The
Opression 
In the Book of Exodus, Chapter 1 verse 8, we read that "there arose
up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph ". This "king" must have been
Ahmose, the first king of the Eighteenth Dynasty and who drove the Hyskos
from their place in Egypt. Since the Hyskos were Semetic like the Hebrews,
the Egyptians equated them with the hated Hyskos like humans are
so prone to do in modern times. It is said in the Bible that "he knew not"
Joseph or had no sympathy for the plight of the Hebrews.
It has been shown through the documents and history of this time, that Asiatics
had become fully intregrated into Egyptian society. They can be found to be merchants,
weavers, cooks, brewers, and all other kinds of artisan activities. Also, they started to
be found in positions of importance trust not accorded to foreigners again until the
Greek Ptolmeys. These Asiatics are difficult to trace beyond the first generation
or so since they and their children took Egyptian names and so lost their foriegn identities.
It is these that the Pharoah Ahmose wanted to purge. These Asiatics who had grown in such power
and prestige that it threated his kingdom.
Amenhotep I (1548 - 1528 BC) most likely carried out his father's oppressive
measures. We learned earlier that the date of the Exodus was 1456
BC, and Moses was 80 years old when he lead his people from Egpyt....placing
his birth in 1536 BC. Therefore, Amenhotep I was more than likely the one
who ordered that all the male children of the Hebrew be killed on birth.
Thutmose I (1528-1508 BC) was very militaristic and led many campaignes
into Palestine. He was also the father of Hatshepsut (1504 - 1483 BC).
She was a very ambitious woman and not one bound by tradition based on
how she manipulated for power in her later years. It is also not too far
afield to equate her to the "daughter of Pharoah" in the Bible who took
Moses from the river and raised him as her own, since it would take
someone of her strength to raise a male Hebrew child in the very palace
of Pharoah in light of his order....not to mention that her age would be
perfect for such an event to take place.
Following her came the Pharoahs Thutmose the II and III who continued to
expand Egypt broadly from 1508 - 1448 BC. Moses was in the desert for a
period of 40 years until the Pharoah that he was raised under died. There
was only one Pharoah before Ramses II that ruled for more than 40
years....Thutmose the III, the contempory of Moses. It is possible that Thutmose III could
be the Pharoah of the Exodus being at the end of his reign and the vagueness of the dates.
They were followed by Amenhotep II (1448 - 1423 BC) who was more than likely
the Pharoah of the Exodus. His successor, Thutmose IV, was not his first
born son and left behind the "Dream Stele", in which he claims that
the Great Sphinx came to him in a dream and told him that though he was
not the eldest son, he would still be Pharoah....just like the Bible says.
