Early Jewish History
Prophet Yousuf (AS) — the grandson of Prophet Ishaq (AS)
— was able to rise to the top in the kingdom of Egypt, after being sold
there as a
slave because of
a malevolent sibling rivalry. Prophet Yousuf (AS) then
invited his father and his eleven brothers and their families — 70 strong — to
Egypt, and helped them settle in a hospitable and congenial country. This
most probably happened
during the period
of the Hyksos dynasty.
The Israelites continued to grow during the next 400
year, and developed their famous twelve tribes. Initially they enjoyed a life
of prosperity and were respected by the locals. However, after the decline of
the Semitic Shepherd kings in about 1550 B.C., they were increasingly seen as
aliens, and therefore a security risk, by the nationalist Pharaohs of the
nineteenth dynasty. As a result, the rulers started to abuse and exploit them as
slaves, and even
adopted a policy of
ethnic cleansing towards them.
Their miseries continued until Almighty Allah (SWT) raised Prophet Musa (AS) as His messenger. He rose as a charismatic leader of the Israelites, and, after a long struggle with the Pharaoh, freed them from bondage. The migration of the Israelites from Egypt, called the “Exodus,” most probably took place around 1350 B.C.. The Holy Qur’an reminds the Jews of Allah’s benevolence thus:
Remember, We saved you from the
Pharaoh’s people who wronged and oppressed you and slew your sons but spared
your women. In this was a great trial from your Lord. Remember, We parted the
sea and saved you, and drowned the men of Pharaoh before your very eyes.
(Al-Baqarah 2:49,50)
Prophet Musa (AS) led the Israelites into the Sinai
peninsula, at the Northern tip of which lays Mount Sinai — or Jebel Musa — the
present day site of St. Catherine’s Monastery. It was here that Almighty Allah
(SWT) gave him the guidance for his people in the form of Torah. The famous
Covenant with Israelites also took place, when they promised to obey Allah’s
commands and, in
return, they were promised
constant care, prosperity, and
victory over their enemies.
Prophet Musa (AS) and his people
then went about a hundred and fifty
miles north of
Mount Sinai, into
the wilderness of Paran, at the Southern border of what was then called
Cannan. According to the Old Testament, Almighty Allah (SWT) said to Prophet
Musa (AS): “Send men out to explore Canaan, the land which I am going to give
to the Israelites.” (Numbers 13:2).
Twelve spies were sent, one from each tribe, and they
returned after forty days to report that the Promised land was flowing with
milk and honey. However, except for two of them — Joshua and Caleb — they
weren’t willing to go to war, saying that the towns were fortified, their
inhabitants formidable and of gigantic stature. Hearing such discouraging
reports, the Israelites simply refused
to fight, despite
all attempts to persuade and convince them. The Bible vividly portrays
the scene of their refusal:
The whole Israelite community cried out in dismay and the people wept all night long. Everyone complained against Moses and Aaron: “If only we had died in Egypt or in the wilderness!” they said, “why should the Lord bring us to this land, to die in battle and leave our wives and our dependents to become the spoils of war? It would be better for us to go back to Egypt.” And they spoke of choosing someone to lead them back there. (Numbers 14:1-4)
As a result of their cowardliness and lack of faith, the
Promised Land was withheld from the Israelites for a period of forty years.
Almighty Allah (SWT) condemned the Israelites to wander in the wilderness of
Sinai for a full generation. The Holy Qur’an narrates this whole incidence as
follows:
(Musa said) “Enter, O my people,
the Holy Land that God has ordained for you, and do not turn back, or you will
suffer.” They said: “O Musa, in that land live a people who are formidable; we
shall never go there until they leave. We shall enter when they go away.” Then
two of the men who feared (God), and to whom God was gracious [i.e., Joshua and
Caleb] said to them: “Charge and rush the gate. If you enter, you will surely
be victorious. And place your trust in God if you truly believe.” They said: “O
Musa, we shall never, never enter as long as they are there. Go you and your
Lord to fight them; we stay here.” (Musa) said, “O Lord, I have control over
none but myself and my brother; so draw a dividing line between us and these,
the wicked people.”
(And God) said: “Then verily this Land is forbidden
them for forty years, and they shall wander perplexed over the earth. So do not
grieve for these, the wicked people.” (Al- Ma’ida 5:21-26)
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