Countless theories exist about the identity of the pharaoh of the exodus

Identifying the pharaoh during the exodus has been a prolonged challenge that has engaged scholars, archaeologists, and historians for centuries. Several theories have been proposed, with various experts believing it could be pharaohs like Pepi I, Ramesses II, Nechotud, Amenhotep II, among others. The exodus is generally placed within Egypt's New Kingdom period around the 15th century BCE, coinciding with events described in the biblical accounts. The reign of the previous pharaohs, their characteristics, actions, and interrelations often come into scrutiny to pinpoint the possible exodus pharaoh. The biblical timeline places the exodus in the 15th century BCE, within the Thutmose dynasty, further narrowing the search. Thutmose IV stands out with cruel edicts against infants, resembling the biblical account of the pharaoh, ordering Hebrew male children's deaths. The subsequent pharaohs, like Thutmose, are known for expansion projects and potential role in Israel's oppression, Thutmose II, with similar brutal commands as described in Exodus, and Hatshepsut, depicted as a royal daughter with a peaceful reign, but later obscured by the next ruler, are under scrutiny. Thutmose III, with an extensive reign, precedes Amenhotep II, who imported a significant number of Levantine captives during his military campaigns, further intersecting with the exodus narrative. Amenhotep II's actions indicate a considerable number of slaves taken from the Levant, aligning with the biblical story of Israel's enslavement. These in-depth examinations of historical evidence and biblical accounts provide potential insights into the elusive identity of the pharaoh of the exodus.