Page 20 - Biblical Backgrounds

In addition to serving as the provider of the region’s food, the
Nile also serves as the region’s main highway. Due to the wind
patterns and the weak current, it is easy for boats to travel
northward through the region. The Nile also met other needs.
The clay on its banks, for instance, could be made into houses as
well as into pottery. Papyrus on its banks was also used for
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making writing materials and flax.

Egypt is made up of two regions. Lower Egypt and the Nile
Valley. Lower Egypt is shaped somewhat like a piece of the pie.
It is about 125 miles from North to South and about 115 miles
from East to West.

Situated as it is on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea, shipping
was a source of wealth and trade as well. To the East the Sinai
Peninsula provided a land trade route between Asia and Egypt.
This route traveled through Egypt. So Egypt’s physical location
was highly important and is a reason that Egypt rose to become
a world power. One of the routes over the Sinai Peninsula was
likely the route Joseph was brought when sold into captivity by
his brothers. It is also one of these routes that Moses led the
people out of Israel on and toward the promised land of
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Canaan.
The Government of Egypt:

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The Hebrews came to Egypt in 1976 BC, according to Vos. At the time,
Egypt was in its Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1775 BC). In this period, a feudal-
style regime ruled, in contrast to the absolute power that the pharaohs
possessed during the Old Kingdom, which was some 200+ years earlier. Vos
argues that the kings tried to win over the people from their allegiance to
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local leaders (“nomarchs”) by claiming they alone could offer true justice.
Again, according to Vos, these claims were also backed up by spending on projects that had public
benefits, such as canals and land reclamation projects. While the pharaohs still built pyramids during
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the Middle Kingdom period, these pyramids were smaller, less expensive structures than those of the
Old Kingdom. An example of the greater Old Kingdom pyramids is found at Giza in the Valley of the
Kings. Vos observes that even the artwork commissioned by the kings of this period emphasized the
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heavy burden of kingship or portrayed the king as a shepherd looking after the nation.
36

30 Ibid., 46.
31 John Holmes, Biblical Backgrounds course material. Map of Egypt used with permission.
32 Voss, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs, 48.
33 Ibid., 46.
34 Ibid., 47.

35 John Holmes, Biblical Backgrounds course material. Giza Pyramids picture used with permission.
36 Voss, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Manners and Customs, 49.

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