Page 19 - Biblical Backgrounds

Egyptian backgrounds to the Pentateuch (Genesis 39-50, Exodus 1-12)

Connect…

The Egyptian culture and the exodus provide a tremendous wealth of information in helping understand
the way the readers of the Bible would have seen themselves, others, and how they would have
understood the books of the Bible. During the Patriarchal period, there were major cultural differences
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between Canaan and Egypt. Perhaps above all, Egypt was an advanced civilization in comparison to the
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agrarian culture of Canaan. In Egypt, there was a central government that exercised “at least moderate
control” over the stretch of land from the Nile Valley from the Mediterranean to Aswan, which is about
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725 miles in total distance. Another important regional difference is that, whereas in Canaan the land
was watered by soil and heavy dew, in Egypt the soil had to be irrigated. Egypt is remembered as a place
of slavery. God remembered His people and brought them out of their bondage to a good land, the land
of Canaan, which we just covered. The story and significance of Egypt in scripture do not end with the
exodus. In this section, we will see how the Egyptian background shaped Jewish conception and later
would impact the church as well.

The Lesson ...

Egyptian backgrounds to the Pentateuch.

Most Christians will recognize the story of Abraham in Egypt. Others more readily recognize the biblical
stories of Joseph and his brothers, of Moses and the Red Sea crossing, or of the tales of Egypt as an
enemy or an ally who chose not to aid Israel when they came under attack by Babylon. We know the
stories, but are perhaps only generally aware of where it was located or what it was like in the time of
the stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses.

The Location of Egypt:

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Vos notes that it is often said that Egypt is the gift of the Nile. The reason for saying this is that there is
almost no rainfall in the country. Vos asserts that the total rainfall in the region is between 8 to 1.5
inches. Therefore, without the Nile, there would be no Egypt. As mentioned above, the Nile provides the
water for the irrigation of the crops, water for drinking, and for other daily needs. The Nile has
historically made the region enormously agriculturally productive.

26 Voss, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs, 45.
27 Ibid.
28 Ibid.

29 Ibid.

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