What is the biblical date for the exodus? This article is a critical response to an earlier article by Bryant Wood who argued for an early dating of the exodus. Hoffmeier is convinced that the 13th century date is equally based on biblical evidence. He, therefore, offers a modest critique of some aspects of Wood’s apology for the 15th century. The discussion is placed within the context of the mainstream scholarship regarding the Israelite exodus from Egypt.

The average American family today consists of 2.63 people; the average Israelite household would have consisted of 50 to 100 people. Jacob's household included about 70 people. The modern "Western" notion of family is more narrow, individualistic, private, and exclusive than the biblical view.