ISAAC, JACOB

AND JOSEPH
Readings for Session 7, From Creation to Captivity

After reading this material, you should be able to:

• Compare God and Abraham as fathers who sacrificed their sons
• Explain the significance of the Hebrew concept of “begotten”
• List the differences between the finding, engagement, and marriage of
Rebekah to Isaac and our modern marriages
• Explain to a Jew and an Arab their common heritage and the reasons for
the historic disagreements of their peoples
• Illustrate “generational curse” from the lives of Abraham and Isaac
• Elucidate how God taught Jacob how awful it was to be deceived
• Recite the story of how the name “Israel” came to be
• Defend God’s reasons for ordaining awful things to happen to Joseph
• Describe how Joseph is a type of Christ

Read the material below and the handout that we will review in class.
Memorise Genesis 50:20

As we move through the Pentateuch, remember that Moses was writing

these things for the children of Israel who had just come out of Egypt. In
addition to all of the stories being true and inspired by God, there were
many things that were intended to “connect” with the Hebrews in their
situation. For instance,
• The Spirit of God hovering on the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2
was the same Spirit hovering over them in the pillar of cloud and fire there
in the desert.
• The God who delivered the righteous out of a wicked world in the
flood, and pulled Lot out of Sodom before the brimstone, was the same God
who delivered Israel from Egypt.
• The God who was making a covenant with Israel was the same God
who made covenants with Adam, Noah, and Abraham.
• The man named Canaan (Noah’s grandson) who was cursed had
wicked descendants living in the land God promised to Abraham; people
that they would have to defeat in several weeks.
• We see the recurring theme that God works out His promises
without fail in spite of using sinful losers and deceivers, and in
spite of obstacles and threats to their fulfillment.
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 2

ISAAC – GENESIS 23-25

Key Dates in Isaac’s Life: Isaac was born when

Abraham was 100 years old; thus, in the year 2066
B.C. His mother Sarah died when he was 37. At age
forty (2026 BC), Isaac married Rebekah, but she
couldn’t have children for twenty years. Then twins
were born to them when Isaac was 60 in 2006 BC.
Abraham died 15 years after that when Isaac was 75.
Isaac died at age 128 in 1938 BC.

On The Whole, A Good Guy

After Hagar and Ishmael left, Isaac grew up as virtually an only child, the
cherished focus of both parents; though Isaac was not Abraham’s only son,
he was his only “begotten” son. Isaac must have been startled at
Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice him (not exactly a good formula for dads
bonding with their sons). Remember that if he carried the wood for the fire
up the mountain, he may have been in his 20s and able to overcome his
father physically if he wanted to, but Isaac was a submissive son and
trusted Abraham.

Isaac was no doubt thankful for the ram, and embraced his father’s
affectionate name for God – Jehovah-Jireh (the LORD will provide), the idea
being that God will provide a substitute sacrifice. Both Isaac and the ram
that took Isaac’s place are pictures of Christ. Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis 22:14)
is the first of about ten compound names for Jehovah in the Old Testament.

NAME MEANING PASSAGE

Jehovah-Jireh The Lord will provide Genesis 22:14
Jehovah- The Lord who heals Exodus 15:26
Rapha you
Jehovah-Nissi The Lord my banner Exodus 17:8-15
Jehovah-M- The Lord who Exodus 31:13
Qaddesh sanctifies you
Jehovah- The Lord our peace Judges 6:24
Shalom
Jehovah- The Lord of hosts 1 Samuel 1:3
Sabaoth (armies)
Jehovah-Ra’ah The Lord my Psalm 23:1
Shepherd
Jehovah- The Lord our Jeremiah 23:6
Tsidkenu righteousness
Jehovah- The Lord is present Ezekiel 48:35
Shammah
Jehovah- The Lord God Judges 5:3
Elohim
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 3

Putting Mom in the Family Tomb

Sarah lived 127 years and died without
seeing her Isaac get married. The Cave of
Machpelah and the adjoining field were
purchased by Abraham from the sons of Heth
at full market price. It is interesting to note
the discussion in Genesis 23 between the
sons of Heth who wanted to give the land to
Abraham, and Abraham who wanted to pay
for it. Many believers are eager to get rich
and accept favors; Abraham refused riches repeatedly so as not to be
indebted to, or controlled by, anyone.

The cave was near the groves of oaks on the hills of Mamre (just north of
Hebron – see central lower part of the map) under which Abraham used to
sit. The double cave became the burial place of Sarah, then Abraham, and
then later Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah. The only one in the
Patriarchal families who is missing is Rachel, who was buried near
Bethlehem where she died giving birth to Benoni, renamed Benjamin.

The Cave of Machpelah is the world's most ancient (surviving) Jewish site
and the second holiest place for the Jewish people, after the Temple Mount
in Jerusalem. The impressive structure in the picture was built during the
Second Temple Period (about two thousand years ago) by King Herod of
Judea, providing a place for gatherings and
Jewish prayers at the graves of the
Patriarchs.

The building is the only ancient one in Israel

today that stands intact and still fulfills its
original function after thousands of years.
Foreign conquerors and invaders used the
site for their own purposes, depending on
their religious orientation: the Crusaders
transformed it into a church. About 700 years ago, the Muslims conquered
Hebron, declared the structure a mosque and forbade entry to Jews. The
Jews have been struggling to gain prayer rights at the site.

Marriage To Rebekah (Genesis 24): After Sarah died (age 127),

Abraham sent Eliezer back to Paddan Aram (northwestern Mesopotamia,
near Haran where Terah died) to get a wife for Isaac. The prime example
of a godly servant, he took the challenge (v.3), examined the alternatives
(v.5), promised to follow instructions (v.9), prayerfully made a plan and
asked for guidance (vv.12-14), looked for God’s answer (vv.15-21) and
accepted the answer thankfully (v.26). When you think of the lesson from
Eliezer, think of Genesis 24:27 – “As for me, being on the
way, the Lord led me …” Still waters cannot be directed;
we need to be eagerly serving the Lord while waiting for
the leading of His Spirit.
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 4

Rebekah would likely have drawn about 75 liters of water per camel, and
there were ten camels! A strong, beautiful virgin! But was she Semitic?
Yes, she was Isaac’s cousin’s daughter. Eliezer gave her a nose ring and
bracelets, and she took him to see the family. The family hosted Eliezer
that night, and he rehearsed the story. They concluded that the proposed
engagement was ordered by the Lord and were thrilled. Eliezer gave gifts
to the family and took Rebekah the next day and traveled back to Canaan.
With Isaac and Rebekah, it was love at first sight (v.62-67).

Abraham’s Last Hurrah (Genesis 25): Quite the man of virility, Abraham
married again at about age 150. Her name was Keturah, and together they
had six sons who became fathers of other Arabian peoples. Abraham also
had other concubines. When he died, Abraham left everything to Isaac, but
had given gifts to his other family and sent them packing toward the east
so as not to interfere with the claim of Isaac to the Promised Land.
Abraham was buried in the Cave of Machpelah.

JACOB AND ESAU (GENESIS 25 – 33)

Primogeniture: Primogeniture is the legal doctrine that states that the

oldest son inherits a double portion of his father’s estate – the other
children get a single portion. It was a birthright, so the birth of the first son
was a big event. Rebekah, like Sarah, couldn’t have children for about 20
years. Isaac prayed for his wife and she conceived twins – two guys that
fought in the womb. God told Rebekah they would be the father of two
nations, but that against the normal rule, the older
The Five Prayers for
would serve the younger (25:23). Children in the Bible

Abraham – Genesis 15:2

What’s In A Name? In the Scriptures (and in most Isaac – Genesis 25:21
cultures for most of human history), names are Rachel – Genesis 30:1, 22
Hannah – 1 Samuel 1:10-
important. At times, couples would wait as much as a 11
year before naming their child to observe its
disposition. Sometimes the name was intended to be prophetic of what the
child would become. At times, God would change a name (Abram to
Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Cephas to Peter). Rebekah’s first baby was red
and hairy all over so they named him not Harry but “hairy” – Esau. As he
came out, the other twin’s hand was holding his heel, so they named the
second “one who takes by deception” – Jacob. Jacob lived out the meaning
of his name.

Hairy and the Deceiver: Esau was all man – a hairy

hunter who loved to eat meat. Jacob was “mama’s boy”
who was quiet and not a bad cook. Esau came in
famished from a hunt one day and willingly sold his
birthright – his right to inherit everything from Isaac –
which he counted as nothing due to being a self-
sufficient hunter, to Jacob for a bowl of red soup. He
sacrificed the long-term on the altar of the immediate.
Hebrews 12:16 calls him “profane” – one who lives or speaks about
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 5

important things as though they are common and have no meaning. When
a person whips off a weighty word like “God” or “Christ” or “damn” as an
expletive, he is using “profanity.” But a person’s entire life can be profane.

The Sins Of The Fathers (Genesis 26): There was a famine in Canaan,
and Isaac and the family went to stay in Gaza, on the coast of the
Mediterranean. Guess what Isaac said when they asked him about his
beautiful wife, Rebekah? He said “She is my sister” just like Abraham did
twice with Egypt’s Pharaoh and King Abimelech of Gerar in Genesis 12 and
20. The lie was discovered, but they were allowed to stay – that is, until
Isaac’s wealth and herds multiplied so as to be a threat to the king.

Isaac moved about for a while digging wells and re-digging those filled in by
enemies. Esau married two Hittite women, and the family was a grief to
Isaac (26:35). He became the father of the nation of Edom to the southeast
of the Dead Sea, not far from the old Sodom area (see map of Canaan).

The Last Great Swindle (Genesis 27): When Isaac was very old and
almost blind, he called Esau to bless him. He knew Esau had lost the
birthright to inherit the bulk of his estate, but Isaac might at least make
some wonderful prophecy about Esau’s future. Isaac asked him to hunt for
some game for his ole dad. But while Esau was gone, Rebekah got Jacob to
roast two goats so he could pretend he was Esau and get the blessing.
What about hair? He used goat skins. Isaac was a little surprised at this
pseudo-Esau’s speed, and his voice sounded like Jacob, but he blessed him
anyway. If you study the “blessings” placed upon people in the Bible, they
follow a typical pattern:

Elements of Biblical Blessings

Physical Touch

Drawing Affirming the deed as Expressing a Projecting a favorable

attention to a indicating a good response of pleasure future based on the
good deed character trait and affection conduct

Just after Jacob left, Esau came in, and he and Isaac realized Jacob’s
deception. Esau wept for a blessing (27:34 and 38), and vowed to kill Jacob
after Isaac died. At Rebekah’s suggestion, Jacob fled to Paddan Aram
(Rebekah’s old home) to live with her brother, Laban. Isaac told Jacob not to
marry a Canaanite but to go back to Haran, specifically to his Uncle Laban,
to get a wife. The ruins of Haran are near the modern-day village of Haran
in southeastern Turkey.
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 6

Key Dates in
Jacob’s Life:
We said last time
that Jacob was
born around
2006 B.C. In
1930 B.C. (age
75), he stole the
blessing and fled
from Esau up to
the city of Haran
in Paddan Aram.
Twenty years
later, he returned
to Canaan. Jacob
died in Egypt in
about 1860 BC.

Jacob’s Ladder
(Genesis 28):
On his trip to
Haran, Jacob passed through central Palestine. While Jacob slept one night,
he had a dream in which he saw a ladder from earth up to heaven with
angels going up and down and the Lord at the top. For the first time, the
Lord promised Jacob the same blessing as Abraham and Isaac; He also
promised to be with Jacob wherever he went. Jacob named the place
“Bethel” - the house of God – and promised to give a tithe of his income to
the Lord.

Learning From a Deceiver … Like Me (Genesis 29): Jacob came to a

well in Paddan Aram and met Rachel, Laban’s daughter, who was a
shepherdess – a very nice looking shepherdess. Jacob was so excited he
greeted her, burst into tears (29:11) and told her who he was. Jacob fell in
love with her, and he made an agreement with Laban to work for seven
years to marry Rachel, his younger daughter. When the wedding day came,
guess what?! Jacob got Leah, the older daughter with bad eyes! Talk about
“bait and switch!” No, it was customary to give away the oldest first
(29:26). So, after the week-long wedding feast for Leah was concluded,
Jacob married Rachel (two wives in 8 days!) and then worked another seven
years for her.

The Great Baby Birth-Off (Genesis 29-30): This passage has a

wonderful note on God’s compassion (29:31). He saw Leah was unloved, so
He gave her children, but gorgeous Rachel couldn’t have children. The two
sister-wives became involved in a bitter race for children; later, the most
bitter strife in Israel was between the tribes from Leah and those from
Rachel. Interesting that Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel were all barren. The
Messiah and Israel’s best kings came from Judah, and the priests came from
Levi, both sons of Leah. Joseph and Benjamin were Jacob’s favourite sons.
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 7

The Great Baby Birth-Off

Jacob’s Twelve Sons In Order
Leah Zilpah Rachel Bilhah
1. 7. Gad 11. 5. Dan
Reuben Joseph
2. 8. Asher 12. 6.
Simeon Benjamin Naphtali
3. Levi
4. Judah
9.
Issachar
10.
Zebulun

Prospering In Business: Although Laban changed Jacob’s wages ten

times (31:7), God blessed Laban’s herds because Jacob was working with
him. Jacob wanted to return to Canaan, but Laban asked him to stay on;
Jacob agreed to stay, and asked for Laban’s speckled and spotted goats and
lambs as payment. Then God made Laban’s strong stock give birth to all
speckled and streaked offspring, and Jacob ended up with huge herds
(30:37-43).

Heading Back to Canaan (Genesis 31-33): The Lord told Jacob to return
to Canaan. Knowing Laban would give him a hard time, the family slipped
away and crossed the Euphrates. But Rachel stole Laban’s household gods,
which makes one wonder whether she was a believer. Laban caught up with
Jacob at Gilead (near Galilee) and gave him an earful for taking off without
good-byes and for stealing his gods. Laban searched Jacob’s tents but
found nothing. Why? (See 31:34-35). The two made a peace covenant and
parted ways.

Jacob Meets Esau

Jacob sent peace emissaries to Esau in Edom, but they came back saying
“Esau is coming this way with 400 men!” Abraham and Jacob both came to
Canaan at God’s direction and found trouble waiting. Jacob divided his
group into two and prayed for God’s mercy. He prepared a gift of 550
animals for Esau and sent them ahead (32:13).

Wrestling With The Angel: Jacob saw angels going from and coming to
Canaan. Jacob wrestled with “a man” one night until daybreak, and the
man put Jacob’s hip out of socket giving him a permanent limp. Still, Jacob
refused to let him go until he blessed him.

The Birth of “Israel”: It was in this incident that the “man” – the Angel of
the Lord – changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” because he had struggled with
God, and then he blessed Jacob. This is where the name Israel begins. The
children of Israel are the descendants of Jacob. Abraham was referred to
once as being a Hebrew, and children of Israel will become known by this
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 8

title in Egypt (see Genesis 39:14). Hebrews were first called Jews in
Babylon (@ 605 BC) because they were from Judea – Jew-dea.

Reconciliation With Esau: The next morning, brave Jacob was at the
very back of the caravan. He bowed himself seven times to Esau. Esau
threw his arms around him, kissed him and they both cried. Jacob
introduced the family; Esau tried to decline Jacob’s huge gift, but Jacob
insisted. Relations were restored. Jacob had learned much living with a
deceiver like himself for 20 years, and it seems that Esau had mellowed a
bit as well.

The Massacre At Shechem (Genesis 34): Jacob ended up near

Shechem where his daughter Dinah was raped. Jacob’s sons said the men
of Shechem could marry their women if they were circumcised, which the
men did. Ouch – and while the men were in pain, Simeon and Levi went in
and killed every male in the town! Jacob returned to Bethel, purged his
house of all idols, and built an altar to the Lord (35:7). On the way to settle
in Hebron, near Bethlehem, Rachel had a very difficult delivery of a son and
died. She named him Benoni (son of sorrow), but Jacob renamed him
Benjamin (son of my right hand). Isaac also soon died and was buried by
both Jacob and Esau.

JOSEPH (GENESIS 34-50)

Key Dates in Joseph’s Life: Joseph was the 10th son of Jacob and was
born about 1915 B.C. He was sold into slavery in about 1900 B.C. at age
15. He became ruler of Egypt in 1885 B.C. at age 30 and died in 1805 B.C.
at age 90.

Joseph’s Move To Egypt (Genesis 37): Jacob’s

favorite son was Joseph, and he made him a
colorful or richly ornamented coat. His brothers’
jealousy was made worse by the dreams Joseph
had which he cheerfully related to his family. In
the first dream, Joseph’s brothers’ sheaves bowed
down to Joseph’s sheaf. In the second dream, the
sun, moon and eleven stars bowed down to him.
Even his father, Jacob, rebuked him for the implications of the 2nd dream.

One day, Joseph went to “check on” his brothers in Dothan (see map) for
Jacob. When they saw him, they conspired to kill him, but Reuben
intervened, and they took his coat and threw him into a pit. After lunch,
they sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelites (second cousins) going to Egypt
for twenty pieces of silver, stained his coat with blood and gave it to Jacob
making him believe Joseph had been killed. Jacob grieved deeply.

From Prestige To Prison (Genesis 39-40): Potiphar, Pharaoh’s Captain

of the Guard, bought Joseph. The Lord caused everything Joseph did to be
successful, so Potiphar put him in charge of his entire house. But Potiphar’s
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 9

wife had her eyes on Joseph, who had grown to be quite handsome, and
invited him one day to have sex with her. Joseph said that such a thing
would breach the trust Potiphar had placed in him and be a sin against God.
Notice that Joseph cited relational reasons, and his commitment to the
Lord, as his reasons for doing right – the highest type of motivations. He
wasn’t merely worried about the consequences.

MOTIVATIONS TO DO RIGHT
Love & Respect for God Moral Relation Believing
al
Love & Respect for Moral Relation
others al
Love & Respect for Moral Relation
authority al
Because it is right – Moral
conscience
Fear of the Selfish
consequences

Still, Potiphar’s wife kept after him day after day. One day she grabbed
him, but he fled. So she decided to scream, claiming he had tried to rape
her. Joseph was put in the king’s prison. While in prison, God gave Joseph
the interpretations of the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. The
cupbearer was to be restored to Pharaoh’s house after three days, the
baker was to be hanged in three days. That’s what happened. But the
cupbearer forgot about Joseph rather than helping him out, so two more
years went by in prison (41:1). Did you notice that verse? The verse is just
a very casual statement – but two more years went by! Can you imagine
waiting in a prison two years for God’s purposes to eventually roll around to
fulfillment?

From Prisoner to President (Genesis 41):

When Pharaoh had dreams which no one could
interpret, the cupbearer remembered Joseph
who was then brought up and interpreted his
dreams (41:9-14). Joseph said that God had
told Pharaoh what God was going to do; the
dreams signified the coming of seven good
years of plenty followed by seven years of
famine. Joseph recommended that someone
be put in charge to set grain aside on a set schedule; Pharaoh chose Joseph
as that man! He was age 30.

Pharaoh made Joseph second only to himself; he gave Joseph royal clothes
and jewelry, the signet ring, and his second chariot in which to ride with
callers running before him commanding people to bow the knee! For seven
years, there were huge harvests, and Joseph stored the excess grain in
granaries in each city. Joseph also married an Egyptian woman and had
two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. They became the heads of two land-
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 10

holding tribes replacing Joseph and Levi. Then, the famine began in the
entire Middle East, and after awhile, only Egypt had food. The country
made a fortune selling food to other countries.

Repentance Lessons (Genesis 42-45)

Lesson #1: After two years of famine, Jacob
kept Benjamin but sent the other ten sons
from Hebron to Egypt for grain. When his
brothers came in, they bowed down to Joseph
(remember Joseph’s 1st dream?). He
recognized them, but they didn’t recognize
him, and he accused them of being spies. First
he put them all in prison for three days; then,
he told them to leave one brother behind in
prison, take the grain, and bring their youngest brother back to Egypt.
Reuben told his brothers (in Hebrew) that God was punishing them for
selling Joseph, but of course, Joseph understood them. On their way out,
Joseph also had their money secretly put back in their sacks with the grain,
and when they saw it, they knew they were in big trouble.

Lesson #2: Despite Jacob’s protest, they returned with Benjamin, double
the money and gifts (43:11-14). Joseph had them taken to his house; they
were very frightened thinking he would imprison them for taking the
money. When Joseph saw Benjamin (his only full brother), he went out and
cried (43:30). At dinner, Joseph sat them in order of age, and Benjamin got
five times more than anyone else! When they left, Joseph had his cup put
secretly in Benjamin’s sack. When it was discovered, Judah offered himself
as a slave instead of Benjamin. Joseph then burst into tears and let them
know who he was, and that he had forgiven them. When Pharaoh heard of
the news, he offered the best of Egypt, the land of Goshen, to Joseph’s
family.

Israel Moves To Egypt (Genesis 46-47): After receiving God’s

confirmation, Jacob and the families (70 people) moved to Goshen in the
eastern delta region of Egypt. The Jews stayed separate from the
Egyptians who considered shepherds to be an abomination. Jacob, who
was now 130 years old, and five brothers had an interview with Pharaoh,
and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. The famine continued to be bad. First, Joseph
accepted money, and when that ran out, livestock, and when that ran out,
land. So, Pharaoh ended up owning almost all of the land and the people
gave him 1/5 of their produce - and Joseph was very popular with Pharaoh.

Blessing the Fathers of the Tribes: Jacob lived in Egypt 17 years and
died at age 147. Before he died, and knowing that God had promised his
family the land of Canaan, he made Joseph promise to bury him in Canaan –
and they did, in the Cave of Machpelah. Jacob’s prophecies regarding some
of his own children were pretty bleak. His most significant words were for
Judah who would be praised by the other tribes, triumphant and given to
rulership (49:8-9). King David and Jesus came from this line. Jacob also
blessed Joseph’s children as his own (48:5, 13-22).
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 11

We See Jesus in the Person of Joseph:

• Loved by his father
• Despised by his brothers
• Sold for the price of a slave
• Falsely accused
• Placed with two other prisoners
• Went public at age 30
• Exalted after suffering ANCIENT EGYPT
• Forgave those who wronged him
Prehistoric Period – to 3000 BC
• What men did to hurt him turned out
for the good of many Early Dynastic Period – 3000-2650 BC
(1st and 2nd Dynasties)
Notes: Unification under one ruler; capitol at
A LITTLE EGYPTIAN Memphis; royal tombs at Abydos and Saqqara

HISTORY Old Kingdom – 2650-2150 BC

(3rd - 6th Dynasties)
Exodus 1:8 states that a new Notes: 4th Dynasty (2575-2465 BC) Khufu and
Khafre build the great pyramids at Giza; strong
king came to power in Egypt centralized government
who “did not know Joseph.”
First Intermediate Period – 2150-2040 BC
Since Egypt kept detailed (7th – 12th Dynasties)
records of its kings and Notes: Collapse of central government; country
divided among local rulers; famine and poverty
dynasties, why didn’t he know
Joseph? Who was this pharaoh Middle Kingdom – 2040-1674 BC
(11th – 13th Dynasties)
who initially refused, but was Notes: Reunification by Theban rulers; powerful
central government; expansion into Nubia
eventually obliged to acquiesce (Sudan); toward the end, there was a rapid
to Moses' demand that the succession of rulers
Israelites should be released Second Intermediate Period – 1674-1560 BC
from bondage? The answer lies (14th – 17th Dynasties)
Notes: Country was divided with Palestinian
with the “Hyksos Dynasties.” peoples (Hyksos) ruling in the delta area; capitol
was Avaris

The Hyksos were Palestinian people who New Kingdom – 1560-1070 BC

settled in the eastern Nile delta region
(right around Goshen) as early as 1820 BC.
This likely included Jacob and his family of
70, and other peoples who flocked to Egypt
during the seven year famine. About 130
years after Joseph died, Egypt was
undergoing political disintegration; there
was no central Pharaoh but instead a
proliferation of local rulers. The Palestinian
groups united and embarrassingly took
over Egypt; ruling it for about 108 years
from 1674 to 1567 BC. Their capitol was
the fortified city of Avaris.
(18th -20th Dynasties)
Notes: Reunification by Theban rulers; Thebes
is capitol; expulsion of Hyksos from the Delta;
period of greatest expansion and prosperity;
famous kings like Amenhotep and Thutmose;
the Exodus was in 1445 BC during the 18th
Dynasty
Third Intermediate Period – 1070-712 BC
(21st-24th Dynasties)
Notes: Egypt in decline; it was likely Pharaoh
Siamun who gave his daughter to marry
Solomon; Shishak mentioned in Bible
Late Period – 712-332 BC
(25th-31st Dynasties)
Notes: Ends with Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest
(Persia); followed by Greece and Rome

In their writings, the Egyptians called these kings "rulers of foreign lands,"
translated in Egyptian as "hega-khase". Greek authors later rendered this
as "Hyksos," which was mistranslated as "shepherd kings." For this reason,
many scholars believed the Hyksos to be only the children of Israel, but
there is no archaeological basis for this.
From Creation To Captivity, Session 7 – CMI Student Reading 12

Most of the Hyksos were Semitic city dwellers from southern Palestine who
were polytheistic. They did not impose their gods on Egypt, and the official
language remained Egyptian. The success of Hyksos imperialism can be
attributed largely to their use of technological innovations such as
introducing the horse and chariot, the battering ram, and the composite
bow. They adopted Egyptian manners and laws, and continued trade
relations with the Minoans and Babylonians.

The Hyksos were unable to quell the feelings of Egyptian nationalism. The
southern Egyptian city of Thebes finally began a war of independence that
culminated with the expulsion of the Hyksos by Ahmose I in 1567 BC.
Afterward, a concerted effort was mounted to rid Egypt of any trace of the
embarrassing Hyksos influence. They are recognized by today’s Egyptians
and listed as legitimate kings, but no tombs from these half a dozen rulers
have been found and their personal names were non-Egyptian.

Thus, it appears that the biblical, historical, and archaeological data are
best served by theorizing that Joseph served under a Pharaoh of the 12th
Dynasty (perhaps Amenemhet III). The settlement of his family and other
Palestinian people in the eastern Nile delta region took place around 1878
BC. Accordingly, the "new king" of Exodus 1:8 would have been one of the
truly Egyptian monarchs of the New Kingdom who, as part of his Hyksos
purge, resolutely refused to recognize Joseph’s value in Egyptian history
and rejected the validity of the Goshen land grant. Hence, there is no
mention of Joseph or the Hebrews in Egyptian documents of the period.
Discerning in the Israelites a multitude that might very well join with his
Hyksos enemies in war, this new king acted quickly to enslave the
Israelites.