Where in Egypt Did the Israelites Live/2

Where in Egypt Did the Israelites Live?

Exegetical Approaches

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Throughout Egypt

The Israelites were not confined to Goshen and settled throughout Egypt.

Sources:PhiloOn the Life of Moses I XXVI:143-146About Philo, Ibn EzraShemot Short Commentary 1:7Shemot Short Commentary 8:19About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Eliezer AshkenaziMa'asei Hashem Ma'asei Avot 42Ma'asei Hashem Ma'asei Mitzraim 4Ma'asei Hashem Ma'asei Mitzraim 12About R. Eliezer Ashkenazi (Ma'asei Hashem), MalbimBereshit 45:10Bereshit 47:27Shemot 1:7About R. Meir Leibush Weiser, NetzivBereshit 45:10Bereshit 46:34Bereshit 47:27Shemot 1:7About R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin

Original Settlement in Goshen

"תִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ אֹתָם"

Borrowing from Egyptian neighbors

Separation During the Plagues

Skipping over doorpasots

Assimilation of Israelites

Slaves to Individuals or the State

o Shtetel or Ghetto

Only in Goshen

The Nation of Israel lived in the region of Goshen and never spread throughout the rest of the country.  This position subdivides regarding whether or not any Egyptians lived in Goshen with them:

Segregated from Egyptians

Goshen was reserved for the Israelites and no Egyptians dwelt  there.

Sources:perhaps ShadalShemot 1:7Shemot 1:15About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, one opinion in RDZH

Integrated with Egyptians

Egyptians inhabited the region alongside the Israelites.

Sources:Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 1:7Shemot Long Commentary 2:3Shemot Long Commentary 12:27About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RalbagBereshit Beur HaMilot 46:34Beur HaMilot Shemot 1:7Beur HaMilot Shemot 8:19Beur HaMilot Shemot 10:23About R. Levi b. Gershom, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahShemot 10:23About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg, R. David Zvi HoffmannShemot 1:7Shemot 3:21, fn. 123Shemot 10:23Shemot 11:2About R. David Zvi Hoffmann