Servitude to foreign powers is a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, reflecting the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God and the fulfillment of divine prophecy. This theme is evident throughout the Old Testament, where the Israelites often find themselves under the dominion of foreign nations due to their failure to adhere to the covenant with Yahweh.

Egyptian Bondage

The first significant instance of servitude is the Israelites' bondage in Egypt. This period of enslavement is detailed in the book of Exodus, where the Israelites are oppressed by Pharaoh. Exodus 1:13-14 states, "They worked the Israelites ruthlessly and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor, the Egyptians used them