Page 25 - Biblical Backgrounds

great that the pharaoh himself would fall to it (see Jer. 44:30). This prophecy was fulfilled in
525 B.C. when the Persians under Cambyses overran Egypt.
47

11. The famous monument of Pharaoh Merneptah (ca. 1224–
1216 B.C.), son of Ramses II. It is often called the “Israel stele”
because the next-to-bottom line of its inscription contains the
only mention of the name Israel in all ancient Egyptian writing
thus far discovered: “Israel is desolate, her seed is not.”

Flight of the Holy Family
When Jesus and his parents fled from Bethlehem to Egypt, it is
estimated that up to one million Jews lived in the city of Alexandria
at the time. Tradition tells us that while a large population of Jews
lived in that city, Joseph and Mary probably avoided populated
areas and lived somewhere in isolation. While not in the Bible,
tradition tells us that Joseph led his family into the delta about
midway between the modern cities of Port Said and Suez. It is said
that they did not stay in one place for very long and lived in caves
near the Qousqam Mountains. It is said that the angel appeared to
Joseph from this cave and told him to return to their home in Israel.
48

It is apparent that Egypt played an enormous role in the
waxing and waning fortunes of ancient Hebrews from the
time of Abraham to the days of Jesus. Along with other lands
in the area, the Lord used Egypt to test, train, and preserve
his people.

Giant seated statue of Ramses II from the temple
of Luxor (ancient Thebes) in upper Egypt. Ramses
II (ca. 1290–1224 B.C.) is generally thought to be
the Pharaoh of the Exodus.

47 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1980/09/biblical-egypt-land-of-refuge-land-of-
bondage?lang=eng
48 Ibid.

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