Thutmose III (Egypt)

Thutmose III was one of Egypt’s greatest warrior pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty. He expanded Egyptian power deep into Canaan and Syria, making Egypt the dominant empire over the Levant. Because of his long reign, military power, and strong control over Canaan, some early-date Exodus theories place the Israelite oppression or the background of the Exodus during his reign.

Theory connection to Exodus: Supporters of an early Exodus date often use 1 Kings 6:1, which says Solomon began building the Temple 480 years after the Exodus. If Solomon’s Temple is placed around the mid-10th century before the common count, this points to an Exodus around −1446. In that model, Thutmose III is sometimes identified as the pharaoh of the oppression, while his successor Amenhotep II is identified as the pharaoh of the Exodus. Some versions instead consider Thutmose III himself as a possible Exodus pharaoh, but the more common early-date model puts him before the Exodus event.