Final answer:
The Hebrews/Israelites became slaves in Egypt due to a change in dynasty, fear of rebellion, and population growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hebrews/Israelites went from being honored guests to becoming slaves in Egypt due to a change in dynasty. The new Pharaoh who came to power did not know Joseph, who had initially welcomed the Israelites to Egypt. Consequently, he saw the Israelites as a threat to his rule and oppressed them by placing them under harsh slavery.
A key event that led to their enslavement was the fear of a rebellion. The growing population of Israelites posed a potential threat to the Egyptian rulers, so the Pharaoh ordered that the Israelite newborn males be killed. Despite this, the Israelites continued to multiply, leading the Pharaoh to enforce even harsher slavery on them.
It's important to note that there is no historical evidence supporting the ideas that the Hebrews became slaves because they were found stealing grain or that the Pharaoh had a bad experience with an Israelite woman.
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