Israel Seen from Egypt: Understanding the Biblical Text from Visuals and Methodology

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Glimpses of the settling/possessing process, without much continuous narrative, can be seen in Judges, whose presentation follows different lines.

“Glimpses of the settling/possessing process (but without much continuous narrative) can be seen in Judges, whose presentation follows different lines.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

The patriarchal narratives are almost wholly lacking in the kind of fairy-tale features found in Papyrus Westcar.

“The more so, as these narratives are almost wholly lacking in the kind of fairy-tale features found in Papyrus Westcar.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Joshua maximises on a leader's success through his obedience, pointing up the results of disobedience in contrast (e.g., Ai, first attack).

“Thus, it maximises on a leader's success through his obedience, pointing-up the results of disobedience in contrast (e.g., Ai, first attack).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

Almost no proper groundwork has been done on setting out verifiable criteria for assessing the historical quotient of ancient narratives, apart from unsubstantiated guess-work about supposed 'saga' and tendentious comparisons between myths and the patriarchal narratives.

“Apart from unsubstantiated guess-work about supposed 'saga', 13 and tendentious comparisons between myths and the patriarchal narratives,l'almost no proper groundwork has been done on trying to set out verifiable criteria for assessing the historical quotient of ancient narratives.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

In Old Testament studies, there are considerable differences of opinion over how to treat biblical narratives, particularly those dealing with the pre-monarchy period.

“One hardly needs to observe that, in Old Testament studies, there are considerable differences of opinion over how to treat biblical narratives, particularly those that deal with the pre-monarchy period.”

May combine two claims.

When reading all the other literatures of the biblical world, we find deterministic theologies in command, as much as in any biblical writing; in those cases, it is usually perfectly feasible to discern the historical basis, and there is no factual reason for reading the biblical writings any differently.

“In short, when reading all the other literatures of the biblical world, we find deterministic theologies in command, as much as in any biblical writing; in those cases, it is usually perfectly feasible to discern the historical basis, and there is no factual reason for reading the biblical writings any differently.”

The quote only partly states this claim.

There is a clear Egypto-Semitic cultural continuum in the symbolic act of placing feet on defeated enemies' necks, attested in Joshua 10:24, Psalm 110:1, an Amenophis II scene (c.1420 BC), and Tutankhamun footstools (c.1330 BC).

“A clear Egypto-Semitic cultural continuum may be seen in Joshua 10:24, warrior-chiefs to put their feet on the necks of defeated Canaanite rulers, and in the allusion in Psalm 110:1 'your enemies your footstool'.”

May combine two claims.

The Beni-Hasan wall-painting (19th century BC) shows Western Semites of the patriarchal age in dress appropriate to that period, whereas Egyptian scenes of Canaanites of the later 2nd millennium BC show changed fashions.

“it is wholly proper to refer to the well-known wall-painting at Beni-Hasan showing just such people at that general period (19th century BC), but not to Egyptian scenes of Canaanites of the later 2nd millenium BC (Eighteenth Dynasty and later), when fashions in dress had changed.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The Tale of 'The King of Battle' tells of Sargon of Akkad (c.2300 BC), almost a millennium before the copy (c.1340 BC), invading Asia Minor to help the merchants of Purushkhanda against their oppressor, with fantastic obstacles including thorns, forests, and blocks of lapis-lazuli and gold.

“The tale of 'The King of Battle' tells of the ancient monarch Sargon of Akkad (c.2300 BC) of almost a millenium before our copy (c.1340 BC) invading Asia Minor to help the merchants of Purushkhanda against their oppressor.En route, he must overcome great obstacles: not only thorns and forests, but also blocks of lapis-lazuli and gold cumber his way!”

May combine two claims.

Papyrus Harris 500 contains the tale of The Capture of Joppa, set 200 years earlier in the time of Tuthmosis III (c. 1450 BC), telling how general Thuty captured the Canaanite town of Joppa by smuggling in soldiery.

“For example, the Ramesside Papyrus Harris 500 contains the remains of the tale of The Capture of Joppa, set 200 years earlier in the time of Tuthmosis Ill, c. 1450 BC.It tells of how, by smuggling in a body of soldiery (by an 'Alibaba' stratagem), a general Thuty captured the Canaanite town of Joppa for his king.”

May combine two claims.

However fictional in content some Old Testament scholars consider the patriarchal narratives, there is no factual warrant to doubt a priori that they feature real individuals (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.) and in their correct sequence.

“That however fictional in content some Old Testament scholars consider the patriarchal narratives, the fact remains that (precisely as in Papyrus Westcar) we have no factual warrant whatsoever to doubt a priori that they feature real individuals (Abra(ha)m, Isaac, Jacob, etc.), and in their correct sequence.”

May combine two claims.

The Hebrew idiom in 2 Samuel 12:14 ('slighted the enemies of the Lord') is a euphemistic inclusion, not a late defensive gloss, as shown by closely analogous Egyptian data from the 17th-16th centuries BC and later.

“In 2 Samuel 12:14 there occurs the Hebrew idiom 'slighted the enemies of the Lord', in which 'enemies (of)' is a euphemistic inclusion.That it is so, and not simply a late, defensive gloss to the text, 8 is clear from closely analogous Egyptian data.”

May combine two claims.

The Rekhmire brickmaking scene (c. 1450 BC) is the only extant such scene, so it must be used to illustrate the Exodus brickmaking episodes despite dating up to 200 years later (early Ramesside).

“The famous brickmaking scene in the tomb-chapel of the vizier Rekhmire, c. 1450 BC, is universally used to illustrate the brickmaking episodes in Exodus 1:11-14 and 5:6-19 in a milieu of up to 200 years later (early Ramesside).But there is no other such scene extant, hence for illustration we have no choice in the matter.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The Exodus brickmaking episodes are to be dated to the early Ramesside period, up to 200 years after the Rekhmire scene.

May combine two claims.

Of the four magicians in Papyrus Westcar, only Imhotep is historically attested; two of the other three bear names typical of the Old Kingdom and could reflect real officials of that time.

“So, although only Imhotep is historically attested here, two of the other three bear names that reach straight back into the requisite period, and could reflect real officials of that time.There is nothing anachronistic here, other than substituting one word for 'head' for another.”

May combine two claims.

The only pictorial illustrations of Joseph's installation as a high official with signet-ring and gold collar (Genesis 41:41-2) date from the 14th-13th centuries BC, at least three centuries after the patriarchal age, ranging from the Amarna age to Ramesside occurrences under Sethos I and Merenptah.

“Here, our only group of pictorial illustrations (14th-13th centuries BC) falls at least three centuries or so after the patriarchal age, ranging from examples of the Amarna age to Ramesside occurrences under Sethos I (Tomb 106 at Thebes) and Merenptah (Tomb 23)”

May combine two claims.

The sons of Khufu named in Papyrus Westcar are all historical characters, and Khafre succeeded Khufu after the short reign of Redjedef; Bauefre and Hardjedef are otherwise attested.

“The sons of Khufu named are all historical; Khafre succeeded him after the short reign of his brother Redjedef (teller of the first tale?),Bauefre is otherwise attested, as is Hardjedef who, in his own right, attained fame as the author of a wisdom-book, fragments of which are extant in later copies.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Joshua is a book written with didactic motives, as is Judges.

“Joshua is undoubtedly a book written with didactic motives-and so is Judges!-but scrutiny of its style and content”

May combine two claims.

Ancient writers did not invent history out of thin air; they sometimes re-used in a later reign some historical record from an earlier period.

“Sometimes they re-used in a later reign some historical record from an earlier period, 30 but they did not invent 'history' out of thin air.”

May combine two claims.

Papyrus Westcar, a popular tale of the 16th century BC, preserved the memory of four ruling kings in their right order, of four principal sons of Khufu, and of private names (and possibly officials) of that age within its matrix of marvels.

“In other words, beyond any doubt, this popular tale of the 16th century BC (marked by language-characteristics of that time) preserved the memory of four ruling kings, in their right order, and of four principal sons of Khufu, and certainly of private names (and possibly officials) of that age within the matrix of its spiel of marvels.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

The concept and usage of personification, as in Proverbs 9, is amply attested from the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC not only in Egypt but across the entire biblical Near East.

“On a far broader front, the concept and usage of personification, as in Proverbs 9, is amply attested from the 3rd and 2nd millenia BC not only in Egypt but also right across the spectrum of cultures in the entire biblical Near East, giving a rich background.”

May combine two claims.

Rigorous scrutiny of texts and scenes suggests that Ramesses II tells no whopping lies and does not manufacture history, but presents it to Egypt's and his advantage.

“Rigorous scrutiny of texts and scenes suggests that Ramesses 11 tells no whopping lies, and does not manufacture history-but he does present it to Egypt's and his advantage.”

May combine two claims.

Sargon of Akkad is immovably historical, Purushkhanda is a known place from other authentic sources, and Mesopotamian merchants did operate in Asia Minor.

“Again, however fantastic the gold and lapis barriers might be, Sargon of Akkad himself is immovably historical (original texts, and copies of others), Purushkhanda is a known place from other and authentic sources, and, if not yet attested there so early, Mesopotamian merchants did operate in Asia Minor.”

May combine two claims.

The patriarchal narratives come between historical texts and historical legends about real people, being closer to the first class and having practically nothing in common with pure fiction.

“The significance of this situation for evaluating the patriarchal narratives should be obvious, especially in the light of the known status of those narratives -on a basis of verifiable fact -as coming in between historical texts and historical legends about real people, being closer to the first of these two classes, and having practically nothing in common with the third class of text, pure f”

May combine two claims.

The historical reality behind Ramesses II's boast is that the Hittite king did send a proposal of peace to Ramesses II, but in terms of keeping the status quo ante bellum, in accord with the treaty previously signed by their predecessors.

“However, a knowledge of the ways of Hittite policy and of Egyptian rhetoric would suggest that the historical reality behind Ramesses' boast is that the Hittite king did in fact send a proposal of peace to Ramesses 11, but in terms of keeping the status quo ante bellum, in accord with the treaty previously signed by their predecessors.29”