The Old Testament and the Hyksos pharaohs

Disclaimer: This lecture does not reflect the views of The Study of Antiquity and the Middle Ages. I make them available for the pleasure of certain subscribers and they provide an interesting aspect of historiography.

In the Old Testament, when Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his envious brothers, the region of Lower Egypt was dominated by the Hyksos pharaohs, the so-called "Shepherd Kings", who were of Semitic origin. This may partly explain why Joseph was ultimately appointed vizier to one of these pharaohs, after his prediction of "plenty" followed by "famine." The story of Joseph remains one of the most beloved stories in the Bible, and his lecture strives to understand the story in light of its historical context.

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