Rameses(raamses)
Summary
Rameses was both a district and a city in Lower Egypt where the Israelites settled and from which they departed at the Exodus.
☩The Land of Rameses
When Joseph settled his father and brothers in Egypt, they were given a possession 'in the land of Rameses.' This land of Rameses either corresponds to the land of Goshen or was a district within it. The name is Egyptian, the same as that of several kings, meaning 'Son of the Sun.' The location in the eastern Nile delta provided good pastureland for the Israelites' flocks and herds.
☩The Store City
Under the Pharaoh who first oppressed the Israelites, they were forced to build 'store cities, Pithom and Raamses.' These were fortified cities for storing provisions. The position of Pithom near Heliopolis indicates that Rameses was in the region of Goshen. Later Egyptian pharaohs named Rameses, particularly Rameses II, enlarged and fortified the city, but its origins predated them.
☩Starting Point of the Exodus
The Israelites departed from Rameses when they began their journey out of Egypt. From Rameses they traveled to Succoth, making their first camp on the way to the Red Sea. The journey of two full days' march brought them from this town toward the wilderness, indicating its position in the western part of Goshen.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Rameses," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Rameses," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Rameses," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Rameses," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).