Gary A. Byers<\/b><\/p>\n
The main route between Canaan and Egypt was along the northern coast of Sinai. A number of Biblical figures no doubt traveled this road. Known to the Egyptians as \u201cthe Way of Horus,\u201d and in the Bible as \u201cthe road through the Philistine country\u201d (Ex 13:17), it ended in the eastern delta in the Goshen region. This is the part of Egypt where most Biblical characters lived and Biblical events took place.<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 2<\/p>\n
Michael Luddeni<\/p>\n
Pyramid development. They started from a flattop rectangular mud-brick tomb, called a mastaba<\/i> (Arabic for \u201cbench\u201d). The first pyramid (left) was a series of six increasingly smaller mastabas<\/i>, one on top of the other. The famous builder Imhotep constructed the four-sided stone structure for Pharaoh Djoser (Third Dynasty; 27th century BC) at Saqqara. This stepped pyramid is the oldest freestanding stone structure in the world. From Djoser\u2019s stepped pyramid came the first real pyramid with four smoothed flat sides, constructed by Pharaoh Sneferu (Fourth Dynasty; 27th century BC) at Dahshur (center). Unfortunately, his builders were forced to correct the slope half way up, and it is known today as the Bent Pyramid. A later Sneferu pyramid at Dahshur, known today as the Red Pyramid because of the reddish color of the local limestone that was used in its construction, was perfectly constructed and is generally recognized as the first true pyramid (right). Contrary to popular opinion, none of Egypt\u2019s royal pyramids were constructed by Israelite slaves. Instead, known archaeological evidence suggests they were constructed by professional builders who lived in nearby villages and spent their lives working on the project.<\/b><\/p>\n
Pyramid of 12th Dynasty Pharaoh Sesostris II at El-Lahun in Lower Egypt. This was possibly the Pharaoh under whom Joseph rose to the position of vizier in Egypt. Although a Middle Kingdom Pharaonic tomb, it was much smaller than the Old Kingdom pyramids at Giza. Sesostris II\u2019s pyramid was constructed of a mud-brick core with a limestone casing. All that remains today is the mud-brick core, as the casing was stripped away long ago by locals for building material.<\/b><\/p>\n
Insert: Uraeus<\/i> worn by Sesostris II. Discovered in Sesostris II\u2019s pyramid by W.M. Flinders Petrie in 1920, it had been left behind by tomb robbers. The term uraeus<\/i> is derived from the Greek transcription of Egyptian iaret<\/i>, the cobra with its hood dilated ready to strike. An emblem of royalty, the reptile was applied to crowns to protect the king from evil with its poison. Sesostris II\u2019s uraeus<\/i> is made of solid gold, with a head of lapis lazuli, and its body contains lapis lazuli, feldspar and carnelian. It is on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.<\/b><\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 3<\/p>\n
Abraham<\/b><\/p>\n
Abraham came to Egypt during the 21st century BC, at the end of the First Intermediate Period (Gn 12:10; 13:1). The 11th Dynasty based in Thebes was just gaining power in the south and would ultimately control all of Egypt. So the Pharaoh that Abraham met (Gn 12:15\u201320) may have been a northern leader who took the title, or an early king from the Theban dynasty. Presumably, their encounter took place in the delta area.<\/p>\n
While in this region, Abraham probably saw the Giza pyramids on the Nile\u2019s west bank. Giza is the northern-most and most famous of the Old Kingdom royal cemeteries in the delta region, including Meidum, Dahshur, Saqqara and Abusir. They were located near Memphis, the national capital at that time. While the most famous and largest pyramids are at Giza (Fourth Dynasty; 27th-26th century BC), the first was a four-sided stepped stone construction built by Pharaoh Djoser (Third Dynasty; 27th century BC) at Saqqara. Pharaoh Sneferu (Fourth Dynasty; 25th century BC) constructed the earliest smooth-sided pyramid in the form we know today at Dahshur.<\/p>\n
Joseph<\/b><\/p>\n
The Midianites would have brought Joseph to Egypt by way of the Horus Road (Gn 37:28; 39:1). Once in Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar, a high Egyptian official, and apparently worked as a slave on Potiphar\u2019s estate in the delta (Gn 39:1, 2). Interestingly, Egyptian history indicates that slavery first appeared at this very time period (Aling 2002: 35\u201337).<\/p>\n
Egypt\u2019s 12th Dynasty (ca. 1991\u20131786 BC) built a new capital city in Upper Egypt\u2019s northern extremity, close to the delta. From here they could more effectively administrate and access their eastern frontier (Leprohon 1992: 345\u201346). Called itj-tawy<\/i>, it was probably located near the capital\u2019s royal necropolis at el-Lahun, at the entrance to the Faiyum, a large fertile area west of the Nile. The actual site is unknown today (Ray 2004: 40). Here was constructed the pyramid of 12th Dynasty Pharaoh Sesostris II (ca. 1897\u20131877 BC). Biblical dating suggests this was the Pharaoh under whom Joseph rose to the position of vizier in Egypt (Gn 45:8). As the most powerful man in the kingdom, Joseph would have visited and even had authority over construction of this pyramid. In fact, Joseph may have supervised Pharaoh\u2019s burial here.<\/p>\n
Joseph most likely served under Sesostris II\u2019s son, Sesostris III (ca.1878\u20131843 BC), during the years of famine. Sesostris III\u2019s own pyramid tomb at Dahshur (northern Upper Egypt) also would have been a major responsibility for Joseph. Since documents mention later viziers during Sesostris III\u2019s reign, Joseph probably went into honorable retirement in the delta\u2019s Goshen region shortly after the years of famine.<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 4<\/p>\n
The earliest remains of Asiatics at Tell el-Daba included houses and tombs (12th Dynasty, mid-19th century BC). Called Rowaty (\u201cthe door of the two roads\u201d) at that time, this Asiatic settlement was probably Rameses (Gn 47:11, 27; a later name for the same site) where Jacob and his family settled in Goshen. One particular house and tomb excavated there may actually be Joseph\u2019s. Directly above that was found a later and larger early Hyksos palace (13th Dynasty). It was probably the first Hyksos Pharaoh, \u201cwho did not know about Joseph\u201d (Ex 1:8), that pressed the Israelites into slavery and had them build the store city of Rameses (Ex 1:11; a later name for this Hyksos city). (Based on Fig. 7 in Avaris: The Capital of the Hyksos<\/i>, by Manfred Bietak [London: British Museum, 1996].)<\/b><\/p>\n
Recent excavations in the eastern Nile delta may have actually identified the location of Joseph\u2019s residence in retirement, and even his tomb. At a site known as Tell el-Daba today, the Rameses of the Old Testament, extensive excavations have been carried out under the direction of Manfred Bietak of the Austrian Archaeological Institute, Cairo, since 1966. This site was strategically located at the eastern starting point to the Horus Road to Canaan and along the Nile\u2019s easternmost branch, the Pelusiac. That may explain its name, Rowaty (\u201cthe door of the two roads\u201d) in the days of Joseph and Jacob. The site has evidence for Asiatics as early as the mid-12th Dynasty (mid-19th century BC), the general period when Jacob entered Egypt. It was an unfortified rural settlement, although numerous enclosure walls probably kept animals. Living quarters consisted of rectangular huts built of sand bricks (Wood 1997: 55).<\/p>\n
Not all residents of Tell el-Daba\u2019s first Asiatic settlement lived in huts. One, evidently an important official, lived in a small villa. While the Bible tells us that Joseph was given the title \u201cRuler of all Egypt\u201d (Hebrew) or vizier, it does not mention where he lived while serving in the Egyptian bureaucracy. It seems logical that after he discharged his duties associated with the famine, he would have moved to Rowaty to be near his father and brothers. It is possible the villa in Rowaty and the surrounding semi-circle of poorer two-room houses are the homes of Joseph and his brothers (Wood 1997: 56).<\/p>\n
A cemetery with artifacts that connected it to the houses was also excavated in the open space to the southwest. One of the tombs was monumental in construction and totally unique in finds. Inside were found stone fragments of a colossal statue of a man who was clearly Asiatic, based on the yellow painted skin, the red-painted mushroom-shaped hairstyle and a throwstick on his right shoulder (the hieroglyph for foreigner). The statue had been intentionally broken in antiquity.<\/p>\n
While the other tombs nearby had intact skeletons, the only finds in the monumental tomb were fragments of an inscribed limestone sarcophagus and a few bone fragments. The body was gone! While it was common to plunder tombs in ancient Egypt, the bodies were usually not taken. Could this be the tomb of Joseph, from which he commanded his bones to be carried back to Canaan (Gn 50:25; Ex 13:19)? Without an inscription, it cannot be proven; but this site suggests the first material evidence of Israelites in Egypt. It is the right culture in the right place at the right time (see Wood 1997: 56\u201358).<\/p>\n
Hyksos<\/b><\/p>\n
The town known as Rowaty, where Joseph and his family probably lived, had its name changed to Avaris toward the end of the 18th century BC. This was during Egypt\u2019s 14th Dynasty and the new name meant \u201cthe (royal) foundation of the district.\u201d Same site, different era, different name\u2014Avaris would continue to be the site\u2019s name even through the period of the Hyksos (Wood 2004: 45).<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 5<\/p>\n
The other store city of Pharaoh built by the Israelites was Pithom (Ex 1:11). Scholars differ on the modern location of this ancient site, but the two leading candidates are Tell el-Maskhuta and Tell el-Retabah, about 9 mi apart in the Wadi Tumilat at the southern edge of Goshen. While the question is not settled yet, the best choice appears to be Retabah; Maskhuta may well have been Succoth (Ex 12:37; 13:20). ( W.M Flinders Petrie, Hyksos and Israelite Cities<\/i> [London: British School of Archaeology in Egypt, 1906], PL. 35.)<\/b><\/p>\n
The Hyksos, whose hieroglyphic name meant \u201cforeign rulers,\u201d came into the Nile delta from southern Canaan and established a center of power at Avaris. Their leaders took the title of Pharaoh and ruled northern Egypt for 108 years (ca.1664\u20131555 BC). They have come to be known as Egypt\u2019s 15th Dynasty. Avaris was their capital and it became an important commercial center. The \u201cPharaoh that knew not Joseph\u201d (Gn 1:8) was probably the first Hyksos Pharaoh, and it was probably Hyksos Pharaohs who forced the Israelites to build the store cities of Pithom and Rameses (Ex 1:8\u201312).<\/p>\n
When the Egyptians, under the leadership of the 18th Dynasty\u2019s founder Amosis, drove out the Hyksos in the mid-16th century BC, they most likely changed the name of the city of Avaris. The new name was probably Peru-nefer, which meant \u201chappy journey\u201d (Wood 2004: 45). That would have been the name of the city during Moses\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
A royal palace complex from Moses\u2019 time (18th Dynasty; 15th century BC) was excavated at Izbet Helmi, a few hundred yards west of where the early Asiatic settlement had been found (mid-19th century BC). It was built in close proximity to the Nile River (the Pelusiac Branch), as the Bible indicates. Possibly called Peru-nefer during that period, it fits the time and place for the palace where Moses grew up and where he also later confronted Pharaoh to let his people go.(Reprinted by permission of the \u00d6sterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, from Manfred Bietak and Irene Forstner-M\u00fceller, Ausgrabungen im Palastbezirk von Avaris: Vorbericht Tell el-Dab\u2019a\/\u2019Ezbet Helmi Spring 2003, Egypt and the Levant<\/i> 13 [2003], p. 39.)<\/b><\/p>\n
Moses<\/b><\/p>\n
The Bible records the events of Moses\u2019 birth in Exodus 2, with the Israelites apparently still living in the delta\u2019s Goshen area. When Pharaoh\u2019s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, she found baby Moses (Ex 2:5). This daughter of Pharaoh may well have been Hatshepsut, who later became a Pharaoh herself (Hansen 2003). So, the Bible suggests that the royal family had a residence in Goshen where the Israelites lived (Ex 2:2\u201310). While the national capital for the 18th Dynasty Pharaohs was in Memphis 13 mi south of Cairo, after the Hyksos experience a royal presence would always have been seen as necessary for national security in the Nile\u2019s eastern delta.<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 6<\/p>\n
Pharaohs Who Ruled When Biblical Personages Were in Egypt<\/b><\/p>\n
Abraham<\/b> *<\/b><\/p>\n
First Intermediate Period (ca. 2190\u20132061 BC) ca. 2090 BC<\/b> Abraham entered Egypt to escape famine in Canaan and encounters a Pharaoh. This was during the First Intermediate Period, a time when rulers and their dates are not well known.<\/p>\n
Joseph and Jacob<\/b><\/p>\n
12th Dynasty<\/p>\n
Amenemhet II, ca. 1929\u20131895 BC<\/p>\n
ca. 1898 BC <\/b>Joseph enters Egypt at age 17 and is sold to Potipher<\/p>\n
Sesostris II. ca. 1897\u20131877 BC<\/p>\n
ca. 1885 BC <\/b>Pharaoh makes Joseph Administrator of the Royal Estates<\/p>\n
ca. 1876 BC <\/b>Jacob and his family enter Egypt and Jacob appears before Pharaoh<\/p>\n
Sesostris III. ca. 1878\u20131843 BC<\/p>\n
ca. 1859 BC <\/b>Jacob dies and Joseph obtains permission from Pharaoh to take Jacob\u2019s body to Canaan for burial in the family sepulcher at Hebron<\/p>\n
Amenemhet III. ca. 1843\u20131797 BC<\/p>\n
ca. 1805 BC <\/b>Joseph dies and is \u201cplaced in a coffin in Egypt\u201d<\/p>\n
Moses<\/b><\/p>\n
18th Dynasty<\/p>\n
Amenhotep I. ca. 1551\u20131524 BC<\/p>\n
ca.<\/b> 1530 BC<\/b> edict made by Pharaoh to kill all male Hebrew babies<\/p>\n
ca.<\/b> 1526 BC<\/b> Moses born<\/p>\n
* Dates for Abraham through Moses are based on an Exodus date of 1446 BC<\/p>\n
Tuthmosis I. ca. 1524\u20131518 BC; Tuthmosis II. 1518\u20131504 BC;<\/p>\n
Hatshepsut, ca. 1503\u20131483 BC: Tuthmosis III, ca. 1504\u20131450 BC<\/p>\n
ca.<\/b> 1526\u20131486 <\/b>BC Moses educated and lived in the royal court as the adopted son of Pharaoh\u2019s daughter<\/p>\n
ca. 1486\u20131446 BC <\/b>Moses flees to Midian to escape Pharaoh\u2019s punishment for killing an Egyptian taskmaster<\/p>\n
ca. 1483 BC <\/b>Hatshepsut, or ca. 1450 BC <\/b>Tuthmosis III, the Pharaoh who died while Moses was in Median<\/p>\n
Amenhotep IIA. ca. 1450\u20131446 BC**<\/p>\n
ca. 1446 BC <\/b>Pharaoh of the Exodus who died in the Yam Suph<\/i><\/p>\n
Jeroboam<\/b><\/p>\n
22nd Dynasty<\/p>\n
Sheshonq I. ca. 931\u2013910 BC, Biblical Shishak<\/p>\n
ca.<\/b> 931 BC<\/b> Jeroboam flees to Egypt to escape Solomon<\/p>\n
Jeremiah<\/b><\/p>\n
26th Dynasty<\/p>\n
Hophra (Greek Apries), ca. 589\u2013570 BC<\/p>\n
ca. 586 BC<\/b> Jeremiah flees to Egypt in the aftermath of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians<\/p>\n
Jesus<\/b><\/p>\n
Roman Era<\/p>\n
Augustus,30 BC-AD 41<\/p>\n
ca. 6\u20134 BC <\/b>Joseph and Mary flee to Egypt with the infant Jesus to escape Herod\u2019s Bethlehem death decree<\/p>\n
** For the possibility of both an Amenhotep IIA and an Amenhotep IIB, see William H. Shea, Amenhotep II as the Pharaoh of the Exodus, Bible and Spade<\/i> 16 (2003): 41-51.<\/p>\n
Bietak\u2019s excavation at Tell el-Daba uncovered a ten-acre royal citadel from the time of Moses at the village of Ezbet Helmi, just a few hundred yards west of the earlier Asiatic settlement. It was part of a new royal center established at the former Hyksos capital of Avaris. Located just south of where the Pelusiac branch of the Nile once flowed (the courses of the Nile branches, and the delta itself, have changed dramatically over the millennia), Bietak found two palaces that were in use during the time of Moses (early 18th Dynasty).<\/p>\n
The palace closest to the river (Palace F) was the smaller and probably doubled as a watchtower of the river and citadel. Just 100 ft (30m) from the river, it was constructed on a platform with a ramp leading to the entrance. Nearby were a middle class settlement, workshops, storage rooms and possibly a ritual complex (Wood 2004: 47).<\/p>\n
The main palace (Palace G), occupying over 3 acres, also had a ramp to the entrance, a bathing room at the entrance, a large open courtyard, a reception hall and private apartments for the royal family.<\/p>\n
The site is in the right area and at the right time to be the royal palace where Moses was raised (Ex 2:10; Acts 7:20\u201321) and where he confronted Pharaoh 11 times during the time of the Ten Plagues (Ex 4\u201312). If this is correct, then the site of Jacob\u2019s sojourn in Egypt (modern Tell el-Daba), the home and tomb of Joseph (modern Tell el-Daba) and the palace where Moses was raised and confronted Pharaoh before the Exodus (modern Ezbet Helmi) have all been excavated and are located within the same ancient complex.<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 7<\/p>\n
Reconstruction of the sun temple at Heliopolis. The base of a model of the temple at Heliopolis from the reign of Seti I (ca. 1291\u20131279 BC) was found in Egypt and is now in the Brooklyn Museum of Art. From the model, the staff at the Brooklyn Museum of Art was able to reconstruct the Heliopolis sun temple as seen in the photo. All that remains of the temple today is one lone obelisk, dedicated to the 12th Dynasty Pharaoh Sesostris I (ca. 1971\u20131928 BC); thus it would have been standing in Joseph\u2019s day. Other obelisks from Heliopolis have been sent to various cities as gifts, including New York, London and Rome. New York\u2019s obelisk was erected behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was originally commissioned by Tuthmosis III (ca. 1504\u20131450 BC), so was not at Heliopolis during Joseph\u2019s time.<\/b><\/p>\n
Rameses<\/b><\/p>\n
The Bible mentions that Jacob and his family settled in \u201cthe land of Rameses\u201d where they became property owners (Gn 47:11, 27). The Bible also mentions that the Israelites were used as slave labor to build the city of Rameses (Ex 1:11) and when they left Egypt after 430 years (Ex 12:40) they departed from Rameses (Ex 12:37). Apparently, most of the Israelites spent the years of the Egyptian Sojourn in and around Rameses.<\/p>\n
While the location of ancient Rameses had been in dispute for years, excavations at Tell el-Daba and surrounding villages in the Nile\u2019s eastern delta have demonstrated that the ancient city was located here. It sat on the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, giving access to the Mediterranean, and was the starting point of the Horus Road to the east. While its name changed throughout the centuries, the location along the Pelusiac and the Horus Road kept it a strategic site on Egypt\u2019s eastern border.<\/p>\n
The name Ramesses actually comes from a later period than the Israelite Sojourn. It was the name given by 19th Dynasty Pharaoh Rameses II (Rameses the Great, ca 1279\u20131212 BC) to the city he built a short distance northeast of ancient Rowaty\/Avaris\/Peru-nefer in the eastern Nile delta. Known as Pi-Rameses (\u201ccity of Rameses\u201d) to the Egyptians, it is located at the modern village of Qantir. Much of the ancient capital has been located by means of a magnetometer survey. The 13th century BC city covered more than 4 square mi (10 square km). Excavations have uncovered a palace-like structure with pillared halls and associated stables from the time of Ramesses II. Not excavated yet, but identified on the magnetometer survey, are an additional palace area, significant public buildings, and a vast residential quarter with avenues, channels, streets, villas, courtyards and gardens (Pusch 2001).<\/p>\n
Thus, the city called Rameses was not built until after the Exodus. But it was built at the same site where Jacob, Joseph and Moses lived. While the Bible calls it Rameses when Jacob moved there (Gn 47:11) and when the Israelites built a new city at the site (Ex 1:11) under the \u201cPharaoh that knew not Joseph\u201d (Ex 1:8), that name did not actually apply to the site until the 13th century BC. Later scribes updated the Biblical text with the name Rameses when the earlier names of the site went out of use.<\/p>\n
Egypt During the Period of the Kingdom of Judah<\/b><\/p>\n
During the period of the Babylonian empire, there are frequent mentions of Lower Egyptian sites by the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Numerous Jews fled to Egypt when Israel and Judah were invaded, first by the Assyrians and later by the Babylonians, and these two prophets addressed them and their cities of refuge. While Memphis was most famous as one of early Egypt\u2019s first national capitals from the 3rd millennium BC, it was only mentioned in the Bible late. Called Noph (Jer 44:1) and Moph (Hebrew; Hos 9:6), both shortened forms of Memphis (hieroglyphic mn-nfr<\/i>), it was mentioned for judgment by the prophets.<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 8<\/p>\n
Temple of Amun at Zoan. Built in the 21st Dynasty by Psusennes I (ca. 1055\u20131004 BC) at the time of Saul, the temple occupies an area of 240 x 80 yd (220 x 72 m). In the foreground is Tomb 5 of Sheshonk III (ca. 819\u2013767 BC). It contained a canopic jar (used to store the organs of the deceased) and a heart scarab of Biblical Shishak (Sheshonk I, ca. 931\u2013910 BC), so he may have been buried here as well.<\/b><\/p>\n
Heliopolis<\/b><\/p>\n
Another important Old Kingdom city was Heliopolis (Greek for \u201csun city\u201d). Called On (Hebrew from the hieroglyphic Iwnw<\/i> \u201cpillar town;\u201d Gn 41:45, 50; 46:20), it was the home of Potiphera the priest and father of Asenath, Joseph\u2019s wife. The city of Aven (Ez 30:17), a slightly different spelling of the same name, is also said to be under God\u2019s judgment. Jeremiah\u2019s reference to Beth Shemesh (Hebrew \u201ccity of the sun;\u201d Jer 43:13) also refers to On as being under judgment. The ancient city is identified with modern Tell Hisn, north of Cairo. Mentioned as early as the Old Kingdom period, it was prominent during Egypt\u2019s Saite period (664\u2013525 BC), the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Redford 1992a: 122\u201323).<\/p>\n
Bubastis<\/b><\/p>\n
Bubastis (Hebrew Pibeseth, Ez 30:17; from the hieroglyphic name meaning \u201chouse of Bastet\u201d\u2014the cat goddess) was also located in the delta and was mentioned under God\u2019s judgment. The ancient city is identified with modern Tell Basta in Zagazig, with remains dating as far back as the Old Kingdom. Bubastis became politically important as a capital city during the 22nd and 23rd Dynasties (10th-9th centuries BC).<\/p>\n
Zoan<\/b><\/p>\n
Zoan was the Hebrew name for a site better known to us as Tanis (Greek). Called San el Hagar today, it was first mentioned during the reign of Rameses XI (20th Dynasty; 12th century BC). Zoan became the official residence of the 21st Dynasty (ca. 1081\u2013931 BC), replacing Rameses (Peru-nefer\/Avaris\/Rowaty). This was possibly due to the shifting of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile and loss of Rameses\u2019 harbor. Interestingly, structures, statues and stele from Rameses were shipped down the Nile to Zoan. The residence of Shishak I (ca. 931\u2013910 BC; 1 Kgs 14:25), Zoan was the site of the lost ark in Indiana Jones\u2019 Raiders of the Lost Ark.<\/i> Zoan was Egypt\u2019s capital during part of the Judean monarchy (Is 19:11, 13: 30:4: Ez 30:14; see Redford 1992b: 1106).<\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 9<\/p>\n
Tahpanhes<\/b><\/p>\n
Tahpanhes (Hebrew; Jer 2:16; 43:7\u20139; 44:1; 46:14; Ez 30:18) comes from the Egyptian name meaning \u201cFortress of Penhase.\u201d Penhase (like Hebrew Phinehas) means \u201cNubian\u201d and was the name of a powerful 11th century BC Theban general who suppressed a rebellion in the delta. This site, identified today with Tell ed-Defenna in the eastern delta, was probably settled during the time of the Judean Monarchy and became important into the Persian period. Tahpanhes became a safe haven for Jews, including Jeremiah, fleeing the Babylonian invasion of Judah. Here the prophet pronounced judgment on Egypt and Jews taking refuge from Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah\u2019s prophesy included mention of Pharaoh Hophra being handed over \u201cto his enemies who seek his life\u201d (43:7\u201344:30).<\/p>\n
Pelusium<\/b><\/p>\n
Sin (Hebrew, from the hieroglyphic sin<\/i> \u201cmud;\u201d Ez 30:15\u201316) was an important fortress on Egypt\u2019s extreme northeastern border. Also called Pelusium (Greek) in antiquity, it is known as Tell el Farama today.<\/p>\n
Migdol<\/b><\/p>\n
Migdol (Hebrew meaning \u201ctower\u201d and a loan word into Egyptian, suggesting a northern location) was mentioned in the Exodus (Ex 14:2), and as a place where Jews resided in Egypt during the Babylonian period (Jer 44:1; 46:14) and a site of God\u2019s judgment on Egypt (\u201ctower\u201d in Ez 29:10; 30:6). While a popular place name throughout the ancient near east, presumably all references relate to the same site in Egypt\u2019s eastern delta. This city is identified with the modern Hebua I fortress, probably the famous Tjaru, a fortress on Egypt\u2019s eastern border.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n
The key to understanding the history of Egypt, especially the delta region, is the Hyksos invasion from southern Canaan. Known in Egyptian history as the Second Intermediate Period, it led to permanent changes in Egyptian political thinking. From that period on, the delta was especially protected from the east. From the delta regular military campaigns were waged into Canaan. A Pharaonic presence in the eastern delta became a constant.<\/p>\n
The Hyksos invasion of Egypt was also a seminal event in the history of Israel in Egypt. Arriving en masse<\/i> with Jacob, most Israelites lived in the delta region. Under Joseph they lived reasonably well (Ex 1:7), but with the coming of the Hyksos and a new Pharaoh \u201cwho did not know about Joseph\u201d (Ex 1:8) the fortunes of Israel changed. It was evidently the first Hyksos Pharaoh who began oppressing the Israelites and it was under the Hyksos that the Israelites built the store cities of Pithom and Rameses (Ex 1:11). After the Theban 18th Dynasty expelled the Hyksos and established Egypt\u2019s New Kingdom, they too made the Israelites serve with hard labor. It was during this period that Moses was born and grew up in the royal house in the delta. From this very location, 80 years later, the Exodus would begin.<\/p>\n
Late in the Old Testament story, Jeremiah and Ezekiel again mention numerous Egyptian sites, both north and south. It becomes clear from their message to their fellow countrymen living in Egypt that you can run, but you cannot hide from God. He knew where they were and He would bring judgment on them and their Egyptian hideouts.<\/p>\n
The story of Israel in Egypt is bound up in the Egyptian history of the Nile delta.<\/p>\n
Bibliography<\/b><\/p>\n
Aling, Charles<\/b><\/p>\n
2002 Joseph in Egypt, Second of Six Parts. Bible and Spade<\/i> 15: 35\u201338.<\/p>\n
Hansen, David G.<\/b><\/p>\n
2003 Moses and Hatshepsut. Bible and Spade<\/i> 16: 14\u201320.<\/p>\n
Leprohon, Ronald J.<\/b><\/p>\n
1992 Egypt, History of: Middle Kingdom-2D Intermediate Period (DYN 11\u201317). Pp. 345\u201348 in The Anchor Bible Dictionary<\/i> 2, ed. David N. Freedman. New York: Doubleday<\/p>\n
Pusch, Edgar B.<\/b><\/p>\n
2001 Piramesse. Pp. 48\u201350 in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt<\/i> 3, ed. Donald B. Redford. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.<\/p>\n
Ray, Paul J., Jr.<\/b><\/p>\n
2004 The Duration of the Exodus. Bible and Spade<\/i> 17: 33\u201344.<\/p>\n
Redford, Donald B.<\/b><\/p>\n
1992a Heliopolis. Pp. 122\u201323 in The Anchor Bible Dictionary<\/i> 3, ed. David N Freedman. New York: Doubleday<\/p>\n
1992b Zoan. Pp. 1106\u20131107 in The Anchor Bible Dictionary<\/i> 6, ed. David N Freedman. New York: Doubleday.<\/p>\n
Wood, Bryant G.<\/b><\/p>\n
1997 The Sons of Jacob: New Evidence for the Presence of the Israelites in Egypt. Bible and Spade<\/i> 10: 53\u201365.<\/p>\n
2004 The Royal Precinct at Rameses. Bible and Spade<\/i> 17: 45\u201351.<\/p>\n
Gary A. Byers is a staff member of the Associates for Biblical Research and administrative director of ABR\u2019s excacation at Khirbet el-Maqatir.<\/b><\/p>\n
BSpade<\/i> 18:1 (Winter 2005) p. 10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gary A. Byers The main route between Canaan and Egypt was along the northern coast of Sinai. A number of Biblical figures no doubt traveled this road. Known to the Egyptians as \u201cthe Way of Horus,\u201d and in the Bible as \u201cthe road through the Philistine country\u201d (Ex 13:17), it ended in the eastern delta … Continue reading “ISRAEL
\nIN EGYPT”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15403\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}