The narrative of the Sons of Israel in Egypt is a significant chapter in the biblical history of the Israelites, detailing their transition from a favored family to an oppressed nation, and setting the stage for the Exodus. This period is primarily chronicled in the Book of Genesis and the opening chapters of Exodus.

Arrival in Egypt

The account begins with Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (also called Israel), who was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt (Genesis 37:28). Through a series of divinely orchestrated events, Joseph rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, serving as Pharaoh's vizier. During a severe famine, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt seeking food, leading to a dramatic family reunion and reconciliation (Genesis 45:1-15).

Joseph invited his father Jacob and his entire family to settle in Egypt, in the region of Goshen, where they were provided for during the remaining years of famine (Genesis 47:11-12). The family of Jacob, numbering seventy persons, thus became residents in Egypt (Genesis 46:27).

Growth and Oppression

Over the years, the Israelites multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). "But the Israelites were fruitful and increased abundantly; they multiplied and became exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them" (Exodus 1:7).

A new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, came to power and perceived the growing Israelite population as a threat. In response, he subjected them to harsh slavery, forcing them to build the store cities of Pithom and Rameses (Exodus 1:8-11). Despite the oppression, the Israelites continued to multiply, which further alarmed the Egyptians (Exodus 1:12).

Pharaoh then ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn Hebrew boys, but the midwives feared God and did not comply (Exodus 1:15-17). Pharaoh subsequently commanded all his people to throw every Hebrew boy into the Nile River (Exodus 1:22).

The Birth of Moses

During this time of oppression, Moses was born to a Levite family. His mother, Jochebed, hid him for three months and then placed him in a basket on the Nile, where he was discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:1-10). Moses grew up in the Egyptian court but later fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:11-15).

God's Covenant and Promise

The plight of the Israelites in Egypt was not forgotten by God. "The Israelites groaned under their bondage and cried out, and their cry for deliverance from their bondage ascended to God. So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Exodus 2:23-24). This divine remembrance set the stage for the calling of Moses and the subsequent deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.

Significance

The period of the Sons of Israel in Egypt is foundational to the identity of the Israelite nation. It highlights themes of divine providence, faithfulness to covenant promises, and the transformative power of God’s deliverance. The experiences in Egypt, culminating in the Exodus, became a central narrative of faith and identity for the Israelites, commemorated annually in the Passover celebration.