Egypt

Egypt in the Bible

Egypt is one of the foreign nations mentioned most frequently in the Old Testament.

• The patriarchal period: Abraham went down into Egypt to escape a famine (Genesis 12:10-20). Hagar, a member of Abraham's household, was an Egyptian woman (Genesis 16:1). Joseph, sold by his brothers, rose to become the governor of Egypt, and during a famine the household of Jacob settled in the land of Goshen in Egypt (Genesis 37–50).
• The Exodus: The children of Israel were subjected to forced labor in Egypt and built the treasure cities of Pithom and Raamses (Exodus 1:11). God sent Moses and, through the ten plagues and the Passover, brought Israel out. This event is called the Exodus (Exodus 1–15). Thereafter the Law presents God as the one who brought His people "out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" (Exodus 20:2).
• The monarchy and after: Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter (1 Kings 3:1). In the reign of Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem (1 Kings 14:25-26), and Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Necho at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29). The prophets warned against relying on Egypt (Isaiah 31:1). Jeremiah was taken to Egypt by the remnant of Judah (Jeremiah 43:6-7).
• The New Testament: Joseph of Nazareth fled to Egypt with the infant Jesus and Mary. This event is called the Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15).

Background

Egypt arose on the fertile land left by the annual flooding of the Nile River. For this reason neighboring peoples went there to obtain grain in times of famine. Linked to Canaan by way of the Sinai Peninsula, it continually influenced the history of Israel.

The Hebrew name is Mitsrayim. In Genesis 10:6 it appears as Mizraim, a son of Ham. Some interpret the name as a dual form (a word form denoting a pair) referring to the two regions of Upper and Lower Egypt, but this is uncertain. The Korean form Aegup is understood to derive from the Chinese-character transcription 埃及.

Significance Across Scripture

Egypt is remembered both as the place where Israel was enslaved and as the place where God worked deliverance. Matthew 2:15 applies Hosea 11:1 to Jesus: "Out of Egypt have I called my son." 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 compares Israel's crossing of the Red Sea to baptism. Hebrews 11:24-27 says that Moses chose the reproach of Christ over the treasures of Egypt. Revelation 11:8 calls the city where the Lord was crucified "spiritually" Egypt.

At the same time, Isaiah 19:25 declares that Egypt too will one day be called God's people. Scripture thus portrays Egypt not only as an object of judgment but also as an object of restoration.

Interpretations and Debates

• Dating and the identity of Pharaoh: Scholars differ on the date of the Exodus, with proposals including the fifteenth century BC and the thirteenth century BC. Scholars also differ on the historicity of the Exodus itself. Genesis and Exodus do not name Pharaoh. Identifying a particular king, such as Ramesses II, as the pharaoh of the Exodus is therefore a matter of scholarly conjecture.
• Stories not found in the text: It is commonly said that the Hebrews built the pyramids, but the only construction the text mentions is the treasure cities of Pithom and Raamses.
• Interpretive traditions: Many Protestant sermons read the Exodus typologically. Typological interpretation holds that earlier events foreshadow things to come. On this reading, Egypt represents bondage to sin and the world, and the Exodus represents salvation in Christ. Some progressive theologies, such as Minjung theology, emphasize the Exodus as a story of the social liberation of the oppressed. Others, citing passages such as Exodus 3:12-15, stress that the purpose of the Exodus was the worship and service of God.

In the Korean Church

Sermons in Korean churches often compare "Egypt, the wilderness, and Canaan" to stages in the journey of faith. Lingering attachment to one's old way of life is sometimes likened to the time "in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots" (Exodus 16:3). Holy Land pilgrimage itineraries commonly include both Egypt and Mount Sinai.