Chronology of
Jacob, Esau, Joseph in Egypt
1. In 2006 BC Jacob and Esau were born:
Gen 25:26
2. In 1991 BC Abraham dies age 175: Gen 25:8
3. In 1950 BC:
a. Isaac blesses Jacob who steals Esau’s firstborn blessing and Jacob flees to Laban in Haran:
Gen 28.
b. Esau conquers Horites: Deut 2:12,22.
4. In 1943 BC, after 7 years in Haran, Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
5. In 1929 BC, after 21 years in Haran, Jacob flees Laban and returns to Canaan
6. In 1926 BC Esau moves to Seir and establishes Edom: Gen 36:6-8
7. In 1916 BC:
a. Joseph was born to Jacob at age 90 through Rachel: Gen 30:24
b. Joseph was Jacob’s first born to Rachel, his favorite wife. This is why Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son.
8. In 1900 BC:
a. The story of Sinuhe is written which says, “Jeush, the mountain chief from Edom”.
b. Edomite chief Jeush, son of Esau named in Gen 36:5,18
c. Jeush is Esau’s son: Gen 36:18
9. In 1899 BC
a. Joseph, age 17, is sold into slavery by his brothers at Dothan to the Ishmaelites.
b. Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard buys Joseph: Gen 37:36
c. Potiphar makes Joseph his personal servant and manager of his house: Gen 39:4
10. In 1888 BC
a. Joseph interprets the dreams of the butler and baker who are release/hung after three days.
b. Joseph remains in prison for two more years.
11. In 1887 BC, Pharaoh Sesostris II begins his 9 year reign (1887-1878BC)
12. In 1886 BC
a. Joseph interprets dreams of Pharaoh Sesostris II of the fat and lean cows/wheat.
b. Joseph, age 30 becomes king of Egypt:
Gen 41:46
c. Joseph marries Asenath, daughter of a priest of On (pagan Egyptian god).
d. Isaac dies age 180: Gen 35:28-29.
e. The beginning of the 14 year time clock for the 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine.
f. “Joseph oversees construction of the dyke that would regulate the water-flow from the Bahr Yusef into the Fayyum, as well as the building of the adjacent city of Lahun, including workers’ quarters, 10 villas for governmental officials, his pyramidal complex, and a temple and mortuary complex. Joseph oversees construction of Wah-sut (at Abydos) also begins. Development of irrigation—including the reclamation of more arable land in the Fayyum by manipulating the water-level of Lake Moeris—and enormous growth in mining and quarrying activities (eg. Sinai Peninsula, etc.)” (Doug Petrovich, 2017 AD)
13. Between 1884-1880 BC Joseph’s wife, Asenath give birth to both Ephraim and Manasseh who would be raised as Egyptians and learn to read and write Egyptian hieroglyphs: Genesis 41:50–51
14. In 1878 BC
a. Pharaoh Sesostris dies
b. Pharaoh Sesostris III begins reign: 1878 – 1840 BC
15. In 1877 BC
a. Year 2 of 7 year famine
b. Jacob sends his 10 sons to get food in Egypt.
16. In 1876 BC
a. Year 3 of the 7 years of famine.
b. Jacob enters Egypt
c. Beginning of 430 years in Egypt
d. In 1876 BC, when the Hebrews moved to Goshen it was year three of the Famine. During this period, all the people of Egypt had to sell their livestock, land to Joseph and become slaves of Pharaoh but the Hebrews were exempt (Genesis 47:27). When the famine ended, the Hebrews were land rich and prosperous. Only Joseph (and the Hebrews) and Pharaoh owned land. Add to this that Goshen, (Avaris, Tel el Dab’a) is at the starting point of the “Way of Horus” which was the main trading road between Egypt up the coast to Byblos and Assyria etc. and the Hebrews were in control of a major ancient shipping port. This explains, in addition to their invention of the first alphabet, why they became so prosperous. This incredible prosperity continued until the defeat of the Hyksos in 1556 BC and the rise of the 18th “Moses-dynasty” pharaohs “who knew not Joseph”. 1556 BC marks the end of Hebrew “easy living” in Egypt and the beginning of the oppression which lasted 110 years until the Exodus in 1446 BC. Even at Kadesh Barnea (Petra), they were again located at a major shipping intersection of international trade for 38 years. The high literacy rate combined with the business experience explains in part the commercial successes Jews have even in the present day.
17. In 1872 BC
a. In 1872 BC 7 year famine ends
b. Year 7 (inclusive counting) of Sesostris III is calculated using Paprus Berlin 10012A discovered at Lahun. R.A. Parker calculates the year to 1872 BC.
18. In 1859 BC:
a. Jacob dies at age 147: Gen 49:33
b. Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh move to Goshen: (Avaris, Tel el Dab’a)
c. Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh invent the first alphabet on earth for the Hebrew language.
19. In 1806 Joseph dies at age 110: Gen 50:26
20. In 1446 BC, after 430 years, Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt: Ex 12:40
21. In 1406 BC, after 40 years to the day, Joshua crosses the Jordan: Josh 3:1