Chapter 1: A Nation in Chains

[Take videos from Joseph episode from folder 'enhancedVideos'] \ A famine once threatened to destroy the entire land of Egypt. But God had placed a Hebrew man named Joseph inside Pharaoh's palace, and through him, Egypt survived. Pharaoh was so grateful that he invited Joseph's father, Jacob, and his entire family to leave Canaan and settle in Egypt. He gave them the land of Goshen, the richest pastureland in the kingdom. Jacob brought his sons and their families. Seventy people in all.

In the eastern delta, in a land given to them by a grateful king, the family of Jacob put down roots. They were fruitful and multiplied so greatly that the land was filled with them. (Exodus 1:7)

Then Joseph died. And his brothers died. And the entire generation that had known him passed away. And a new king rose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. (Exodus 1:6-8)

No record tell us this Pharaoh's name. But history preserved what he feared.

PHARAOH (to his advisors): "Look, the people of Israel are more and mightier than we are. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply even more, and if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land." (Exodus 1:9-10)

He set taskmasters over them and afflicted them with heavy burdens. They were forced to build Pithom and Raamses, Pharaoh's treasure cities, working in mortar and brick and in all kinds of labor in the field. (Exodus 1:11-14)

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and spread, and the Egyptians began to fear the people of Israel. (Exodus 1:12)

Pharaoh needed a different solution. The one he chose next would be far worse than bricks and mortar.