is intended to be read against the backdrop of Genesis, as a continuation—and the beginning fulfillment—of God’s work already begun with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Nearly four hundred years, or ten generations, have gone by since Jacob’s family settled in Egypt’s best land, the land of Goshen. Given that so many generations had spent their entire lives in Egypt, it is not surprising that Israel has become accustomed to the culture, practices, and even religion of Egypt. This “familiarity” will need