Egyptian city where Israelites lived before the Exodus
Rameses
Named in 4 verses across 3 books, first in Genesis 47:11.
רַֽעַמְסֵסRameses
About Rameses Written by AI
Rameses was a city and region in Egypt where Jacob's family settled when they first arrived in Egypt (Gen. 47:11). It was located in the land of Goshen. The Israelites later departed from Rameses at the beginning of the Exodus (Exo. 12:37; Num. 33:3,5). The name may come from the Egyptian phrase "Ra created it", referring to the sun god Ra. Some scholars believe Rameses was named after the pharaoh Rameses II of the 19th Dynasty, but the biblical chronology would place the Exodus much earlier. The exact location is uncertain, but it was likely in the eastern Nile Delta region.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
“the land of” (Gen. 47:11), was probably “the land of Goshen” (q.v.) 45:10. After the Hebrews had built Rameses, one of the “treasure cities,” it came to be known as the “land” in which that city was built.
The city bearing this name (Ex. 12:37) was probably identical with Zoan, which Rameses II. (“son of the sun”) rebuilt. It became his special residence, and ranked next in importance and magnificance to Thebes. Huge masses of bricks, made of Nile mud, sun-dried, some of them mixed with stubble, possibly moulded by Jewish hands, still mark the site of Rameses. This was the general rendezvous of the Israelites before they began their march out of Egypt. Called also Raamses (Ex. 1:11).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
30.799, 31.834 See it on a map
Where the Bible names it
- Genesis 47:11
So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
- Exodus 12:37
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.
- Numbers 33:3
On the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the Israelites set out from Rameses. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians,
- Numbers 33:5
The Israelites set out from Rameses and camped at Succoth.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.