The Ancient Egyptians & Israelites

Ethnic Makeup of the Ancient Egyptians, Israelites, and Hyksos

A comparative look at the peoples of the Nile and the Levant in the New Kingdom period (18th–19th Dynasties).

Ethnic Makeup of the Ancient Egyptians

The Egyptians of the New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1189 BC) were primarily a Northeast African population rooted in the Nile Valley. Their features reflected a mixture of indigenous Saharan, Nubian, and Nile Delta ancestry. Genetic studies of royal mummies and skeletal remains reveal a population connected to both Sub-Saharan Africa and the ancient Near East, consistent with Egypt’s geographic position as a crossroads of Africa and Asia.

Royal families often intermarried with foreign princesses to cement alliances. For example, Amenhotep III married women from Mitanni and later Ramesses II married Hittite royalty. This resulted in foreign admixture at the highest levels of society, though the general Egyptian population remained largely continuous with earlier native groups.

The Hyksos

The Hyksos were a group of foreign rulers who controlled parts of Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period (ca. 1650–1550 BC). Archaeological and textual evidence indicates that they were of Levantine origin, most likely from Canaan or Syria-Palestine. Their names, material culture, and burial practices connect them to Semitic peoples of the Levant.

Although often portrayed in later Egyptian records as invaders, the Hyksos probably rose to power gradually, starting as immigrant communities in the eastern Delta who gained political strength. Their reign ended when Ahmose I expelled them and founded the 18th Dynasty, beginning the New Kingdom.

The Israelites in Egypt

The Israelites were a Semitic people, closely related in language and culture to other groups of the Levant such as the Canaanites, Moabites, and Edomites. According to the biblical account, Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt during a famine and settled in the land of Goshen, in the eastern Delta—a region historically tied to Asiatic settlers.

This geographical overlap meant that the Israelites would have shared ethnic and cultural similarities with the earlier Hyksos. Egyptian rulers of the New Kingdom, wary of foreign populations in the Delta after expelling the Hyksos, may have viewed the Israelites with suspicion. This likely contributed to their eventual enslavement, as described in the book of Exodus.

Chart: Ethnic Influences in the New Kingdom

The chart below provides an illustrative comparison of estimated ethnic influences in the 18th and 19th Dynasties of Egypt, highlighting the balance between indigenous Egyptian roots and foreign admixture.

Note: Percentages are approximate and based on archaeological, textual, and genetic evidence. They should be viewed as general patterns rather than exact measurements.

Chart: Hyksos vs Israelites Ethnic Makeup

The chart below compares the estimated ethnic background of the Hyksos and the Israelites. Both groups shared strong Levantine/Semitic roots, but their relationship with Egypt created different patterns of influence.

Note: These figures are illustrative and simplify complex historical realities. They are meant as a visual aid to highlight general distinctions between the groups.

Conclusion

The ethnic makeup of ancient Egypt was never static—it reflected centuries of interaction between Africa and Asia. The Egyptians themselves were rooted in a Northeast African identity, yet their openness to trade, diplomacy, and immigration brought significant Levantine and Nubian influence. The Hyksos demonstrate how foreign groups could rise to power in Egypt, while the Israelites represent a Semitic community whose fate was shaped by Egypt’s political memory of such outsiders. Together, these groups illustrate the cultural and genetic tapestry of the ancient Nile world.

Prepared for educational use. Sources include archaeological records, genetic studies of ancient remains, and comparative analysis of biblical and Egyptian texts.