Moses and the Israelites from BL Royal 1 E IV, f. 80v

Historiated initial 'H'(ec) of Moses and the Israelites, at the beginning of Exodus. Image taken from f. 80v of Bible (Octateuch). Written in Latin.

The Israelites' escape from Egypt is a central event in the history of the Jewish people, as described in the Old Testament in the book of Exodus. According to the biblical account, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for many years, but God chose Moses to lead them out of slavery and back to the land promised to their ancestors. After a series of plagues and divine interventions, Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go, but later changed his mind and chased after them with his army. At the Red Sea, God parted the waters to allow the Israelites to escape, but the pursuing Egyptian army was drowned as the waters closed in on them. The Israelites' escape from Egypt is marking the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land and their liberation from slavery. It is celebrated as a major holiday in the Jewish calendar, Passover.

The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists of over 2,000 manuscripts that were once owned by the British monarchs, including English and later British kings and queens from the late 12th to the 19th centuries. These manuscripts are notable for their historical and artistic value.

The collection was initially stored in various royal libraries and palaces, such as the Tower of London and Westminster Palace. During the English Civil War in the 17th century and the subsequent Interregnum, many royal treasures, including manuscripts, were dispersed and sold. Some manuscripts were lost, destroyed, or ended up in private hands.

In 1757, King George II donated the Old Royal Library to the British Museum (which later became the British Library), where the manuscripts were integrated into the museum's collections. This marked the formal establishment of the Royal Manuscript Collection within the British Museum.