The Pharoahs of Egypt and the Bible

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If the Bible is truly the Word of God then the things it has to say about history should be verifiable --- just like any other event in history. In particular let us examine some of the more spectacular events when Egypt enters in Bible “history.”

By using the age of the Bible Patriarchs upon the birth of their firstborn son(see the chart to the left) from Adam to Joseph we can calculate the total of 2336 years until Joseph, who became the #2 man in Egypt next to Pharaoh, which was just 9 years before the beginning of the sojourn of the Israelites in Egypt. The Ancient Egyptian researcher David Rohl (The Test of Time) sets the date of Joseph in Egypt with Pharaoh Amenemhat III as C. 1662 BC which would make it 3998 years from the creation of Adam and Eve to the birth of Christ, and about 6005 years to today’s date of 2007.

Dating the Age of Man on the earth using
Biblical Patriarch’s Birth Ages

Exodus 12:40-41“Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.”

Septuigent: Exodus 12:40-41
“And the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Chanaan, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass after the four hundred and thirty years, all the forces of the Lord came forth out of the land of Egypt by night."

The date of 1662 BC is set forth as the date of the Exous by David Rohl, as shown in the following chart:
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THE ISRAELITES IN EGYPT Joseph in Egypt The Hebrews were originally a family of wandering shepherds (Genesis 31;17; 32:10 ) The Bible states that Joseph was sold as a slave into Egypt at 17 years of age (Genesis chapters 37-50), and became a man of high position, second only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:40-42; 45:9). He was thirty years old at that time (Genesis 41:46). Joseph’s father Jacob, who was renamed Israel by God (Genesis 32:28; 35:10) and brothers, and entire family (seventy in all; Genesis 46:27) moved to Egypt because of a severe famine (Genesis 45:16-18;47:11).

The Cities of Pithom and Rameses were built as store cities for the Pharaoh (Exodus 1:11), Rameses being the city where Joseph and his family lived (Genesis 47:11), in the land of Goshen (Genesis 47:27).

Because of a SEVERE FAMINE in the land (which lasted for seven years) all the privately held lands of Egypt became the property of the Pharaoh (Genesis 47:20), except for the priest of the Pharaoh (Genesis 47:22). This happened because God had revealed to Joseph prophesies of the impending famine which he unveiled to the Pharaoh (Genesis 41:25-32), who then put Joseph in charge of managing the food supplies for Egypt. Joseph instituted a law in the land of Egypt that A FIFTH OF ALL THE PRODUCE BELONGED TO THE PHARAOH, in exchange for seed provided for the crops at that time (Genesis 47:23-26).

That Israelite family grew into a great nation while in Egypt (Exodus 1:7), which was prophesied by God centuries earlier (Genesis 35:1146:3;). That they would return to their home-lands was also prophesied by God in Genesis 35:12;46:4.

When Jacob (Israel) died, Joseph buried him in a cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan (Genesis 49:29-30; 50:6-14). The Pharaoh provided a LARGE PROCESSION OF CHARIOTS AND HORSEMEN to accomplish this (Genesis 50:9). This site is traditionally known as the “Cave of the Patricarch’s”, where Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebeca, and Jacob and Leah are believed buried.

When JOSEPH died at the age of 110 (Genesis 50:26 ) HIS BODY WAS EMBALMED IN THE EGYPTIAN MUMMY STYLE (Genesis 50:26 ) and his body was carried out of Egypt, back to be BURIED IN HEBRON, near Jerusalem (Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19).

Moses in Egypt MOSES, as a Israelite child IS ADOPTED BY THE PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER (Exodus 2:5-10) and later becomes the defender of his people (Exodus 2:11-12), because of great oppression by the Egyptians (Exodus 1:8-14), but flees Egypt (Exodus 2:15). After forty years (Acts 7:30) Moses is told by God, in the form of a burning bush, to return to Egypt and take his people out of Egypt (Exodus 3:10). Moses returns to Egypt to lead the Israelite nation out of Egypt after MANY PLAGUES were put on the Egyptians by God (Exodus 3:19-20; chapters 5-12 ).

Moses was eighty years old when he asked the Pharaoh to release his people (Exodus 7:7), at the time of the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:31-33). When they left Egypt the Israelite nation numbered about six hundred thousand men, besides the women and children. Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. (Exodus 12:37-38). THEY PLUNDERED THE EGYPTIANS AS THEY LEFT (Exodus 12:36).

The Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to kill the Israelites rather than let them leave, and pursued them in chariots, horsemen, and troops (Exodus 14:4-9), but ALL THE EGYPTIANS on horses and chariots THAT FOLLOWED THE ISRAELITES ACROSS THE DRIED UP RED SEA WERE KILLED (Exodus 14:23-28).

THE ISRAELITES WERE IN EGYPT FOR 430 YEARS (Exodus 12:40). When they left they took Joseph’s body with them for buried in Hebron (Genesis 50:25; ). Joseph died at one hundred and tens years. (Genesis 50:26).

Dating the Israelites stay in Egypt The Bible tells us that the Israelites were in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 12:40). But how do we establish what date they arrived in Egypt? We have to look to history for that, as dates are not given in the Bible.

Several things are mentioned in the Bible that may help with that:

1) The city of RAMESES (Geneses 47:11)IN GOSHEN is mentioned as where the Israelites lived and also as a city built for the Pharaoh as a “store city” in Exodus 1:11. This fits with the famine and storage instituted by the Pharaoh at Joseph’s recommendation (Genesis 41:33-36), and where Joseph’s family settled in Goshen in the Rameses district (Genesis 47:11).
2) Any mention of the Hebrews, Israelites, Joseph, Moses, or Jacob, or Israel, and his burial procession in Canaan in Egyptian texts or pictures? (How about the lands they passed through? What countries would that have been?) Yes!

a) Mernoptah Stela - Egyptian hieroglyphic discovered in Thebes, Egypt dated 1220 B.C. that mentions the name “Israel”.
b) Bon Hassan - Egyptian hieroglyph found in the tomb of Khnumhotep II dated 2000 B.C. that pictures Semites in Egypt.
3) Any mention of the famine and resulting trading of lands of the people to the Pharaoh for food; building of “store cities”, of setting up the new “one fifth” of all produce going to the Pharaoh?
4) Any mention of anyone in Joseph’s position to the Pharaoh, that fits the time period.

JOSEPH WAS SECOND IN COMMAND TO THE PHARAOH
Genesis 41:41-43 “So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ The Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command.”
5) Any mention of the events of the Exodus? (i.e.: Plagues, death of firstborn sons, army destroyed, Red Sea Miracle, etc.)

THE TEN PLAGUES OF EGYPT
I) Nile turned into blood (Exodus 7:14-25);
2) Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15);
3) Gnats (mosquitoes) (Exodus 8:16-19);
4) Flies (Exodus 8:20-32);
5) Cattle (Exodus 9:1-7);
6) Boils (Exodus 9:8-12);
7) Hail(Exodus 9:13-35);
8) Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20);
9) Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29);
10) Death of all firstborn in the land (Exodus 11:1-12:36).

A strictly historical analysis would reveal that the plagues must have happened before 1200 BC, when the Israel Stella: of the New Kingdom pharaoh Merneptah describes a people (not a country) called “Israel”, which had already reached Canaan.

In one of the first and most complete analysis of possible causes of the plagues, physician Greta Hort refers to passages from the Admonition of Ipuwer, a translation by Egyptologist Sir Alan Gardiner of an ancient Egyptian papyrus.

The period that Joseph and the Israelites moved to Egypt was after the 19th Dynasty in the New Kingdom period of Egypt. This is know because in Genesis 47:6-11) the Pharaoh directed them to settle in the “district of Rameses” so that they could care for his livestock. The area being named “Rameses” establishes that a Pharaoh of the Rameses descent was then in power, or had at one time prior to this time been in power. Caring for livestock was a profession looked upon with disdain by the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34).

A papyrus in the Brooklyn Museum and published by William C Hayes (1955:103) contains information about Asiatic slaves in Egypt during the late Middle Kingdom who were assigned as household servants. This pattern is consistent with Joseph and the Israelites servitude as described in Genesis and Exodus.

II) Red Sea parted and the Israelites cross over while the Egyptian Army drowned in it (Exodus 14:10-31)
6) By tracing the genealogies and using the ages of the Israelites at their death in the Bible and totaling them to arrive at the elapsed time?

A) Genealogies of the Levites in Egypt:See the first chart, "The Dates for the Patriarchs"
7) Mummies taken from Egyptian tombs have yielded interesting information that may prove important:

A) EGYPTIANS WERE CIRCUMCISED, as referenced in “The Oriental News and Notes, Number 144, in a reference on King Ahmose, noting that “There is also a peculiar feature --- that the Almose mummy was uncircumcised”, which leads one to wonder when this practice began (perhaps with the presence of the Israelites - or Exodus of ?)
B) Has a Egyptian style “mummy” been found in the “PATRIARCH’S CAVE” , near Hobron? (This would be Jacob) This question is still in need of an answer. Reseach is pending on this question.
C) Are ther any documented ISRALITE GAVESITES IN EGYPT, particularily in the Land of Goshen? This question is also still in need of an answer. Reseach is pending on this question.

PROPHECIES OF EGYPTS LATTER DESTRUCTION:
Jermiah prophesied from 626BC to somewhere after 586 BC, during the time of King Solomon

The Israelites were established in Egypt during the Babylonian reign (about 640-609 BC) as witnesses by Jermiah 44:1, “The word came to Jermiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt -- in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis --- and in Upper Egypt ...” where Jerimiah prophecies their destruction in Jer. 44:27, “... the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed. Those who escape the sword and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few.”

EZEKIEL’s prophecies were made from 593-571 BC, while in exile in Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar:
EZEKIEL 29:12, “I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devasated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries ... At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. I will bring them back from captivity aand return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again rule over the nations.”

EZEKIEL 30:23, “I will disperse the Egyptians amoung the nations and scatter them through the countries.”

WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Matthew 28:18-20;Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOU Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

Please contact me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell) for comments, questions, further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.