How much did Ancient Egypt influence Judaism?

Question

Since the Jews lived in Ancient Egypt for around 400 years, it would seem that the Egyptians would have some influence on them. Were the Ten Commandments created from Egyptian philosophies of that time?

Answer 1

Actually, there was a pharoah, Akhanatten (sp.?) who was believed to be the first monotheism. He believed the Atten, or sun disk, was the one true god, and stopped funding all the other Egyptian temples. Needless to say, priests from the powerful temple of Ra were not amused, and had him assassinated. Tutankhammun followed him, and is believed to be either his son or brother. The Jews may have developed monotheism based on his beliefs. The only other idea in the 10 commandments that was unique to the Israelis was the idea of a Sabbath, where no work was to be done. Up to that point, all people worked 7 days a week. Remember, too, part of the problem Moses had with the children of Israel was that they were trying to worship the golden calf? Belief in idols was something that they would have picked up from exposure to the Egyptians.

Answer 2

Ancient Egypt was military, economic and cultural superpower in its day. It exerted a huge influence all along the Levant, and even into places as distant as Greece and Asia Minor.

It is almost certain that Egypt influenced the Hebrew settlements that coalesced into Israel and later Judah. However, these kinds of influences were not documented in the Bible, which is almost our only written source for the history of Judaism. (Not that it is really "history" but it is a unique source.)

Perhaps the Egyptian influence can be seen most strongly in psalm 104, which is believed to have been influenced by the "Hymn to Aten". The 10 Commandments is unlikely to be Egyptian in origin; commandments 4 - 10 are pretty much commonsense and 1 -3 are very specific to the religion of Judaism.

Answer 3

The Jews lived in isolation from the Egyptians ... completely by God's design. If you read in Genesis, it states that the Egyptians found the Jews to be detestable because they kept livestock. That's why they were given the land of Goshen.

Gen. 46:33-34 'When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, 'What is your occupation?' you should answer, 'Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.'

Their only interaction would have been slave drivers of Egypt, etc., and the fact that Moses was educated in the house of Pharaoh. But the 10 Commandments came directly from God, not out of Moses' head.

I guess if I had to admit to any influence it would be in the area of idolatry. It is thought that the reason the Israelites created a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain was because they had seen the Egyptians worship a cow god, Apis.

Answer 4

Egypt influenced the Hebrews quite a bit, but, you have to remember that at that time, the religion was not called Judaism. Judah was just one of the 12 tribes of Israel. All of Israel for that 400 years in Egypt, were strongly "influenced" by Egyptian sun worshipping religion. After they left Egypt, they worshipped the calf while Moses was on the mountain getting the 10 commandments from God. All Israel (the 12 tribes) struggled along with Baal worship or "sun worship" that they picked up in Egypt, for many years after they left. (Baal worship is mentioned over 80 times in the bible) Eventually, 10 of the tribes of Israel broke away from Judah (and Benjamin) and started full scale Baal worship completely rejecting the Sabbath etc.... And because of that, they were taken into captivity around 700 bc and they never returned. They are called the ten lost tribes.

Judah also had problems with Baal worship. Book of Jeremiah written to Judah long after the ten tribes are gone, mentions Baal 13 times. Judah because of that went into captivity for 70 years, but they returned and they repented of their Baal worship, and since then, have been 'faithful' to a stong degree. But the Jews are only 1 tribe of what used to be 12 tribes.

Answer 5

i really do not know.. but i guess when 2 cultures interact...either as equals or one being dominant than the other.. there is always some kind of cultural interchange.......what influence should be interested in knowing....

Answer 6

It didn't, they were two seperate communities.

p.s. the jews were never slaves.