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The history of Egypt extends back to the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. The unification of Lower and Upper Egypt by Menes, the first Pharaoh of the 1st Dynasty and the builder of Memphis, opened a new era in Egypt. The 1st Dynasty lasted about 200 years. Of the 2nd Dynasty, little is known, but it is believed that a religious or political revolution took place during this period.
The 4th, 5th, and 6th Dynasties comprise the Old Kingdom of Egypt. It was during this time period that many of the famous pyramids were built, including Cheops Pyramid (2,650 B.C.). During the 6th Dynasty, the central authority of the Pharaohs seemed to deteriorate.
The First Intermediate Period (2,181-2133 B.C.) was a time of disorder and fighting. The Middle Kingdom rose with the foundation of the 11th Dynasty (2,133-1991 B.C.). As it relates to Biblical history, this is the time period when the Egyptians began significantly influencing surrounding cultures (Canannite) with its own. The Patriarchs now have contact with the Egyptians. (Abraham, Gen. 12:10; Joseph, Gen. 37-50). During this time, the religious system developed even more in Egypt. Of the more significant gods/goddesses of the Egyptians, these included Ra (sun/sky god who created earth), Osiris (god of the dead), Amun (a god of creation), Apis (sacred bull of Ptah), Hathor (mother goddess of fertility and beauty), Isis (goddess of life), Khnum (guardian of the Nile), Horus (falcon god), Anubis (god of embalming), and Nut (sky goddess in the form of a cat).
Interestingly, Joseph became a high official (vizier) in the Egyptian government. According to an inscription of Rekhmira (18th Dynasty), the "job description" of perhaps the office Joseph held is mentioned (see Gen. 41:41-43), "To be a vizier requires not mildness but firmness. You must not take sides when a petitioner comes from Upper of Lower Egypt. Remember also that an official must live with his face uncovered (ie. his life must be an open book). The wind and the water report all that he does. Look upon your friend as a stranger and a stranger as a friend. An official who acts in this way will hold his post a long time. Do not send away any petitioner unheard and do no brusquely reject what he says. If you refuse him, let him know why you refuse him. A man with a grievance likes his tales of woe to be heard sympathetically even more than he wants it put right. Do not fly into a rage with a man wrongfully. A real magistrate is always feared. For if people (strangers) are positively frightened out of their wits by him, it can do his reputation a good deal of harm. People won't say of him, 'there is a find fellow.'" Relate this description with how Joseph treated his brothers!
During the Second Intermediate Period and later the New Kingdom, Egypt peaked in its military strength. The first king to extend his powers to the north (Canaan) was Thutmose I (1,525-1512 B.C.). Also, it was Thutmose II and his wife Hatshepsut who reigned relentlessly with her stepson Thutmose III for 22 years. One of these Pharaohs of the Thutmose family (III) was probably the Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Throughout Old Testament history, the presence of the Egyptian nation and its culture was felt in Israel. Pharaoh Shishak (935-914 B.C.) invaded Judah during the early stages of the Divided Kingdom of Israel/Judah. Pharaoh Necho II (610-595) was the ruler who killed Josiah at Megiddo.
During the Persian Period, and at the death of Darius I (521-486 B.C.), Egypt rebelled against Persia but was put down by Xerxes (486-464 B.C.). Later, during the Hellenistic Period , Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. After the conquest, Alexander founded Alexandria which he intended to be the center of greek culture. Greek rule over Egypt began with Ptolemy I Soter. Under Ptolemy Epiphanes, Egypt lost all its extra-territorial possessions except Cyprus. In 25 B.C it was conquered by Augustus, who made it his personal domain. Egypt remained a Roman province until its conquest by the Arabs in 638 A.D.
1. Gen. 12:10f Abraham goes to Egypt.
2. Gen. 21 Hagar was an Egyptian
3. Gen. 26 Isaac, during a famine in Israel, was about to go to Egypt for safety. The Lord instructs him not to go.
4. Gen. 37-50 The selling of Joseph into Egypt. Most likely, Joseph becomes vizier. (ie. prime minister)
5. Ex. 1-12:36 Egyptian bondage. Building of many palaces and temples with the help of Israelite slaves. The 10 Plagues.
6. I Kg. 9:16 Pharaoh Shishak from Egypt takes Gezer in Israel (a heavily fortified Solomonic city).
7. I Kg. 10:28 Solomon brings horses and chariots from Egypt.
8. II Kg. 23:29 Necho II /Josiah confrontation at Megiddo.
9. Mt. 2:13-19 Joseph, Mary, and Jesus come to Egypt for safety from Herod.
1. THE GREAT PYRAMID:
Of the 80+ pyramids standing today in Egypt, this is the most famous structure perhaps in the world. It was built by Pharaoh Khufu (greek: Cheops, 4th Dynasty) around 2,550 B.C. Almost 2.3 million blocks of stone, the average stone weighing 2.5 tons with other stones weighing as much as 15 tons, were used to build this towering pyramid (449 feet high). It is estimated that it took up to 100,000 men working for 20 seasons to complete this pyramid. a royal tomb for the Pharaoh. The pyramid towers some 480 feet in the air. As mentioned in one of the oldest collection of religious texts of ancient Egypt, "The glory of the King is in the sky, His power is in the horizon..." Of the many amazing "facts" of this pyramid, consider the following astronomical and mathematical figures:
a. The length of the diagonals of the base of the pyramid is 25,827 inches, the number of years for the cycle of the procession of the equinoxes.
b. The length of each base of the pyramid is 365.2422 Hebrew cubits, corresponding to the number of solar days in a year.
c. Twice the length of the base of the pyramid divided by the height in cubits is 3.14159, or the mathematical equivalent of
d. In multiplying the altitude of the pyramid by 10, raised by the 9th power is 91,840,000, or the distance of the earth from the sun (for every 10 feet up the angle of the slope of the pyramid, 9 feet is gained in altitude).
Today, one can walk into the pyramid and up a long narrow hallway until one gets to the burial room. In the burial room is a stone sarcophagus. The pyramid also includes airshafts, relieving chambers, an underground unfinished burial chamber, and an escape shaft.
2. THE SECOND PYRAMID:
Built by Khafre (Khufu's son), this pyramid (446 feet high) is located to the southwest of his father's pyramid. Also built of whiter limestone, its interior is simple, with two entrances on the north side. Only a small part of the limestone covering exists.
3. THE THIRD PYRAMID:
Built by Menkaure (Mycerinus), this pyramid is located southwest of the Great and Second pyramids. It is much smaller than either one (203 feet high). It is distinguished by the fact that the lower part of its sides still retain their granite slab coverings. This pyramid also was built to house the dead body of the king.
4. THE SPHINX:
This is one of the most famous monuments in the world. This statue is legendary, for it has the body of a lion and a face of a man. It is close to 187 feet long and 66 feet high.. Scholars are of the opinion that the face closely resembles that of King Kephren (Khafre). It was built by this Pharaoh to guard the way to the pyramid.5. SAQQARA (STEPPED) PYRAMID:
Saqqara is the oldest ancient Egyptian cemetery/pyramid. This structure dates to 2,700 B.C. It was built by Imhotep for King Zoser, the first of the rd Dynasty pharaohs. It is of the mastaba-type.(sun-baked mud brick structures with walls including carved or painted scenes called relief's.Archeological Sites and "Regions"
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