Final answer:
The Egyptian pharaoh during the proposed “early date” of the Exodus is believed by some to be Thutmose III, while others propose his son Amenhotep II; Pharaoh Ramesses II is commonly associated with the later date of the Exodus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Egyptian Pharaoh During the Early Date of the Exodus
The proposed “early date” of the Exodus typically refers to a time in the 15th century BCE, during which some scholars suggest that the biblical Exodus could have taken place. When we consider the pharaohs who ruled during that period in Egypt, one significant ruler who stands out is Thutmose III, who ascended the throne after the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut.
Thutmose III's rule marked a return to traditional Egyptian polytheism after Hatshepsut's progressive reign and could coincide with the timeframe of the early date Exodus hypothesis. While Pharaoh Ramesses II is often associated with the Exodus due to his well-known building projects, including the city of Pi-Ramesses which matches the biblical city of Ramses, his reign is generally aligned with the “late date” of the Exodus in the 13th century BCE, a theory more widely accepted among scholars.
Moreover, Pharaoh Amenhotep II, son of Thutmose III, is another potential candidate for the pharaoh of the Exodus according to some sources, due to his military campaigns and timeline. Despite the challenges in identifying the precise pharaoh of this biblical event, because the evidence is mostly circumstantial and the event's historicity is debated, Thutmose III and Amenhotep II serve as plausible figures for the “early date” Exodus scenario.