Description
Egypt, sometimes enemy, sometimes friend
People of ancient Israel and Judah often fled to Egypt during times of crisis, looking for refuge from war, famine, and political turmoil. Egypt, with its stable government and fertile land nourished by the Nile, was a natural place to escape hardship.
Abraham’s retreat during famine
One of the earliest recorded instances was when Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt during a severe famine (Genesis 12:10). Later, Joseph’s brothers traveled there for grain during another famine, leading to the Israelites' eventual settlement in Egypt (Genesis 42–46). However, their stay turned into centuries of slavery until Moses led them out in the Exodus (Exodus 1–14).
Israel, Judah fleeing from neighbors
Centuries later, during the Babylonian invasion of Judah in the 500s BC, many Judeans fled to Egypt to escape destruction. After Jerusalem fell in 586 BC, some survivors, including the prophet Jeremiah (against his will), took refuge there despite his warnings from God (Jeremiah 42–43). Egypt's protection was short-lived, as the Babylonians later extended their reach and invaded Egypt.
Egypt symbolized both safety and spiritual danger for Israelites, offering security but also exposing them to foreign gods and reliance on human power instead of divine help. This tension made Egypt a recurring Bible theme of slavery and deliverance.
