This shows the relative placement of representative members of the community of Israel during the sojourn in Egypt, set against the context of various external sources, thus allowing an estimate of chronology. The horizontal black lines show 100 year intervals starting at 1700 BCE. Reasons for placing the external sources at these dates are given elsewhere.
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Explanatory notes
Israel
This period of time began at the time when Joseph had a position of great power in Egypt. His family were respected at that time, but as a new dynasty came to power the Israelites declined in influence and ended in slavery. Under the leadership of Moses they left as a free people. Few names are known to help bridge the time gap involved. The majority of the individuals chosen here are of the family line of Ephraim, listed in 1 Chronicles 6. The sequence helps to establish an estimate of overall duration, but must be regarded as tentative.
Mesopotamia
LarsaA city in the southern part of Mesopotamia which arose to dominance after the fall of Ur III. Its period of flourishing was marked by continual rivalry and conflict with Isin.
IsinA city in the central part of Mesopotamia which arose to dominance after the fall of Ur III. Its period of flourishing was marked by continual rivalry and conflict with Larsa. The Sumerian kinglist regards it as the legitimate successor of Ur III, but it never attained complete control of Mesopotamia.
Old Babylonian PeriodEarly expansion led to conflict with and eventual capture of Isin and Larsa. At its height, the territory controlled was approximately the same as that of Ur III. During this period Assyria also began to emerge as a contending power. The most well-known member of the dynasty was Hammurabi, whose reign was in the mid 1500s in the NC.
Old Assyrian PeriodThis period is largely based on the city of Asshur, and extends well beyond patriarchal times. The end of this dynasty finds Assyria under the control of the Mitanni.
Hatti (the Hittites)
The Hittite kingdom described here was based in modern Turkey and held sway over a region of the Middle East centred on this. It extends well beyond the period in question here. Hittite fortunes fluctuated considerably over the years, since their extensive land borders led to vulnerability to invasion from various directions. At the close of the Sojourn period, Hattusilis I secured the city of Hattush as his capital and carried out a series of expansionist raids into Syria.
Egypt
Middle KingdomFrom part-way through the 11th dynasty, central authority and unity were recovered, and Egypt once more took a prominent par in international affairs. In the early parts, foreigners (especially Asiatics) were welcomed, and could reach high office. Later, however, poor climate and harvests brought a more sombre air. New Chronology dates are moved approximately 150-200 years later than in the conventional chronology of Egypt.
Second Intermediate PeriodAnother period of turmoil and confusion which lasted nearly 4 centuries until the establishment of the 18th dynasty. Much of the period saw Egypt ruled by the Hyksos, foreign invaders who settled in the Delta region. New Chronology dates are moved approximately 150-200 years later than in the conventional chronology of Egypt for the first part of this era, and up to 350 years later towards the end of the period.
