Slavery in Egypt

Early slavery theory

According to the biblical account, the Israelites lived in Egypt for several generations and were later enslaved under Pharaoh, forced into harsh labor and construction projects before being liberated in the Exodus under Moses. Some historical theories connect the background of this tradition to the Hyksos period, when Semitic-speaking peoples from Canaan lived in the Nile Delta and ruled parts of northern Egypt before being expelled by Egyptian rulers. In this view, memories of Semitic groups in Egypt, their rise, oppression, and expulsion may have helped shape the Israelite memory of slavery and redemption.