2006-08-09 11:03:29 · 3 answers · asked by sammy's girl 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I thought that the story in Exodus was self-explanatory.
2006-08-09 11:09:53 · answer #1 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were immigrants to Egypt, at first on very friendly terms with the Pharaoh, but then as generations passed, their population and prosperity rapidly grew. A new Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph (The Hebrew that was in with the Egyptian government to begin with) began to see them as a threat and decided to make them into slaves. He was afraid that with all their big numbers, they would decide to overthrow him, and start their own government. The question is, how did the Pharaoh do it? Sudden brute force? Or a slow, but sure removal of their freedoms?
2006-08-09 11:31:41 · answer #2 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The jewish tradition explains as follows:
First the jews were residents. But the egyptians didn't like us so they had an idea: they started a social service program where everyone chipped in to help better egypt (e.g. build pyramids or whatever). Its said that on the first day, even pharoh showed up and worked. so the jews, being good citizens, showed up to chip in (except for the tribe of levi, I believe, who were busy studying torah.)
After awhile, the jews were relegated to the harder work and the egyptians played overseer -- all coincidental, mind you.
soon, the jews were expected to meet a quota. and from there it wasn't too long till the mission was accomplished: the enslavement of the jewish people.
I know from personal experience, that I've often found myself "enslaved" after volunteering for something! lol
2006-08-09 11:21:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋