How did the Israelites get into Egypt in the first place?

Answer 1

This goes back to the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors! Joseph was sold as a slave by his brothers to an Egyptian called Potiphar. After many adventures Joseph prospered in Egypt and became a favorite of the Pharaoh.

When the area around Egypt was hit by famine Joseph has advised the Pharaoh to store grain for the 7 lean years of the famine and during this time Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to get food.

The Hebrews then stayed in Egypt until Moses lead them out a generation or two later.

Answer 2

It was not Israelites who got into Egypt but the Pharoh's slaves became Israelites after Moses (Peace be upon him) freed them and took them to the land of Israel. Many historians say that Judaism is a covenant between God and Abraham but Prophet Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian. The nation of Moses were named as Jews by the historians. They travelled to the Land of Israel and became Israelites. After Moses many Prophets came to them to end the corruption among them. This is the mercy of God for them and yet they differed many times regarding faith and punishments from God came to them in different forms. It is not necessary to mention the punishments here, you can find it on the net. They still think they are the chosen people of the God but it is not true, only fact is they were the chosen people by God and they lost the divine grace and mercy of God when the whole Jewsih nation denied the Prophethood of Jesus and Muhammad (Peace be upon them).

Answer 3

Joseph, one of the twelve tribes (sons of Jacob) was sold into slavery by ten of his brothers. He ended up in Egypt, where after a period of time and unfolding of events, he became viceroy (second to the king). His brothers came to Egypt to buy food during a famine, and they were reunited. Joseph invited his father and brothers to join him in Egypt, which they did. They went down to Egypt with seventy people, and there they grew into a large nation.

Answer 4

They went to Egypt 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

Answer 5

According to The Bible, Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Later, his brothers travelled to Egypt during a sever famine in Palestine. At this time, Joseph was the vizier of Egypt and invited them to remain in Egypt. Scholars say that the Hebrew people never lived in Egypt, at least in any significant numbers, before 722 BCE.

Answer 6

In the Exodus, Moses brought the Israelites out of the Egyptian slavery under the guidance of God, after God brought plagues upon the Egyptians. Pharaoh had been humbled by the Plagues, and permitted the Israelites to leave, which they did, on foot (Exodus ch.1-12).

After the Israelites left, Egypt was in turmoil for decades. Though Israel was later harassed (Judges ch.3,6 and 10) by its smaller neighbors (Ammon, Moab, Midian), not a peep was heard from Egypt for four hundred years.

Egypt's turmoil is also borne out by the Ipuwer papyrus ("Pestilence is throughout the land....the river is blood") (Professor John van Seters, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology no. 50). The plagues were also described by ancient historians, including Herodotus and Diodorus. The Exodus is mentioned by Strabo, Berosus, Artapanus, Numenius, Justin, and Tacitus.

See also:

Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible

Answer 7

Another expert has provided the biblical answer to this question. The historical perspective, given by most historians and scholars, is that there was never an Exodus from Egypt as portrayed in the Bible. Far from conquering the Canaanites, the Hebrew people were themselves rural Canaanites who left the region of the rich coastal cities to settle in the hitherto sparsely populated hinterland. Centuries later, long after they had forgotten their real origins, the Israelites developed the legend of an Exodus and a glorious military conquest.

Answer 8

Yes, they were slaves there for 400 years.

Answer 9

The Ancient Hebrews walked or rode animals.

Answer 10

They were invited there to escape famine.