therefore god had to make that someone to exist. God had to enslave Israel according to the Deut. curses, , when they sinned, so god had to create oppressors for that purpose. If god did not fully intervene how could any of his plans come to fruition? The vessel cannot ask why it was created in this or that manner. We are all just vessels to god’s use as he desires, that is why no one can save themselves but need grace. That grace is received by faith and that faith is a gift meaning only those gifted with that faith shall believe and the rest of the vessels are meant for destruction. The more reason why you cannot boast about your belief but need to hold on till the end. Someone might say why do you need to hold on till the end if you are predestined to be saved. The answer is salvation is not at the beginning but at the end of life.. During your lifetime you walk and at the end of life you are saved if you held on. A person who believes and does not hold till the end also is counted among vessels for destruction.
“Ez 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Dear B&E -Thank you so much for what you are doing,by carefully looking through movies so called “Biblical ” I was planning on watching it with my family this Christmas, but know I won’t thanks to you, next I’ll be more aware and also check your blog for new Christian movies because I have No intentions of supporting such heresy! GOD BLESS YOU!
It’s really very difficult in this active life to
listen news on TV, thus I simply use internet for that reason, and take the latest
news.
More hollywood lies. Let the Wolfman make a movie about the Bible i will keep it accurate as it should be. Seriously, fund me, I am a genius.
B and E excellent response about Judas
I am tired of society proping him up like
an unsung misguided hero who had no chance in the matter
no matter what he did
stole, denied Christ worship
and of course the betrayal of my Lord
before He took that suicide swing from the tree
He could have repented .
Dude had something we as today’s Christians would give anything for
HE GOT TO SEE MY LORD JESUS IN THE FLESH !!!
be around Him , hear the majesty and truth in His voice
but he didn’t believe .. and that was his own peril
quick question B and E
was Judas the only person in scripture that Satan entered ??
I know other demons got into folks ( Legion/ slave girl rebuked by Paul etc. )
Mainstream historical consensus
Despite being regarded in Judaism as the primary factual historical narrative of the origin of the religion, culture and ethnicity, Exodus is now accepted by scholars as having been compiled in the 8th–7th centuries BCE from stories dating possibly as far back as the 13th century BCE, with further polishing in the 6th–5th centuries BCE, as a theological and political manifesto to unite the Israelites in the then‐current battle for territory against Egypt.[2]
Archaeologists from the 19th century onward were actually surprised not to find any evidence whatsoever for the events of Exodus. By the 1970s, archaeologists had largely given up regarding the Bible as any use at all as a field guide.
The archaeological evidence of local Canaanite, rather than Egyptian, origins of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel is “overwhelming,” and leaves “no room for an Exodus from Egypt or a 40‐year pilgrimage through the Sinai wilderness.”[3] The culture of the earliest Israelite settlements is Canaanite, their cult objects are of the Canaanite god El, the pottery is in the local Canaanite tradition, and the alphabet is early Canaanite. Almost the sole marker distinguishing Israelite villages from Canaanite sites is an absence of pig bones.
It is considered possible that those Canaanites who started regarding themselves as the Israelites were joined or led by a small group of Semites from Egypt, possibly the Hyksos people, possibly carrying stories that made it into Exodus. As the tribe expanded, they may have begun to clash with neighbors, perhaps sparking the tales of conflict in Joshua and Judges.
William Dever, an archaeologist normally associated with the more conservative end of Syro-Palestinian archaeology, has labeled the question of the historicity of Exodus “dead.” Israeli archaeologist Ze’ev Herzog provides the current consensus view on the historicity of the Exodus: “The Israelites never were in Egypt. They never came from abroad. This whole chain is broken. It is not a historical one. It is a later legendary reconstruction—made in the seventh century [BCE]—of a history that never happened.”[4]
Hi Neo,
You know, maybe you should read this article, ( https://beginningandend.com/did-the-exodus-really-happen-historical-evidence-of-the-exodus/ ) before copying and pasting from “Rational Wiki” ( http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Evidence_for_the_Exodus ) to decide whether or not there’s evidence for the Exodus. It’s amazing to me that you’ve made up your mind concerning the Exodus based on reading 3 paragraphs from a Wiki website. Read B&E’s other article I’ve posted and see all the evidence that points to the Exodus as a real event. Oh by the way, these “mainstream scientists” that claim this historical consensus are the same people who say aliens seeded life on Earth! Do you believe that too? And don’t tell me yes because you’ve watched Ancient Aliens on the History channel. God’s work is in scripture and all throughout history for us to see. Don’t deny your Creator.
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
Isaiah 29:16 (KJV)
Bore da/Good Morning and Hi
Hi B and E
In your blog Exodus: Gods and Kings, you outright dismiss Ramesses II as the Pharaoh of the Moses story, as I find that strange. For on the life of Moses, there are three schools of thought, the Rabbinical calculations on his lifespan corresponds to 1391-1271 BCE [Seder Olam Rabbah (The Great Order of the World, a 2nd century Hebrew chronicle)]; Jerome gives a date of 1592 BCE for the birth of Moses [Jerome’s chronicum]; and Ussher 1571 BCE as the year of his birth.[Ussher’s chronology] The Rabbinical calculation is for a Pharaoh of the late 18th or early 19th dynasty, which includes the Pharaoh’s Ramesses I (1292-90 BCE), Seti (1290-79 BCE), Ramesses II (1279-13 BCE). Both Jerome’s and Ussher’s dates are for a Pharaoh of the 17th dynasty. As you can see the dates for Ramesses II or his father SetI, or his grandfather Ramesses I, are all contenders for the Pharaoh of the biblical story of Exodus. So the writer for the film “Exodus: Gods and Kings” used probably the truer Rabbinical calculations of Moses’ life (Moses although Egyptian by birth, was from Hebrew stock, and the Jews have been calculating dates of their prophets longer than Christians have, and not forgetting that the Christians adopted the Jewish scriptures). However, that is not to say that there was a prophet called Moses. The existence of Moses as well as the veracity of the Exodus story are disputed among archaeologists and Egyptologists, with experts in the field of biblical criticism citing logical inconsistencies, new archaeological evidence, historical evidence, and related origin myths in Canaanite culture.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#cite_note-4/5/6] I have used the Wikipedia citation for ease for the commentators to peruse, as the books in question are not readily available unless one has the facility of a university library, however, this citation in notes 4,5 and 6 are available for all to see.
Cofion (regards)
Jero Jones, Mab Cymru
All the foregoing is pedantic rubbish – this film is as accurate as most storybooks written to introduce children AND adults to the Bible. As devout Christians with extensive Bible knowledge we really enjoyed the film – sure there were ‘obvious’ inaccuracies – this is film ! But the point is films like this get people talking and from this a latent interest in Christianity can be awakened. Fr example – during all the furore about Noah (which I haven’t seen !) I ended up buying it as a remaindered DVD; the girl behind the counter told me she had to leave the cinema before the end of the film but had enjoyed what she saw and wondered where ‘they get these stories from’ She didn’t even know what the Bible is ! So at least watching a blockbuster film led to a chat with me who told her about the Bible; that it is not full of ‘stories’ but of truth and that it could change her life. She decided to get a copy on her way home from work. So (as in most things in life) God works in some very mysterious ways ! We found the film pretty accurate and extremely enjoyable – some of the effects made some extremely important points . No wonder the Church is in the state it is in with all this dancing on a head of a pin nonsense ! And as for filming with Caucasians – actors are who and what they are; a director will go with who is best and available for a role; if this is unacceptable I just don’t see it, yet I am totally in favour of equality and integration. I wish I hadn’t found this site while looking for something else !
Pedantic rubbish…interesting. So, how much Hollywood rubbish do we allow our intelligence to be insulted by before we are no longer considered as being overly pedantic?
For me, to accept the God of Israel as a 10 year old kid…and you can give them a pass?…Really? I have never seen Him portrayed that way. That is in-your-face arrogance. Did you bother to share the truth with this girl before she read the story in the Bible to find out that Moses did not sit down with a 10 year old in a cave and use a little chisel to carve out the 10 commandments?
Let the non-believers go watch this insult. Wait outside and then take another two hours to tell them the truth. Cecil B. DeMille had no problem getting it right.
The special effects would and could have been incredible if they had based the movie on the real story. That alone was an insult to me….the special effects in this make-believe movie basically were what you would expect in a low budget film. Think about it…instead of a blazing burning bush, they had Moses laying on his back while a little kid stood by a twig that looked like a little birthday candle burning. Ouch! Take that you stupid people who read your Bibles. Yep! Just call me pedantic.
https://youtu.be/WkjgJq8ti_Y
Matt5:22
.. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Raca = vain, empty, worthless
“I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation.” (Psalm 40:10)
You did not “judge”(properly separate) my words correctly. I referred to the movie producers as being “arrogant” and I was also making a sarcastic statement toward the movie producers when I said “stupid people”. It is the producers who were “arrogant” and “stupid” to insult believers with this movie. Anger at the producers is justified, as the Psalmist proclaimed.
BTW, the word for judgement does not necessarily mean condemnation: krínō means to separate, that is to come to a decision that can be either positive or negative. separating the grain from the chaff.
Judgement with the believer is the separation of the chaff from the grain. The chaff is hard and collects poison that is harmful to the grain. Judgement for believers is a separation, not a condemnation. This is why Peter can write, “it is time for judgement to begin with the household of God.” (1 Peter 4:17)
Read Isaiah 28:26-29, this is the description of God’s righteous judgement concerning His people.It is compared to threshing, not punishment or condemnation.
This is a realy bad movie.
1) Son of God had some real BAD interpretations.
2) Noah (2014) does not even qualify for very bad movie, it is exceedingly very bad and completely deprived from any truth.
3) Exodus is just another really, really BAD movie.
Why is it then that the movies are made so far from the truth?
IS IT DELIBERATE?
In John14:23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Are you keeping Gods word?
You do not have to believe right now, but read the book (bible).
It is better then any other book that was ever written.
It will change your life forever.
Waist no more time watching bad movies or listening to peoples opinions.
You know an opinion is like an under arm “It only stinks when it is raised”.
So read the truth and receive so much more.
The article started out good, until the writer began mixing the words “Hebrew” with “Jew/Jewish.” There is nothing “Jewish” about the ancient Israelites. Read the Bible. First time the term “Jew” is mentioned in the Bible, is in 2 Kings 16:6, and this happened long after the Israelites took over Canaan, established a kingdom, which eventually split into two separate kingdoms.
2 Kings 16:6 At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the JEWS from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day
Just because a bunch of white Europeans, practicing occult arts and mystical teachings, calling themselves Jews, decided in 1948 to invade Palestine and rename it Israel, that don’t make them Israelites, nor true Jews (of the Kingdom of Judah).
Christians need to get off this Zionazi propaganda and actually believe what the Bible teaches about the subject, especially in the New Testament, which is the “better” testament.
Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a BETTER TESTAMENT.
And I must agree, the ancient Israelites most likely were darker skinned people, much like the ancient Egyptians. Let’s not forget, even their patriarch, Abraham, was a Babylonian, from Ur of the Chaldees. I don’t think the land of the Chaldees is a country in Europe.