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To truly understand the reasons for having any temple at Jerusalem, one really should
begin with the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This has now been firmly established
as having taken place in the year 1447 NC; in the reign of Dudimose; the last Pharaoh of
the 13th. Dynasty, (1448-1440 NC). (See Appendix C) Hitherto,
Ramesses II had always been held responsible for cruelty to the Jews during the Oppression
or Bondage and which ended with the Exodus. Whereas in fact he was of the 19th. Dynasty
and reigned nearly 500 years later. There will be more about him further on.
Up until the time of the Exodus, the Israelites had lived and worked in Egypt for
almost 215 years (not 430 years as in the Old Testament (1)).
Joseph (Yoséf) was, in fact, the first to lead his people from Canaan to Egypt, albeit
unintentionally. This arose because seven of his brothers, jealous of his obvious high
intelligence, had kidnapped him, thrown him into a well, and were contemplating the means
of his death, when a passing caravan of Midianites presented a more convenient solution.
Instead, therefore, Joseph was sold to them, and the Midianites in turn sold him as a
bonded slave to Potiphar, head of the Royal Guard at Memphis. This was in 1683 NC and
Joseph was barely seventeen years old.
After a while, his new situation attracted the amorous attentions of Potiphar's wife,
but Joseph would have none of them. Consequently, he was imprisoned on the false charge of
sexual harassment. Whilst in prison, he befriended two former courtiers and, through them,
acquired a reputation for accurate interpretations of dreams.
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Upon his release, one of these courtiers later told Pharaoh Amenemhat III, Pharaoh of
Upper and Lower Egypt. The king became curious, as he himself had been bedevilled by the
recurring dreams of seven lean cows eating seven fat cows. Joseph was brought before
Pharaoh to give his interpretation. This amounted to a warning that Egypt would enjoy
seven prosperous years but that this would be followed by seven years of famine. Joseph
advised prudence and comprehensive planning. Pharaoh was so impressed that he promoted
Joseph immediately to the post Vizier. So it was in 1670 NC, that Joseph became the most
powerful man in the country, second only to Pharaoh himself. He was now aged thirty.
Eight years later, with the predicted famine having its effect, Joseph encouraged his
father, Jacob (Ya’akóv), together with a large number of relatives and other Jews,
to emigrate to Egypt from Canaan in order to enjoy the benefits of Joseph's husbandry, and
to begin what became known as The Sojourn.
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