Topical Bible: The Jews: Sojourned in Egypt

◄ The Jews: Sojourned in Egypt ►

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The sojourn of the Jews in Egypt is a significant period in biblical history, marking a time of both prosperity and suffering for the descendants of Abraham. This era is primarily chronicled in the Book of Genesis and the Book of Exodus, providing a narrative that underscores God's providence and the unfolding of His covenant promises.

Joseph's Rise to Power

The journey of the Israelites to Egypt begins with Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Through a series of divinely orchestrated events, Joseph rose to prominence in Egypt, becoming second in command to Pharaoh. Genesis 41:41-43 records Pharaoh's decree: "Pharaoh also told Joseph, 'I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.' Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, 'Bow the knee!' So he placed him over all the land of Egypt."

The Arrival of Jacob's Family

During a severe famine, Joseph's brothers traveled to Egypt to buy grain, eventually leading to the relocation of Jacob's entire family to Egypt. Genesis 46:26-27 states, "All those belonging to Jacob who came to Egypt—his direct descendants, besides the wives of Jacob’s sons—numbered sixty-six persons in all. And with the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s household who went to Egypt were seventy in all."

Prosperity in Goshen

The Israelites settled in the land of Goshen, where they thrived and multiplied. Genesis 47:27 notes, "Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number." This period of prosperity, however, was not to last indefinitely.

The Rise of a New Pharaoh

A turning point came with the rise of a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph. Exodus 1:8-10 describes the change: "Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 'Look,' he said to his people, 'the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.'"

Oppression and Enslavement

The Israelites were subjected to harsh slavery, forced to build the store cities of Pithom and Rameses. Exodus 1:13-14 recounts, "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

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 12:40,41
Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelled in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Book 2 Footnotes
... of the Egyptians, and as the condition of the Jews' departure, and ... itself, in the
Samaritan, Septuagint, and Josephus, that they sojourned in Egypt but half ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 2 footnotes.htm

Political and Religious Life of the Jewish Dispersion in the West ...
... Jerusalem unvisited on his journey from Egypt to Syria ... recognition of the fact that,
as Jews, they were ... Wherever the Jew sojourned, or however he might differ ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi political and religious.htm

John Chapter vii. 13-Jan
... in which they dwelt while they sojourned in the wilderness, after being led out
of Egypt. This was a holy day, a great solemnity. The Jews were celebrating this ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxviii john chapter vii.htm

The Day of Pentecost.
... and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in ... the Babylonian captivity, many
of the Jews remained in the countries in which they had sojourned during its ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture ii the day of.htm

Acts xiii. 16, 17
... up," it says;"this [661] was a custom of the Jews""and beckoned ... And the people,"
he says, "He exalted when it sojourned in the land of Egypt""and yet ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxix acts xiii 16.htm

The Illusiveness of Life.
... in the text, "In the land of promise he sojourned as in a ... last years of his life
were spent in Egypt, and he ... They who believe that the Jews will be restored to ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/vi the illusiveness of life.htm

Jewish Chronology.
... of age when he went down with Jacob into Egypt. ... the entire period during which Abraham
sojourned, and the ... And so it comes to pass that the Jews are denominated ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxvi jewish chronology.htm

The Persecutions of the Apostolic Church, and Its Condition at the ...
... chief city the power of the Jews sustained a ... minister of the district where he sojourned,
there is ... an evangelist in Alexandria, the metropolis of Egypt; [173:5 ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter xi the persecutions of.htm

Of the Priesthood of Aaron.
The Antiquities of the Jews. ... was that was ended the first year since their departure
out of Egypt. ... use of what they had made, but he came and sojourned with them ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 of the priesthood.htm

The Christian's Warfare.
... broken off; and thou standest by faith." The Jews were cut ... when he saw the wagons
Joseph sent him from Egypt. ... By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as ...
/.../moody/the overcoming life/part i the christians warfare.htm