Filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici doesn’t see Exodus as biblical allegory, but actual historical truth. He’s spent six years researching many of the brilliant narratives in the text — such as The Plague Series and The Parting of the Red Sea — and believes he’s found real-world explanations to confirm the veracity of each story. His discoveries form the backbone of the feature-length documentary Exodus Declassified, a controversial and complex work of history that draws on the inquiring expertise of scholars, archaeologists, and theologians of all stripes.
For many viewers, this film can open up new perspectives on the Old Testament. Jacobovici’s research and subsequent conclusions required a timeline shift. He claimed that the Exodus occurred 300 years earlier than is generally believed. The event was triggered by a massive volcanic eruption, which in turn produced intense seismic activity that shrouded the land in darkness, created disturbances that resembled miraculously separated oceans, and were toxic due to its proximity to the ground. The substance kills the nascent male smoke.
That’s not all. The coveted lost Ark of the Covenant is located at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece, Jacobovich claims. He claimed that the Israelites were actually made up of the Hyksos tribe that ruled at the time.
The filmmaker draws on the expertise of various researchers from multiple disciplines. While these experts don’t necessarily agree on the same narrative, they often provide a provocative thread that Jacobovici would use to develop his own theory of investigation.
Throughout the film, the central question remains whether the story of Exodus is the result of natural events or the work of divine forces.
Produced by Oscar-winning director James Cameron (Titanic), Decoded Exodus features outstanding production values, including rich visual animation and special effects that bring to life the most dazzling aspects of biblical lore. The film was criticized by academics and others who questioned the film’s theory and the research methods used in its making. Still, for those interested in the authenticity of biblical texts, the movie should spark a lot of constructive discussion and debate.
Directed by: Simcha Jacobovici
