Bereshith/Genesis 46:1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheva, and offered sacrifices to the Elohim of his father Yitzchak. 2 Then Elohim spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Ya'acov, Ya'acov!" And he said, "Here I am." 3 So He said, "I am El, the Elohim of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.

 

Bereshith/Genesis 45:17 And Pharaoh said to Yosef, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan. 18 'Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.

 

Pharaoh will, it seems accept, even welcome, Ya'akov, his sons, their wives, and their children - but... he wants them to ride in Egyptian wagons, and he instructs them to leave their 'stuff' - all that makes them Hebrews - behind.

The complete Jewish Bible translates Pharaoh's instruction like this:

"I will give you good property in Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land. Moreover - and this is an order - do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt to carry your little ones and your wives, and bring your father, and come. Don't worry about your stuff, because everything good in the land of Egypt is yours."

Why does Pharaoh insist Israel ride in Egyptian wagons and leave all his Hebrew "stuff" behind?

Because, you see, Pharaoh wants Israel to be Egyptian, not Hebraic. He is not willing to accept the Hebrews as they are - they must leave their "stuff" behind. They must, he insists, become like him.

The Essense of Exile

So at the very beginning of the "exile" the issue is cast very clearly. It is not so much whether Yisrael will go to Egypt - you see, he really has very little choice. See Genesis 15:13-14 if you have any doubts about this. The pertinent question is, when Israel goes to Egypt, will he take with him his "stuff" - the "stuff" of his Hebraic heritage? Or will he assimilate into the culture of Egypt and become like everyone else?

Here are some of the questions to consider:

Will he and his sons ride in Egyptian wagons/carts?

Will his children wear Egyptian clothes, play Egyptian games, and adopt Egyptian as their native language?

Will they adopt Egyptian hairstyles?

Will they get caught up in Egyptian politics, look at the world from an Egyptian worldview, and think from Egyptian mindsets?

Will they celebrate the Egyptian holidays?

Will they exchange their values and priorities in life for Egyptian values and priorities?

Will they start eating the same things the Egyptians eat?

Will they laugh at the same things at which Egyptians laugh and weep at the same things at which Egyptians weep?

Will they start getting intimated by the things and people that intimiate Egyptians?

Will they start being impressed by the same things by which Egyptians are impressed?

Will they allow themselves to become outraged by the same things which outrage the Egyptians?

Will they trade their sh'ma lifesyle for scheduled services in Egyptians temples?

Will they bow their knee to Egyptian gods?

These things are the heart and soul of the challenge presented by any exile.

...the decree is always this: "LEAVE ALL THAT HEBREW/COVENANT WITH GOD STUFF BEHIND!!" For some reason, 'Hebrew stuff' seems to infuriate Pharaohs of all kinds, all nationalities, and all ages. ....Modern day Pharaohs invite, "come partake, enjoy to your hearts desire - but leave behind that which marks you as a distinctive people, the people of God...or die."

The Maccabees, when faced with such a decree, considered death more palatable. What about you? Who will you become (or what have you become) while in exile?