Why did Abraham move to the land of Canaan?

Answer 1

Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave and taken to Egypt. There he eventually

rose to be a ruler in the last, 2nd only to the Pharaoh. After he became a ruler, there

was a famine in the land of Canaan, and Jacob sent the brothers to Egypt to buy food (grain).

Eventually Joseph made himself known to the brothers and had all of Jacob's family

join him in Egypt since there were still years of famine ahead. This is how Abraham's

descendents went down to Egypt and they were there until G-d took the nation out

of Egypt 210 years later, to return to Canaan.

Answer 2

Genesis 11:31 says that Abram's father, Terah took Abram, and his grandson Lot the son of Haran, from Ur in Chaldea to Haran. God then commanded Abram (later Abraham) to go to Canaan, which his descendants would inherit.

Alternatively, it is a very plausible hypothesis that this migration story is a folk memory of the spread of the moon cult from Ur to Haran and then into Canaan. We know that Ur and Haran were the two principal cities of the moon god, Sin. And by what should be a strange coincidence, Abram's brother had the same name as the city of the moon god. Most of the biblical patriarchs are linked by name or narrative to the ancient moon god cult.

Answer 3

According to traditional chronology, Abraham's Israelite descendants left Canaan and settled in Egypt in 1522 BCE.

See also:

Abraham's biography

Timeline of Jewish history

Answer 4

Because of famine (Genesis ch.46).It was part of God's plan, since Egypt would be the "iron furnace" (Deuteronomy 4:20) in which the Israelites would be smelted, removing the dross, and would grow into a nation ready to receive God's Torah. Also, in Egypt the Israelites learned the importance of loving the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19), they saw the power of God when He redeemed them (Exodus 10:2) as well as His personal concern for them (Exodus 2:24).

See also:

Abraham's biography

Timeline

Answer 5

According to the Biblical narrative, there was an immense famine throughout Egypt and the Levant. This famine adversely affected the Israelites, but did not adversely effect the Egyptians because the Egyptians had Joseph, who helped them prepare for the years of famine by keeping the bumper crop.

Answer 6

Because of famine (Genesis ch.46).It was part of God's plan, since Egypt would be the "iron furnace" (Deuteronomy 4:20) in which the Israelites would be smelted, removing the dross, and would grow into a nation ready to receive God's Torah.

See also:

Timeline

The Exodus