His people were a group of nomadic families who had settled in Egypt with their father Jacob, or Israel, to escape starvation.
Viņš piederēja pie etniskas grupas, kas bija cēlusies no klejotāju lopkopju saimes, kura kopā ar savu ciltstēvu Jēkabu jeb Izraēlu bija apmetusies uz dzīvi Ēģiptē, lai paglābtos no bada.