Exodus Essay
Collier, P. (2013). Exodus: How migration is changing our world. Oxford University press
Bible commentary describes seventy descendants of Jacob entering into Egypt. This figure includes Joseph, who was already in Egypt, (having been sold into slavery by his brothers) and his sons. In Genesis 46, the descendants of Jacob are listed, including Joseph and eight of his heirs. The bible also counts Jacob's daughter Dinah and wife Aseneth, who also bore children to him. The firstborn son of Jacob was Reuben, who yielded an alternative number of seventy-five. The descendants of Jacob include off-spring born later in Egypt, after the migration. From Jacob’s family of seventy, an entire nation would develop in the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.
In a cross-reference of the Exodus narrative, I found the Book of Genesis concludes with the life of Joseph, who, as the last verse of Genesis reveals; died at the age of 110. By the end of the final chapter of Genesis, the people, possibly descendants of Israel were in Egypt, living in bondage. In the meantime there arose a new king over Egypt, that did not know of Joseph, and he said to his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we" (Exodus 1:8-9). …show more content…
A number of scholars date the Exodus as occurring in the 11th or 13th century BCE and date the earliest writings in our Bible as occurring 200-300 years later. According to earlier accounts, the author of Exodus was said to be Moses; writing during the latter time period of Israel's life in the desert. In fact, the narrative gives several indications of a personal account of Egyptian culture that would be difficult to settle if the narrative had been completely written at a later date as suggested by
Bible commentary describes seventy descendants of Jacob entering into Egypt. This figure includes Joseph, who was already in Egypt, (having been sold into slavery by his brothers) and his sons. In Genesis 46, the descendants of Jacob are listed, including Joseph and eight of his heirs. The bible also counts Jacob's daughter Dinah and wife Aseneth, who also bore children to him. The firstborn son of Jacob was Reuben, who yielded an alternative number of seventy-five. The descendants of Jacob include off-spring born later in Egypt, after the migration. From Jacob’s family of seventy, an entire nation would develop in the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.
In a cross-reference of the Exodus narrative, I found the Book of Genesis concludes with the life of Joseph, who, as the last verse of Genesis reveals; died at the age of 110. By the end of the final chapter of Genesis, the people, possibly descendants of Israel were in Egypt, living in bondage. In the meantime there arose a new king over Egypt, that did not know of Joseph, and he said to his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we" (Exodus 1:8-9). …show more content…
A number of scholars date the Exodus as occurring in the 11th or 13th century BCE and date the earliest writings in our Bible as occurring 200-300 years later. According to earlier accounts, the author of Exodus was said to be Moses; writing during the latter time period of Israel's life in the desert. In fact, the narrative gives several indications of a personal account of Egyptian culture that would be difficult to settle if the narrative had been completely written at a later date as suggested by