Who Enslaved Israel “A Pharoah arose who did not know Joseph” Hyksos (Asiatic foreigners who gained power - 15 th & 16 th Dynasty) Joseph likely opened the door for Asiatic political power The explanation for enslavement is weaker Explanation: Hyksos were fearful of loosing power to Hebrews Hebrews did not adopt as many Egyptian customs Hebrews did not seem interested in political power

Who Enslaved Israel 18 th Dynasty (Native Egyptians who overthrew Hyksos) Explanation of enslavement is stronger Hatred toward defeated Hyksos spills over to other foreign groups Allows for more time for Joseph to be forgotten Enslavement period does not seem long in Scripture The land was already filled with Israelites before enslavement The enslavement seems to be progressive under one Dynasty

Early Life in Egypt Israelite Parents By putting him in the basket they were obeying Pharoah Pharoah’s daughter probably knew that the nursmaid Miriam got was the Mother of Moses Moses was weaned by his Israelite parents Moses always knew he was a Hebrew

Early Life in Egypt Egyptian Parents Hatshepsut Only living daughter of Thutmose I Claimed throne when her son, Thutmose III, is innaugurated Strength: Cool story! Weakness: Not very likely considering what we know.

Early Life in Egypt Egyptian Parents Thermuthis Lesser daughter of Pharoah Sought to advance herself by providing a male heir Proposed by Josephus Strength: Fits Thutmose I, who had no son Weakness: Josephus based on more on oral tradition

Early Life in Egypt Egyptian Parents Anonymous Daughter of a Concubine She was motivated simply by mercy Strength: Lack of drama fits biblical lack of drama Weakness: Doesn’t make for a dramatic movie

Early Life in Egypt Young Adulthood (up to 40) Moses said to be good looking (Exodus 2:2 and Josephus) Moses would have enjoyed the best education of the day Josephus has Moses as a general in the Egyptian army Moses was in his late thirties when he killed the Egyptian and fled from the Pharoah to Midian. Moses likely was already married when he fled (Numbers 12:1 mentions his marriage to a Cushite woman)

Middle Years in Midian Middle Adulthood (40-80) Flees to Midian and marries Zipporah, daughter of Jethro Jethro is a priest of Midian – likely a priest of God (Ex. 18:11) Moses lives as a shepherd Moses has two sons: Gershom and Eliezer

Years of Exodus and Wandering Late Adulthood (40-80) Sees burning bush while in Midian and returns to Egypt Midianite wife stays behind with two sons Likely reunited with his Egyptian wife

The Purpose of the Ten Plagues Show the power of God and make Him known to the nations Exodus 7:1-5 – God hardens Pharoah heart in order to multiply his signs and wonders Exodus 5:2 – “Pharoah said, ‘Who is the LORD that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.’”

The Purpose of the Ten Plagues God’s judgment on the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12) Some try to match an Egyptian God with each plague The plagues are best understood collectively as an attack on Ra and the cosmic order he had supposedly established The final two plagues are aimed at the primary Egyptian deity and his earthly representative.

The Purpose of the Ten Plagues To increase the pressure on Pharaoh Water to Blood/Frogs/Lice/Flies – discomfort/no material loss Cattle Disease – material loss Boils – agonizing pain Hail/Locust – great material loss, and some loss of life Darkness – loss of hope and faith (“Ra” was supposed to be the sun god) Death of First Born – loss of most dear

The Purpose of the Ten Plagues To increase the faith of the Israelites The Israelites would have seen that their God was greater than the God’s of the Egyptians These were stories to be told to their children (Exodus 10:1-2)

The Passover (10 th Plague) The Month Nissan –established as first month of the Israelite calendar This signals the birth of the nation! The Lamb Unblemished male slaughtered at twilight Shows that Israelites “deserved” to die as well Israel is ‘passed over’ only because they were ‘His people’ covered by ‘his sacrifice’

Chronology of Biblical Writing 11:9-10 Summary statement for entire plagues narrative 11:1-4 God informs Moses of last plague 12:1-20 Moses informs Israel of last plague and Passover 10:21-24 Darkness over Egypt 10:25-29 Pharoah calls for Moses and threatens death 11:4-8 Moses informs Pharoah of last plague 12:21-28 Moses sets elders of Israel in action 12:29-32 The Last Plague Passover