Biblical Hebrew Forum

[<tladatsi AT charter.net>]

Harold,

The relation between the Hyksos, Isrealites, and Egyptians 
has of course been one of interest to many writers, myself 
included.  However, I dont think we can find relavent 
information on this relationship in this particular story.

You are correct that as the rulers of Egypt, the Hyksos 
would have been perceived in some way as being *Egyptian*, 
particularly to outsiders.  However, the thrust of the 
story goes the other direction.  The *Egyptians* and their 
king, fear the Isrealites as possible allies of outside 
invaders.  This is an unlikely attitude for the Hyksos 
rulers of Egypt who were themselves outside invaders and 
would have viewed the Israelites as *natural* allies 
against the sullen, resentfull, conquered Egyptians.

It is an appropriate attitude for much later Egyptian 
rulers however.  After the conquest of Judea by Babylon, 
many Judeans fled to Egypt.  There they found work as 
solders for the Egyptian kings.  When the Medes and 
Persians overthrew the Babylonians and showed favor to the 
Judeans, the Egyptian king might legitimately have been 
concerned that his solders might support a Persian invasion 
of Egypt.


Jack Tladatsi