Joseph death in Egypt

After Joseph died at the age of 110, the situation for the Israelites in Egypt changed dramatically, shifting from a favored, honored family to an enslaved, oppressed people

. The Book of Exodus begins with the rise of a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph and viewed the increasing number of Israelites as a threat. 

Here is what happened after Joseph’s death:

• Embalming and Burial: Joseph was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt, in accordance with Egyptian custom, but he made his brothers swear that they would carry his bones with them when God eventually led them out of Egypt to the Promised Land.
• Rapid Population Growth: Despite the change in leadership, the children of Israel continued to be fruitful and increased in number, filling the land.
• Rise of a New Pharaoh: A new king arose who did not know Joseph (or ignored his legacy). Fearing the strength and numbers of the Israelites, he plotted to reduce their power.
• Enslavement and Oppression: The Egyptians forced the Israelites into slavery, appointing taskmasters to afflict them with heavy burdens. They were forced to build the "storage" or "supply" cities of Pithom and Raamses.
• Attempted Genocide: When oppression did not curb their growth, the Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn Hebrew males. Later, he ordered all his people to throw newborn Hebrew boys into the Nile.
• The Exodus: Years later, Moses, a Hebrew raised in the Egyptian court, was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery. As promised, Moses took the bones of Joseph with him when they left Egypt. 

Based on biblical timelines and historical analysis, Joseph likely served during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, possibly under 

Senusret III (Sesostris III) or Amenemhat III. 

Because Joseph lived in Egypt for 71 years and was a high official (vizier), he likely interacted with multiple rulers, with Amenemhat III (reigned approx. 1841–1797 BCE) often considered the ruler during the latter part of his life and death. 

Key Details regarding the Pharaoh(s) and Joseph:

• The "Pharaoh of Joseph": Many scholars suggest the Pharaoh who promoted Joseph was a Hyksos king or a Middle Kingdom ruler like Senusret III.
• The "New Pharaoh": The Pharaoh who "knew not Joseph" (Exodus 1:8) and began the enslavement of the Israelites is often identified as Ahmose I.
• Timeline: Joseph's life spans the end of the 12th Dynasty and the beginning of the 13th Dynasty. 

Contextual Timing

According to some interpretations, the persecution began within 70 to 100 years after Joseph’s death, as the Israelites were in Egypt for a total of approximately 400-430 years. The period between Joseph's death and the birth of Moses is estimated to be roughly 64 to over 100 years, according to different biblical chronologies. 

Based on biblical, historical, and scholastic interpretations, there is no single, universally agreed-upon pharaoh named as the oppressor for a literal 400-year period. The "400 years" refers to a prophetic timeframe of affliction for Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:13), often calculated to include their time as strangers in Canaan 

and Egypt, or starting from the birth of Isaac. 

However, different theories identify specific pharaohs associated with this period of enslavement and the subsequent Exodus: 

Key Pharaoh Candidates

• The "New Pharaoh" (Exodus 1:8): The Bible describes an unnamed pharaoh who "did not know Joseph" and began the oppression. This is often associated with the rise of the 18th Dynasty, potentially Ahmose I (who expelled the Hyksos) or early Thutmosid rulers.
• Thutmose III (18th Dynasty): Many scholars identifying a 15th-century BC Exodus (ca. 1446 BC) point to Thutmose III as the primary oppressor who engaged in heavy construction and used Asiatic slave labor.
• Amenhotep II (18th Dynasty): Often identified as the Pharaoh of the Exodus itself (who ruled after Thutmose III).
• Ramesses II (19th Dynasty): Frequently cited in popular culture and by scholars favoring a later, 13th-century BC Exodus (ca. 1250 BC) due to his massive building projects and the mention of the city "Raamses" in the Bible. 

The 400-Year Context

• Duration Definition: The 400-year prophecy refers to being "strangers in a land that is not theirs". It is often interpreted to begin with Isaac's birth, comprising 190 years in Canaan and 210–215 years in Egypt.
• Context of Slavery: While the Israelites were in Egypt for a long period, they were not enslaved for the entire duration. They were favored under Joseph, but enslaved after a new dynasty came to power.
• The "400 Years" Ending: The prophecy indicates God would judge the nation that enslaved them (the Exodus event). 

Summary of Theories: While Ramesses II is a common, later-dating candidate, many historical analyses pointing to a longer, earlier, or 400-year-inclusive timeline, often associate the oppression with the 18th Dynasty (Ahmose I or Thutmose III).