Sailhamer, John H. The Pentateuch As Narrative. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.
Chapter 2, “Exodus” pp. 241-322.
Part 1 “The Oppression of the Israelites (1:1-22)” pp. 241-242.
In the 400 years Israel lived in Egypt they became a great nation. The text of Exodus traverses this period very quickly, as chapter 1 begins with the seventy people of Jacob’s household but by verse 8 we are near the end of the time in Egypt. “The Bible does not identify this “new king.” It is likely that what is meant is a new dynasty. Many identify this new dynasty with that of the Hyksos, an Asiatic people who reigned over Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period (1786-1558 B.C.)” (Sailhamer 1992, 241). As the king tries to suppress the people, God blesses them and makes them increase.