http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_origins_of_the_Hyksos#Identification_as_Asiatic_SemitesFound this on Wiki; does this seem like what the HC program mentioned?

Certainly seems possible… that's history for you; just when you think it's one thing something new pops up. Peppermint Patty ("Peanuts") was right: "Always study history in the morning, before something else can happen."  😮

I think the Hyksos were a Semitic people.  But not Israelites.The Bible records how Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt?and how he rose in power to become second only to Pharaoh.  It records how during a period of famine the rest of this family (the Israelites) came to live with him in Egypt.  Additionally it speaks of a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph and how the Israelites became slaves.The Hyksos (Shepard Kings) were foreigners who ruled Eqypt.  They were probably a Semitic people, which explains their willingness to accept Joseph and his family.  It appears that initially the Israelites were part of the ruling class.  When the Hyksos rulers were overthrown the Israelites went from being rulers to slaves.

I think the Hyksos were a Semitic people.  But not Israelites.The Bible records how Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt?and how he rose in power to become second only to Pharaoh.  It records how during a period of famine the rest of this family (the Israelites) came to live with him in Egypt.  Additionally it speaks of a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph and how the Israelites became slaves.The Hyksos (Shepard Kings) were foreigners who ruled Eqypt.  They were probably a Semitic people, which explains their willingness to accept Joseph and his family.   It appears that initially the Israelites were part of the ruling class.  When the Hyksos rulers were overthrown the Israelites went from being rulers to slaves.

I agree with this summation...however, you won't find too many historians who will put their careers on the line by trying to prove the Biblical narrative historically accurate...at least not nowadays anyway.

Logical; works for me too.

Based on my knwoledge, this is the Hyksos.The Hyksos were a group of mixed Semitic-Asiatics who settled in northern Egypt during the 18th century BC. In about 1630 they seized power, and Hyksos kings ruled Egypt as the 15th dynasty (c. 1630-1521 BC).The name Hyksos was used by the Egyptian historian Manetho (fl. 300 BC), who, according to the Jewish historian Josephus (fl. 1st century AD), translated the word as "king-shepherds" or "captive shepherds." Josephus wished to demonstrate the great antiquity of the Jews and thus identified the Hyksos with the Hebrews of the Old Testament. Most scholars do not now support this view, though it is possible that Hebrews came into Egypt during the Hyksos period or that some Hyksos were the ancestors of some Hebrews. "Hyksos" was probably an Egyptian term for "rulers of foreign lands" (heqa-khase), and it almost certainly designated the foreign dynasts rather than a whole nation. Although traditionally they also formed the 16th dynasty, those rulers were probably only vassals of the 15th-dynasty kings. They seem to have been connected with the general migratory movements elsewhere in the Middle East at the time. Although most of the Hyksos names seem to have been Semitic, there may also have been a Hurrian element among them.The Hyksos introduced the horse and chariot, the compound bow, improved battle axes, and advanced fortification techniques into Egypt. At Avaris (modern Tall ad-Dab'a) in the northeastern delta, they built their capital with a fortified camp over the remains of a Middle Kingdom town that they had seized. Excavations since the 1960s have revealed a Canaanite-style temple, Palestinian-type burials, including horse burials, Palestinian types of pottery, and quantities of their superior weapons.Their chief deity was the Egyptian storm and desert god, Seth, whom they identified with an Asiatic storm god. From Avaris they ruled most of Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt up to Hermopolis directly. South to Cusae, and briefly even beyond, they ruled through Egyptian vassals. When under Seqenenre and Kamose the Thebans began to rebel, the Hyksos pharaoh Auserre Apopi I tried unsuccessfully to make an alliance with the rulers of Cush who had overrun Egyptian Nubia in the later years of the 13th dynasty (c. 1650 BC).The Theban revolt spread northward under Kamose, and in about 1521 Avaris fell to his successor, Ahmose, founder of the 18th dynasty, thereby ending 108 years of Hyksos rule over Egypt. Although vilified by the Egyptians starting with Hatshepsut, the Hyksos had ruled as pharaohs and were listed as legitimate kings in the Turin Papyrus. At least superficially they were Egyptianized, and they did not interfere with Egyptian culture beyond the political sphere.

Hykos were a Semitic people from Middle East. Very likely Cananite/Phonecian. They were NOT HEBREWS. Again Middle Eastern Jews are Semite. European Jews are NOT semite and have nothing to do with Semitism.They are converts from Khazars who lived in North of Caucasus and converted to Judaism. They migrated North(Russia) and West (Eastern Europe and Western Europe) and inter-married with local mostly PAGANS. Still to this day they are called Ashkhenaz Jew, to show they are distinct from the original Semitic jews of Middle East.Now. Abraham's extended family(brother,sister,cousin etc) lived on the eastern side of Euphrates in what is called city of UR(Oor), in Iraq.Only he moved to Palestine via Syria. The people living in these regions were all SEMITE (Descendants of Shem).Abraham had two sons; Ishmael and Isac. Ishmael and his mother Hajer moved to Arabia. His descendants are ARABS of Gulf countries. Isac's children moved to a land called MISR. Do NOT mix with EGYPT.Egypt is a later term that includes Misr,South, North and East of Nile.The land between Nile & Red Sea i.e Eastern Delta was called Misr.This region was under the rule of Hykos,whom Egyptians called "Foreign Invaders".Hykos rulers NEVER called themselves PHARAOH.They called themselves which translates to "KING".Pharaoh was an Egyptian title, which Hykos considered beyond their dignity to use !These Hykos welcomed Isac's family, who too were Semite like them. Hence the Hebrews i.e. descendants of 12 children Isac were living a good life in "Misr" i.e. in the Eastern Delta.Egyptian rulers always wanted to kick the invaders out.Finally they succeeded. Neary 450 years prior to Ramses II, Egyptian rulers defeated Hykos. Hykos were kiked out and hebrew who supported the Hykos were made SLAVE ! That's how hebrews became SLAVE in Egypt. This was a punishment on hebrews by the Egyptians for siding by the wrong side!Moses came ~ 450 years later to save them from Egyptian MASTERS !

Mizrahi & to some extent Sephard jews are ORIGINAL jews. They are Israelite SEMITE.Ashkhenaz i.e. European jews(Russia-Poland-Germany-France-Italy etc) are converts from pagans and are NOT Semites ! They use Anti-Semitism label against anyone who disagrees with them ! World buys that as well , even though these ppl has "0" semitic bloodARABS (From Syria to Yeman) are all SEMITES. Only ARABS of Arabian peninsula are Ishmaelite SEMITE meaning they are SEmite and descendants of Ishmae'l.HYKOS were Non Ishmealite Semites of Syria-Iraq-Jordan-Lebanon-Palestine. To Egyptians(Non-SEmite) they were foreigners.

Aren't the Askenaz Jews of Europes the people from the Diaspora and therefore descended from Middle eastern Jews that were expelled from the Holy Land after the Jewish revolt of 79 A.D.?  That has always been my understanding.