Lecture notes 9 Biblical Backrounds.pptx

Biblical Backgrounds

1. Joseph in Egypt Why did he get there and How did he get there?

2. What relationship did Joseph have with his Father Jacob? Favorite Son sold in Egypt by his Brothers around 1700 BC. He rose from Adversity to become the Most Powerful Minister of Pharaoh.

3. Who Invaded Egypt Between 1720 and 1700 BC? Between 1720 and 1700 BC Egypt was invaded by Syro -Canaanite Alliance called Hyksos. These invaders established their own line of Pharaohs and ruled the country for about 150 years.

4. Why is it that the Hyksos favored Joseph more than the Natives? Hated Foreigners themselves, it was not likely that the Hyksos might trust someone like Joseph sooner than they would a native Egyptian , and the account of Joseph’s rise to power has an undeniably authentic flavor.

5. What Attracted them to Joseph? Joseph’s ability to Interpret Dreams would have attracted attention in Egypt , where the Ancient arts of Magic and Divining were Highly Respected.

6. What else Attracted them to Joseph? The Various Titles given to Joseph by Potiphar and the Pharaoh are exact Translations of the Egyptian Offices.

7. What else Attracted Them? The description of Joseph’s Swearing in as Prime Minister came from someone Familiar with such Ceremonies.

8. What else Attracted them? Joseph’s Reunion with his Brothers is another event that Mirrors historical Conditions. It was a Period of Famine throughout the Near East- “The famine was severe over all the Earth” (Genesis 41:57)., and according to an Egyptian text, certain of the foreigners “who knew not how they should live, have come begging a home in the domain of Pharaoh.”

9. What was the Egyptian Policy regarding Sharing Grain to the Needy? There was often Surplus Grain in the Pharaoh’s storehouses, and in time of Hardship or Famine it was apparently an Old Egyptian policy to Allow Nomads from other Countries into the Land.

10. Which place did Pharaoh give the Israelites to settle? The Region of Goshen in the Fertile Nile Delta could sustain Great Numbers of People and their Flocks , and would have been the logical place for the Hebrews to settle. “Thus Israel dwelt in the Land of Egypt, in the Land of Goshen; and they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and Multiplied exceedingly” (Genesis 47:47).

11. How long did Joseph Live? According to the Bible, Joseph lived to be 110 years Old-the traditional length of a full and happy life in Egyptians lore . Nearing his death Joseph called his brothers together: “I am about to die,” he told them, “but God will visit you, and bring you up out of this Land to the Land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (Genesis 50:24).

12. What was the Great Promise? Here again the Great Promise was repeated. This had been the basis of the Patriarchs’ Faith, the Covenant God had made with them. Now they were in Egypt and could only wait for the LORD to make good his Vow.