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} -dl.catalog dt { margin-top:1em; } -.author { text-align:right; margin-top:0em; margin-bottom:0em; display:block; } - -dl.biblio dt { margin-top:.6em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:justify; clear:both; } -dl.biblio dt div { display:block; float:left; margin-left:-6em; width:6em; clear:both; } -dl.biblio dt.center { margin-left:0em; text-align:center; text-indent:0; } -dl.biblio dd { margin-top:.3em; margin-left:3em; text-align:justify; font-size:90%; } -p.biblio { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } -.clear { clear:both; } -p.book { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } -p.review { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; font-size:80%; } -p.pcap { margin-left:0em; text-indent:0; text-align:center; margin-top:0; font-size:110%; } -p.pcapc { margin-left:4.7em; text-indent:0em; text-align:justify; } -span.inside { font-size:80%; font-weight:bold; display:block; - float:left; margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; - margin-right:1em; max-width:8em; } -span.attr { font-size:80%; font-family:sans-serif; } -span.pn { display:inline-block; width:4.7em; text-align:left; margin-left:0; text-indent:0; } -</style> -</head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dead Men Tell Tales, by Harry Rimmer</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Dead Men Tell Tales</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Harry Rimmer</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 23, 2021 [eBook #66366]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net </p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEAD MEN TELL TALES ***</div> -<div id="cover" class="img"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Dead Men Tell Tales" width="800" height="1143" /> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig1"> -<img src="images/p00.jpg" alt="" width="303" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Anthropoid Sarcophagus, or Cartonnage</p> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<h1>Dead Men Tell Tales</h1> -<p class="center">by -<br />HARRY RIMMER, D. D., Sc. D.</p> -<p class="center"><i>With 37 Plate Illustrations in the Text</i></p> -<p class="center"><i>Eleventh Edition</i></p> -<p class="center"><i>Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.</i> -<br /><i>Grand Rapids, Michigan</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_2">2</div> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="sc">Dead Men Tell Tales</span> -<br /><span class="smaller">BY HARRY RIMMER, D.D., SC.D.</span></p> -<p class="center"><i>Copyright 1939 by -<br />Research Science Bureau, Incorporated -<br />Printed in the United States of America -<br />All rights in this book are reserved -<br />No part of the book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. -<br />For information address the publishers.</i></p> -<p class="center">ELEVENTH EDITION</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_3">3</div> -<h2><span class="small">FOREWORD</span></h2> -<p>In an older generation, especially among the -writers of the more lurid types of fiction, -it was an accepted axiom that “Dead men -tell no tales!” But this was before the great -era of modern archeology had impressed its -findings on the general public, and indeed -before most of those discoveries had been -made.</p> -<p>Our generation knows better. Dead men -<i>do</i> tell tales, and marvelous and wonderful -are the stories they bring to us. By means -of an archeological resurrection, the great -men of antiquity are with us again. Once -more we hear the accounts of their fascinating -lives and adventures, and read again the -records of their culture. The tongueless -tombs of the distant past have suddenly become -vocal, and this mighty chorus of the -dead great has forced us to revise many of -our once cherished opinions.</p> -<p>Nowhere is this more strikingly true than -in the case of the coincidence of these old ages -with the page of the Holy Bible. The richest -finds of archeology come to us from the very -periods of history that are dealt with in the -pages of Holy Writ, and names that were -known only from the record of the Scripture -<span class="pb" id="Page_4">4</span> -are now the common possession of the scholarly -world. So much is this the case, that we -have a new technique of Bible study in our -day. Just as the microscope is the instrument -for the study of biology, and the spectroscope -has become the means of study in -physics, so the Bible is best read today in -the light that is reflected upon its pages from -the blade of a spade! This, of course, is intended -to apply to the historical sections of -the Book, and refers to the problem of its -authenticity and historicity. It still remains -true that <i>spiritual</i> understanding of its message -can be derived only from study that is -supervised and directed by the Holy Spirit.</p> -<p>This volume, the fourth in the promised -series to be known as the</p> -<p class="center">“JOHN LAURENCE FROST -<br />MEMORIAL LIBRARY”</p> -<p>will deal with some of those fascinating discoveries -that bear particularly on the problem -of the Old Testament. The succeeding -and companion volume, which will be entitled -“Crying Stones,” will deal in like manner -with the records of the New Testament.</p> -<p>The material contained in this apologetic -is derived from various sources. Much of -it came from records in the famed British -Museum, in London, England. This marvelous -storehouse of treasure from the most -remote antiquity is the greatest collection -<span class="pb" id="Page_5">5</span> -of evidence bearing upon these questions, -that is at present in the possession of man. -There is scarcely a section of the Bible that -does not receive some authentication from -the limitless wealth of this noble treasury.</p> -<p>A great deal of the remainder of this information -and proof has been derived from -other museums, such as the Egyptian Museum -at Cairo, Egypt, and the Museum of -the University of Pennsylvania. Much of -the contents of this book has come from the -excavations now in progress in Egypt, and -from the ruins at Sakkara, Luxor, Karnak, -Iraq, and other centers of present activity. -The earth seems eager indeed to offer its -treasures of proof concerning the Word of -God.</p> -<p>The author is especially grateful for the -help accorded to him in Egypt by Mr. and -Mrs. Erian Boutros of Cairo, and by certain -officials of the Egyptian government, -chief of whom in helpfulness was M. Abdul -Nabi, and the Egyptian Tourist Bureau, whose -gracious efforts on our behalf won us many -privileges from the Department of Antiquities.</p> -<p>The illustrations used in this volume are -largely from the author’s own photographs of -exhibits and evidences, made by him and -presented with the assurance that they are -not retouched or altered in any manner. In -the course of his studies and travels in search -<span class="pb" id="Page_6">6</span> -of this material, he made hundreds of negatives, -only a few of which appear in this -work. The exceptions to this are noted where -they appear. The zinc etchings are made -from original drawings by Miss Elizabeth -Elverhoy from our photographs, and are authentic -in all details.</p> -<p>We hand you now Tales of Dead Men, -rendered by Men Long Dead, as they unconsciously -accredit the sacred page of the -Word of God. If you have a tithe of the -pleasure and profit in the reading of these -pages that we have experienced in the gathering -of their contents, we shall be repaid -for the labor involved.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_7">7</div> -<h2 id="toc" class="center">CONTENTS</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt><a href="#c1"><span class="cn">Chapter I </span>The Premise Stated</a> 13</dt> -<dt><a href="#c2"><span class="cn">Chapter II </span>The Tides of Culture</a> 37</dt> -<dt><a href="#c3"><span class="cn">Chapter III </span>Converging Streams of Revelation and History</a> 55</dt> -<dt><a href="#c4"><span class="cn">Chapter IV </span>Modern Science and the Ten Plagues of Egypt</a> 85</dt> -<dt><a href="#c5"><span class="cn">Chapter V </span>Sources</a> 125</dt> -<dt><a href="#c6"><span class="cn">Chapter VI </span>Fragments</a> 163</dt> -<dt><a href="#c7"><span class="cn">Chapter VII </span>The Rebirth of an Empire</a> 195</dt> -<dt><a href="#c8"><span class="cn">Chapter VIII </span>The Resurrection of Edom</a> 225</dt> -<dt><a href="#c9"><span class="cn">Chapter IX </span>The Brazen Shields of Rehoboam</a> 247</dt> -<dt><a href="#c10"><span class="cn">Chapter X </span>Mingled Voices</a> 269</dt> -<dt><a href="#c11"><span class="cn">Chapter XI </span>Vindication of Daniel</a> 317</dt> -<dt><a href="#c12"><span class="cn"> </span>Bibliography</a> 349</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<h1 title="">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h1> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt><a href="#fig1">Anthropoid Sarcophagus, or Cartonnage</a> Frontispiece</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig2">Egyptians at a wine orgy</a> Facing Page 32</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig3">Crude hieroglyphics on an ancient statue</a> 33</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig4">Example of embellished statue</a> 40</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig5">Colossi at Luxor</a> 41</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig6">The Sheltered Wife</a> 41</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig7">Khnum and Thoth in Creation Tradition</a> 56</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig8">Colossi of Karnak</a> 64</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig9">Colossi of Luxor</a> 64</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig10">Colossi of Amen-Hetep III guarding Valley of Kings</a> 65</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig11">At Tomb of Tutanhkamen</a> 65</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig12">Open burial</a> 72</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig13">Mural from an ancient tomb: Butchers at work</a> 73</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig14">The god Hapi drawing the Two Kingdoms into one</a> 73</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig15">Mace-head in British Museum</a> 128</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig16">Cuneiform writing and sculpture on stone weapon</a> 129</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig17">Ancient seals depicting historic events</a> 136</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig18">Section of funerary papyrus, showing progress of the soul</a> 137</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig19">Herds of cattle, such as Hyksos kings possessed</a> 160</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig20">Ancient mural: Slaughter of cattle</a> 161</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig21">Papyrus showing capture of quail</a> 161</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig22">Cartonnage in the anthropoid sarcophagus</a> 168</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig23">Outside and inside writings and decorations on anthropoid sarcophagus</a> 169</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig24">Detailed study of outside and inside of anthropoid coffin</a> 176</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig25">Outside of rectangular coffin covered with writings</a> 176</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig26">Murals and frescoes from tomb walls</a> 177</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig27">Commemorative stele</a> 184</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig28">Ancient boundary markers</a> 185</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig29">Stone ouches, or door-sockets</a> 192</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig30">The famed Black Obelisk, which confirmed record of Jehu</a> 193</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig31">Hamath inscription</a> 195</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig32">Small ivory lion from Ahab’s palace</a> 200</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig33">Fragmentary frieze showing ancient chariots</a> 201</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig34">Hittite inscription</a> 208</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig35">Egyptian funerary papyri</a> 209</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig36">Monuments of Petra, showing ruins from one direction</a> 216</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig37">Monuments of Petra, looking in opposite direction</a> 217</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig38">The rough approach to Petra</a> 240</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig39">Approaching Petra by way of the main siq</a> 241</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig40">“El Kahzne”, the Temple of the Urn</a> 248</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig41">Building carved from living stone</a> 249</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig42">El Deir</a> 256</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig43">Additional view of El Deir</a> 257</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig44">En route to the “High Place”</a> 264</dt> -<dt><a href="#fig45">The Altar of Sacrifice</a> 265</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER I</span> -<br />The Premise Stated</h2> -<p>In the romantic vocabulary of the twentieth -century few words are more potent to -arouse the interest of the average man than -the fascinating word “archeology.” A flood -of volumes has come forth from the press -of our generation covering almost every -phase of this now popular science. After -one hundred years of steady plodding and determined -digging, this school of research has -at last come into its own and today occupies -deserved prominence in the world of current -literature. This science, which deals exclusively -with dead races and the records of -their conduct is, to many, the most fascinating -field of investigation at present open to -the inquiring mind of man. Nothing is of -such interest to the human as is humanity. -The study of the life and record of our own -kind rightly means more to us than can most -other subjects.</p> -<p>But the true appreciation of the value of -the contribution of archeology to our modern -learning can be appreciated only by those -who grasp an outstanding fact that should -be self-apparent, but is so often overlooked: -<span class="pb" id="Page_14">14</span> -Namely, these records derived from musty -tombs and burial mounds constitute the -daily events in the lives of <i>human beings</i>! The -folks who left these records were ordinary -people such as make up the nations of the -earth today. They are not merely names on -tablets or faces carved in stone. They were -actual flesh-and-blood individuals with all -that this implies. In hours of merriment they -laughed, and they shed tears in moments of -sorrow. They hungered, and ate for satisfaction; -they drank when they were thirsty. -They loved and they hated; they lived and -they died. Pleasure and pain were their alternating -companions, while ambition, aspiration, -and hope drove them on the endless -round of their daily tasks.</p> -<p>In a word, they were <i>real</i>. Their life was -as important to them as is your life, and they -lived it in much the same way. Therefore, -the records written by humans and studied -by their kind, who now live these thousands -of years later, constitute the source of the -most human science with which our generation -has to deal.</p> -<p>The contributions of archeology have -reached almost every branch of study, but -to no particular group of people have they -been more timely and valuable than to students -of the Bible. The hoary antiquity of -the Book which has been received in every -generation by the intelligent and the discerning -<span class="pb" id="Page_15">15</span> -as the Word of God, has its roots -in the same generations that archeology is -investigating today. It is inevitable that -much of the material being recovered by modern -excavations shall have important bearing -upon the various questions skepticism may -raise concerning the text of the Scripture.</p> -<p>To the open-minded scholar who approaches -this subject without prejudice, the science -of archeology has a twofold contribution to -make. Some of the evidences derived from -digging are (a) of incalculable value in illuminating -the text of the Scripture, and -are (b) equally priceless when viewed as a -body of indisputable evidence. Under this -latter heading the proofs would come into -four classifications:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">1. The historicity of the text</p> -<p class="t0">2. The accuracy of the account</p> -<p class="t0">3. The authenticity of the record</p> -<p class="t0">4. The inspiration of the whole</p> -</div> -<p>By way of illustrating the manner in which -the Scripture may be illumined by the findings -of archeology, we would introduce a -semi-humorous and partially tragic event that -occurred in the dim and distant days of our -own earlier studies. During a short term -spent at a well known California college, -we were specializing in the field of history. -The teacher of this course, Professor Rosenberger, -was one of the ablest pedagogues -<span class="pb" id="Page_16">16</span> -who ever wasted her life in the more or -less important task of teaching a rising generation -how to think! At the end of the -first few weeks in a class in English history, -she informed the student group that the -following day we would be privileged to have -a test in this particular subject. When the -class gathered for the happy event, there -were twenty questions written on the board -which were to constitute our examination.</p> -<p>The first question was something like this, -“What new treaty had just been signed between -France and Spain at this particular -period?”</p> -<p>The next question had to do with the political -commitments of the Holy Roman Empire.</p> -<p>The third question took us into the Germanic -states, and in all of the twenty questions -not one word concerning England was -mentioned!</p> -<p>As the class sat with the usual and habitual -expression of vacuity which generally adorns -the countenance of a college student facing -a quiz, the Professor said, “You may begin.”</p> -<p>Some hapless wight procured the courage -to protest, by saying, “But you said this was -to be an examination in English history!”</p> -<p>The Professor replied, “Quite so! This -<i>is</i> English history!”</p> -<p>Then leaning forward over the desk she -said, in impressive tones, “How can you expect -<span class="pb" id="Page_17">17</span> -to know what England is doing, and -why, if you do not know the pressure upon -her of her enemies and friends at that particular -period?”</p> -<p>A long distance back in our mental vacuum -a dim light began to glow, and we never -were caught that way again! When the -teacher said French history, we read everything -else! When she said German history, -we specialized on the surrounding countries. -One day as we were thinking over this helpful -technique of understanding, the idea began -to grow that if this was the proper way to -study secular history, <i>it ought to apply to -Bible study as well</i>!</p> -<p>There is an illumination that brightens the -meaning of the Sacred Text when read in -the light of collateral events that can come -no other way. As an instance of this, we will -remind the reader of the background of -Isaiah. When this prophet first began to -write, there was trouble between Israel, the -northern confederation, and Judah, the -southern kingdom. The king of Israel at this -time was Pekah, the son of Remaliah, and -although his people were numerically superior -to Judah, he was fearful that he might -not be strong enough to overcome the southern -kingdom in the threatened war. Therefore, -he made a close alliance with Rezin, -the king of Syria, promising him all the -spoils of the battle, if he would aid with -<span class="pb" id="Page_18">18</span> -his army and strength. The Syrian king -hastened to accept this offer, and signed the -required covenant. When this alliance became -known in Judah, a natural alarm spread -throughout the tiny kingdom. Realizing that -they were incapable of resisting the strong -forces of Israel and Syria which had combined -against them, the princes of Judah desired -outside help. The only apparent source -of such assistance was Egypt. So in the -court of Ahaz, the king of Judah, a strong -party began agitating for a military alliance -with Egypt. That being the only apparent -aid within any reasonable distance, it seemed -natural to turn to them for a military alliance.</p> -<p>The prophet Isaiah, who was a strong force -and exercised a vital influence in the policies -of Judah, began to object most strenuously. -In the light of this background, we can understand -such outbursts of Isaiah as are -found in the thirtieth chapter of his prophecy, -verses one to three:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the -Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and -that cover with a covering, but not of my -Spirit, that they may add sin to sin:</p> -<p>“That walk to go down into Egypt, and have -not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves -in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust -in the shadow of Egypt!</p> -<p>“Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be -<span class="pb" id="Page_19">19</span> -your shame, and the trust in the shadow of -Egypt your confusion.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>His protest seems to reach a climax in the -thirty-first chapter in that magnificently -written plea for faith in God which we find -in these graphic words:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; -and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, -because they are many; and in horsemen, because -they are very strong; but they look not -unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the -Lord!</p> -<p>“Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and -will not call back his words: but will arise -against the house of the evil doers, and against -the help of them that work iniquity.</p> -<p>“Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; -and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When -the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he -that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen -shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>All through this period of prophecy, -Isaiah’s voice is aggressively raised against -the folly of trusting Egypt. His protest is, -“Since God redeemed us once from bondage -in that land, why put ourselves back again -under their yoke?”</p> -<p>The princes replied in some such terms -as this: “The objection is o. k. <i>in principle</i>; -as a basic thesis we will admit that it is safe -to trust in God. But right now we need real -help and we need it in a hurry.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>The prophet cried out in response, “God -will send the help that you need!”</p> -<p>The natural question was “Whence? -Syria and Egypt are the only two powers -near us. One is arrayed against us and the -help of the other you forbid us to seek. -Whence then is the aid that God will send?”</p> -<p>The prophet’s reply was short and terse, -“God will send aid from very far off.”</p> -<p>The reluctant court agreed to take a chance -on Isaiah’s insistence, and so to trust their -cause to the God of Israel. Quickly, then, -upon the heels of this decision, as we learn -from the records of archeology, there came -one of the earlier battles that were fought -at Charchemish.</p> -<p>The rising power of Assyria first made itself -felt in that engagement. As a result, -Syria was shattered and Israel made captive. -The help that God had promised did come, -and now the definite prophecy of Isaiah, in -chapters seven and eight, may be correlated -into this simple summary; and against this -background we can understand the vehemence -of Isaiah in crying out against an alliance -with Egypt.</p> -<p>It is not too much to say, as we shall later -show in detail, that in our present possession -there is sufficient knowledge derived from -the monuments and records of antiquity to -authenticate every prophecy that Isaiah -made concerning Egypt, Israel, Syria, and -<span class="pb" id="Page_21">21</span> -Assyria. Thus the text of the Old Testament -is illumined, and a floodlight of understanding -thrown upon its prophetic utterance by -the findings in this field.</p> -<p>Even more striking is the contribution of -archeology in the second field, that of evidence -in defense of the accepted text. The -museums, monuments, and libraries of the -world are teeming with such evidences, and -it shall be the purpose of this volume to condense, -epitomize, and present much of that -evidence in a simple and readable form, divorced -from technical obscurities. Right -here, however, we offer just one simple illustration -under each of the subdivisions -suggested in the paragraph above.</p> -<p>To demonstrate the evidence of the Bible’s -historicity, we shall offer the illustration -made famous by the late Dr. Robert Dick -Wilson, as to the record of the forty-seven -kings of antiquity. It is probably known to -the reader that the historical sections of the -Old Testament contain the names of forty-seven -kings, aside from the rulers of Israel -and Judah. These foreign, or Gentile kings, -have been known by name for many centuries -to every reader of the Old Testament.</p> -<p>The odd thing is that until comparatively -recent times, these names had been dropped -out of secular history. Mighty as these men -had each been in his day, they were completely -forgotten by posterity and for some -<span class="pb" id="Page_22">22</span> -twenty-three hundred years their names were -unknown to the scholars of secular events. -For this reason the learned leaders of “higher -criticism” relegated these forty-seven monarchs -to the columns of mythology. They -were grouped among “the fables and folklore -of the Old Testament” which this deluded -school mistakenly taught was one of the basic -weaknesses of the text. Then one after another -these disputed monarchs began to rise -from the dead in an archeological resurrection. -In some cases a burial mound was uncovered; -in others, an annalistic tablet, a -boundary marker, or a great building inscribed -with the monarch’s name. Now, all -forty-seven of these presumably fabulous -characters have been transferred from the -columns of “mythology” to the accepted records -of established history.</p> -<p>In forty-seven specific instances, as these -kings rose from the dead past, they were -recognized, as their names were not strange -to true historians. Each was remembered -from his appearance in the page of the Old -Testament which had preserved his memory -with accuracy. Thus, in this simple instance -there are forty-seven definite and specific -evidences of the complete historicity of the -text.</p> -<p>To stress this point, the accuracy of the -record, we shall cite a semi-humorous illustration. -The great Greek historian, Herodotus, -<span class="pb" id="Page_23">23</span> -who is supposed to be the “Father of -History,” wrote some more or less accurate -observations concerning the land of Egypt. -Among other things, he said that the Egyptians -grew no grapes and drank no wine.</p> -<p>There was another ancient who preceded -this historian by many centuries, who also -wrote voluminously about Egypt and her -customs. This was the man Moses, who being -reared in the bosom of the royal family -as the crown prince and heir apparent, might -be presumed to know considerably more -about Egyptian customs than any casual visitor. -Moses stated that the Egyptians <i>did</i> -grow grapes and that they <i>did</i> drink wine. -In fact, he recounts that Joseph was in jail -with the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh, the -butler whose business was the purveying of -wine to the royal table. It may be remembered -that in the butler’s dream he saw himself -<i>standing by the vine, squeezing the grapes -into the cup</i>.</p> -<p>This brought these two authorities into -sharp opposition. Since Herodotus was supposed -to be the final authority on matters of -antiquity, the critics fell upon this discrepancy -with considerable glee. The argument -might still be going on, if it were not for the -discovery of an unquestionable bit of evidence -among the frescoes that decorate the -tombs of Egyptian antiquity. These frescoes -showed the Egyptians engaged in the art of -<span class="pb" id="Page_24">24</span> -viticulture. In some of these pictures they -were dressing and pruning the vines, cultivating -and tending their crop. In others -of the pictures they were seen to be gathering -the grapes and conveying them to the press. -The ingenious method of extracting the -juice was clearly portrayed in these illuminating -frescoes, which showed the juice being -stored in stone jugs, clay pots, and skin bottles -for future use. Since the ancients called any -fruit juice that was used for drinking purposes -by the name of wine, whether it was -fresh or sweet, it is highly probable that some -of this juice was drunk in an unfermented -condition.</p> -<p>However, one of the murals depicted an -Egyptian party gathered around the banquet -board, making merry with the juice of the -grape (See <a href="#pl1">Plate 1</a>). The incidental -evidences show very clearly that the juice -was fermented. Off in the corner, the picture -depicts a noble lady who is portrayed -with her slave holding a silver bowl, while -she gave up the excess fluids that had evidently -disagreed with the more commendable -parts of the banquet! Another of these murals -showed the morning light coming into -such a banqueting hall, as the slaves were -all carrying their masters home; with the -exception of one inebriate who had slid under -the table and had evidently been overlooked -in the excitement!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<p>Did the Egyptians grow grapes and drink -wine?</p> -<p>Herodotus said “No.”</p> -<p>Moses said “Yes.”</p> -<p>The critics, to their later embarrassment, -lined up solidly with Herodotus.</p> -<p>But since archeology has accredited the -accuracy of Moses, this argument is no longer -heard in the halls of learning.</p> -<p>When we come to the question of authenticity, -we shall later give many evidences -that none of the records of the Bible, either -the Old Testament or the New, are, in any -sense of the word, forgeries. They are uniformly -authentic in that they were written -by the men whose names they bear.</p> -<p>A classical illustration of this is found in -the fact that Sir William Ramsay, one of the -greatest archeologists of our generation, began -his work in his early days under the -bias of the critical position that Luke was -not the author of either the Gospel that bears -his name or the book of the Acts of the -Apostles. After forty years of research in -Asia Minor, Sir William Ramsay himself discovered -the evidence that converted him personally -to the orthodox and historical view, -and demonstrated conclusively that Luke unquestionably -wrote the two books that are -accredited to him. As we shall deal with -this matter more extensively in the fifth -volume of this series, we pass on to the present -<span class="pb" id="Page_26">26</span> -cause of modern controversy, namely, -the inspiration of the text.</p> -<p>The fact of inspiration is stated so often -by the writers of the Scripture that we must -accept their explanation of the origin of these -pages, or else classify them as the most consistent -liars that humanity has ever produced. -They claim a supernatural guidance -by the Holy Ghost which has kept their records -free from error or discrepancy. For -one who has examined and analyzed the -Scripture in the unprejudiced light of archeology, -this claim is vindicated at every turn -of the spade.</p> -<p>A simple illustration of the manner in -which our science does show the inspiration -of the Scripture, may be found from the -prophetic sections of the Old Testament. In -the days of Isaiah and his fellow prophets, -the capital of Egypt was the city of No. It -is also called Amon, and sometimes, No-Amon. -It was a populous city of wealth -and culture, being the center of learning, as -well as the seat of government. In a day -when Egypt dominated the world and No-Amon -was the mistress of antiquity, obscure -Hebrew prophets raised their voices -in denunciation of No in such arbitrary and -extreme statements as are found in the -thirtieth chapter of Ezekiel. Denouncing the -sin of Egypt and their repeated betrayals of -Israel, Ezekiel warns Egypt that her land -<span class="pb" id="Page_27">27</span> -shall be overrun with fire and sword, and -that No-Amon shall be desolate and forsaken.</p> -<p>There must have been a strong element -of humor in all of this outcry to the proud -mind of the Egyptian of that day! No-Amon, -also called Thebes, spreading out on both -banks of the Nile, in complacent, serene -command of the ancient world, apparently -had nothing to fear from the bitter cries of -a prophet of Israel. Yet today the visitor -to the site of Thebes, or No-Amon, to use the -more ancient name, is faced with a scene -of desolation that is utterly devoid of any -human habitation.</p> -<p>Since it is impossible for the human mind -to pick up the curtain of time and peer ahead -into future events, prophecy can derive only -from the Holy Spirit. The work of archeologists -in identifying the bleak and barren -site of No-Amon portrays the inspiration of -the Scripture. The proud city is forgotten -except for its inscriptions on records of antiquity -and the denunciations to be found in -the Word of God. Thus we have simply illustrated -how this dignified and sober science -is bringing to us illumination of the text, together -with the evidences of the HISTORICITY, -ACCURACY, AUTHENTICITY, -and INSPIRATION of the Bible.</p> -<p>This is eminently fitting, since this peculiar -science is most intimately concerned with the -problem of the credibility of the Bible. The -<span class="pb" id="Page_28">28</span> -unique and heavenly nature of the Book is -in itself a divisive factor. Multitudes of men -and women love it and would die for its -preservation. Indeed, it is no exaggeration -of fact to say that multitudes <i>have</i> died in its -defense. There are others who hate the Book -and would go to any length to discredit it, -except the extreme length of martyrdom. It -is very natural for men to die for what they -believe, but few men will surrender their -lives for what they disbelieve!</p> -<p>This division is decidedly fitting and proper. -Men and women who are saved by the grace -of God recognize the supernatural nature of -the Book that is the means of their redemption. -Men and women who are lost, resent -the honesty of that Book in that it condemns -their sin and iniquity.</p> -<p>In our day and age, infidelity has, under -the guise of an attempted scientific refutation, -directed its chief argument against the -integrity of the Scripture. Living in an age of -science, when all things are again evaluated -in the light of man’s technical knowledge, it -is inevitable that the Bible should come in -for this type of investigation. No exponent -of Scripture would wish it otherwise. If the -Bible is honestly examined without prejudice, -under any system of truth, it will maintain -its integrity and establish its own supernatural -character.</p> -<p>The so-called scientific investigation of the -<span class="pb" id="Page_29">29</span> -Scripture, however, has not been made on -the basis of credible science. Rather, the -prejudiced enemies have sought to gather -from pseudo-scientific claims such help and -hope for their opinions as would bolster their -failing school. We frankly admit that the text -of the Bible <i>does</i> refute the fallacies of men -of science. There is a great deal of theoretical -speculation indulged in by men who call -themselves scientists, and who march under -the banner of technical learning. In every -age, when such fallacious theories are current, -the Bible is necessarily repudiated by the exponents -of those false ideas. Few such men, -however, know the Bible, and their opposition -has no lasting effect. This Book does -not stand in <i>any</i> age by human consent, but -has been able to maintain itself in <i>every</i> age -by the inherent power of its supernatural -character.</p> -<p>The science of archeology has played a -great and leading role in demolishing these -fallacies of a pseudo-scientific generation.</p> -<p>As an instance of this, we may note that -the theory of organic evolution is unquestionably -incompatible with the record of the -Scripture. In the “dark ages” of biology -which began to draw to a close at the beginning -of this present decade, the thoughts of -men were so darkened by the general acceptance -of the baseless and unscientific -theory of man’s animal origin, as sadly to -<span class="pb" id="Page_30">30</span> -handicap capable research and frustrate the -pursuit of real knowledge. We see again, -however, that truth, though crushed to the -earth, will rise again. For certainly no one -who is within ten years of being up to date -in the facts of biology and the discoveries of -archeology, will contend any longer for the -animal origin of the human species.</p> -<p>The theory cannot be harmonized with the -record of the Scripture. Therefore, in the -days of blindness, when this particular theory -possessed the imagination of men, it was -used as an argument against the integrity of -the text of the Word of God. This whole -problem simmers down to a simple illustration. -In dealing with the origin of man, -there are two horses. The problem of every -man is to decide which one he shall ride. -One horse is known by the name of “specific -creation,” and the other is called “organic -evolution.”</p> -<p>It is impossible to ride them both at once. -In riding two horses at one time, it is necessary -to keep them close together and both -going <i>in the same direction</i>. There is no record -of anyone who successfully rode two -horses simultaneously when they were headed -in <i>opposite</i> directions!</p> -<p>These two premises are irreconcilable. The -first is that man was created in perfection. -In the moment of his fiat origin, he was -formed by the hand of God, gifted with all -<span class="pb" id="Page_31">31</span> -the arts and cultures by a process of involution. -The word “involution” simply means -“to come down into.” That is to say, all of -the graces and abilities possessed by man -<i>were imparted by creation</i>.</p> -<p>The second theory is that “man has himself -consummated a gradual ascent from a -brutish state to our present high and civilized -condition.” (If there were room in such a -work as this for sarcasm, we might say that -this is another way of noting that we have -left the arrow and the club for heavy artillery, -poison gas and aerial bomb. If one were -to wax facetious, one might be tempted to -suggest that if the present condition of international -hatred, mass murder, violated treaties, -forgotten honor, and civilian extermination -in the holy name of war, are the best -that evolution can accomplish, we should -hand the whole mess back to the monkeys -and ask them to stir up another batch!)</p> -<p>But to remain upon the sober grounds of -scientific inquiry, it is not too much to say -that the archeologist speaks upon this problem -with absolute finality. There is nothing -theoretical about archeology. <i>What you -dig up with your own hands, you are inclined -to believe.</i></p> -<p>Some years ago we had a college lad on -one of our expeditions who was strongly addicted -to the theory of organic evolution. At -the beginning of the work the lad showed -<span class="pb" id="Page_32">32</span> -some disposition to argue, and was somewhat -disappointed that we refused to enter into -debate with him upon our differing theories. -As day followed day, however, and we got -into the rich contents of burial mounds containing -a fabulous amount of ossi, this lad -became deeply concerned with the discrepancies -between his textbook learning and -what he saw in his own personal recoveries -of ancient skeletons.</p> -<p>Every time he came to us with some bone -that did not fit in with his classroom theories, -we would laugh and say, “Don’t bother us. -<i>You</i> dug that up. This poor bone never read -your textbook and it doesn’t know how you -want it to be. Now, which are you going -to believe? The schematized drawing in a -textbook written by some professor who -never saw a burial mound, or this evidence -that you yourself have acquired by your own -labor?”</p> -<p>At the end of that one summer, this student -returned to the campus an ardent and bitter -anti-evolutionist, denouncing the false teachings -which had misled him by means of the -printed page.</p> -<p>In a word, other sciences may speculate, -theorize and deduce, but archeology delves -and demonstrates. Some of these demonstrations -will be seen in the contents of the -following pages. We say <i>some</i>: for if all the -evidence from the realm of archeology were -massed into one great volume, no derrick -ever built by man could lift its tremendous -bulk and weight. In such a work as this -one we are handicapped and embarrassed, -not by the paucity of evidence, but rather by -its over-abundance.</p> -<h3 id="pl1">Plate 1</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig2"> -<img src="images/p01.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="572" /> -<p class="pcap">Egyptians at a wine orgy</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig3"> -<img src="images/p02.jpg" alt="" width="601" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Crude hieroglyphics on an ancient statue. Depicting -the early development of art and writing</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>It shall be the purpose of the following -pages to cull and summarize some of the -striking facts of archeology, which demonstrate -beyond question that the Book which -men call the Bible is historically credible, -scientifically accurate, and has been derived -by inspiration from the Spirit of God.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER II</span> -<br />The Tides of Culture</h2> -<p>In almost every branch of this fascinating -science, archeology has been the handmaid -of revelation. Even more, it has acted as -a beacon to illuminate the pathway to God, -which men call the Bible. The problem of -the antiquity and culture of man was the -battleground of infidelity which the skeptical -chose to demonstrate the fallacy of the Bible’s -claims to supernatural origin.</p> -<p>If it can be proved by the aid of science -that the human race is older than is implied -by the Genesis account of creation, and if it -can be shown that man has ascended from -a dim and brutish ancestry, instead of being -created perfect by the hand of God, the foundation -would admittedly be swept from beneath -the Scripture, and the entire structure -of revelation collapses. However, this unwarranted -attempt to confuse the issue and -refute the Scripture, is manifestly unfair to -science. It is not too much to say that this -is a debasing of the highest labors of human -mentality. Research, in the exact sense of -the word, cannot be used legitimately to establish -a pet theory to which the advocate -<span class="pb" id="Page_38">38</span> -clings without regard to evidence in the case. -The attempt to demonstrate the organic evolution -of man belongs in the realm of philosophy -and not of science. The work of -science is the correlation of facts. The sphere -of philosophy is the interpretation of facts. -In all of this controversy, we are not debating -the facts of humanity, but are at odds concerning -the application of those facts. The -real issue then is not the <i>antiquity</i> of man, but -the <i>origin</i> of man!</p> -<p>In the hope of obscuring the manner of -origin, the enemy of our faith has sought to -raise the dust storm of antiquity. It is here -more than anywhere else, that archeology -has been such a tremendous aid to the establishment -of the truth. This science has -demonstrated the premise of the Scripture, -namely, the fixity and origin of our species. -As far back as the spade has been able to -thrust the history of humanity, we find the -same types and varieties of the human family -that exist upon the earth today. Since we -are covering this problem of antiquity and -origin in the sixth volume of this series, we -will hasten on with this brief statement of -the issue involved. We will later show that -all of the statements made in the text of the -Scripture concerning the degeneration and -moral collapse of humanity have been abundantly -demonstrated in the realm of archeology. -Further, the claims that we make as -<span class="pb" id="Page_39">39</span> -to the historicity of the Bible can be demonstrated -satisfactorily in one single field; -namely, the recording of the story of man and -the care used by the Scripture writers in the -exactness of their statements. In this display -of historical accuracy, the writers of the Bible -have incidentally repudiated the entire -philosophy of organic evolution. It is not -too much to say that no single evidence derived -in the entire realm and history of archeology -has sustained the theory of organic -evolution. Remember that we are dealing -specifically with evidence. If the evidence -is rightly interpreted and honestly implied, -item by item and in the aggregate mass, it -refutes the entire fallacy of this weird philosophy.</p> -<p>Since it deals with the realm of human history, -archeology is the final voice as to the -antiquity and culture of man. No race of -man has ever lived upon the face of this -earth and failed to leave some relics or evidences -of its existence and culture.</p> -<p>The science of anthropology postulates the -beginning of the human family somewhere in -Mesopotamia. The Bible is a little more -specific, in that it states that it was in that -portion of Mesopotamia which lies between -the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. -The oldest relics of man, however, are not -found in Mesopotamia. This is due to the -climatic conditions in certain parts of that -<span class="pb" id="Page_40">40</span> -ancient land. The rainfall is heavy. We -have ourselves suffered great inconvenience, -delay, and loss by being isolated from our -objective in Mesopotamia by floods that filled -the wadies and gullies and made travel impossible. -Also, the outlying country is underlaid -to a great extent by water. When -excavators dig but a short way into the -strata of that land, they are handicapped -and hindered by seepage. Because of this -excess moisture, some of the oldest relics of -our race have been destroyed by the ravages -of time and the power of the elements.</p> -<p>The situation in Egypt, however, is quite -the opposite. In most of that land there is -no rain and in no part of that bleak country -do we experience frost. The climate is dry -to the utmost extreme, and the soil is largely -sand. Due to this natural condition, the -oldest records of the human race are found -in Egypt. The oldest records of man and the -most complete records so far recovered of -his early existence have been preserved for -us by this combination of climate and soil. -Since the Egyptians buried in sand or in -stone tombs, the deposits being protected -from the elements, man was the only destroyer. -Even though there has been a sad -record of vandalism, as ruthless hands of the -ignorant have despoiled magnificent tombs -of priceless records and information, there -is much that remained undisturbed. The -people of Egypt built for endurance. The -mighty pyramids, from Sakkara to the Great -Pyramid; the Colossi at Luxor and the awe-inspiring -ruins of Karnak, are present evidences -of the durability of their labors. (See -plates <a href="#pl2">2</a>, <a href="#pl3">3</a> and <a href="#pl4">4</a>.) -Because of the strange beliefs -concerning the life after death, these -people also buried for eternity. We shall -later consider, in the light of their customs -and religious practices, the tremendous value -that modern civilization has derived from -this ancient fact. We have mentioned this -fact now merely to note that the greatest -treasure trove of preserved antiquity is found -in the land of Egypt.</p> -<h3 id="pl2">Plate 2</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig4"> -<img src="images/p03.jpg" alt="" width="589" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Magnificent example of embellished statue, conveying -the name, hopes, and some of the record -of an early ruler</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig5"> -<img src="images/p04.jpg" alt="" width="524" height="800" /> -<p class="pcap">Colossi at Luxor</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig6"> -<img src="images/p04a.jpg" alt="" width="483" height="800" /> -<p class="pcap">The Sheltered Wife</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>Strangely, in view of the consistent demands -of the evolutionary school, we find -no evidence of human evolution in the land -of Egypt. More than this, the doctrine that -man began with a brutish intellect and gradually -developed his high and peculiar culture, -is refuted by the evidences from this -country. In fact, the contrary is strikingly -the case. Instead of proving a process of -evolution, the history of man as found in -the archeology of Egypt is a consistent record -of degeneration.</p> -<p>The eminent Sayce, one of the ablest archeologists -in the whole history of that great -science, expressed his wonder and amazement -at the high stage of culture met with -in the very earliest records of the Egyptian -<span class="pb" id="Page_42">42</span> -people. Other authorities, such as Baikie, -have written voluminously upon this subject. -It had been hoped that when excavators -finally reached undisturbed tombs of the -first dynasty, they would find themselves -in the dawn of Egyptian culture. It was our -fortunate privilege to be at Sakkara a year -ago when the first complete and unmolested -tombs of the first dynasty were uncovered. -It was our privilege to keep a close check and -watch upon all that was done at that time, -and the conclusions and postulations of hopeful -theorists were utterly shattered in such -discoveries as were made.</p> -<p>Indeed, we can no longer start Egyptian -culture with the beginning of the dynastic -ages. Through the first tombs, we peer back -into an older preceding culture that dazzles -and amazes the human understanding. Instead -of finding the dawn of a developing -humanity, we see mankind already in the -high noon of cultural accomplishments. Instead -of nomadic dwellers in shaggy tents, -we look upon works of enduring stone. Instead -of brutish, Egyptian ancestral artifacts, -we find a pottery culture that is really superb. -It almost seems that the farther back -we go into Egyptian antiquity, the more perfect -was their culture and learning. The -art of writing was the common possession of -the Egyptian in the pre-dynastic period.</p> -<p>It is true that there was a so-called stone -<span class="pb" id="Page_43">43</span> -age in Egypt, which preceded the first dynasty. -We are showing here, however, a -photograph of one of the most ancient open -burials ever discovered in Egypt. This is -accompanied by various heads of mummies, -to show the state of preservation. (See <a href="#pl5">Plate 5</a>.) -Before the art of embalming -was invented and the dead were mummified, -they were buried by intrusion in the dry -sands. You will note the perfection of the -culture of this people as depicted by the pottery -undisturbed in this grave. In contrast -to this type of burial, the mummies shown -in this same plate are no better preserved -than the earlier burial. Indeed, there is no -evidence to show that these cultures were -consecutive rather than contemporary. In -various sections of Egypt it is quite probable -that different burial customs prevailed simultaneously, -and it is a pure speculation -to say that the more primitive type of burial -is ages older than the advanced style.</p> -<p>There are many anomalies and mysteries -in this so-called stone age in Egypt. In the -museum at Cairo there will be found some of -the most remarkable specimens of stone flaking -to be seen on the face of this earth. Others -may be seen in the British Museum, in the -various exhibits of Egyptian culture. One -of these knives is equipped with two points, -and all of them are equally sharpened on both -edges. In the author’s own gatherings from -<span class="pb" id="Page_44">44</span> -the various stone cultures of mankind, there -are something over 25,000 artifacts. We have -seen every important collection of stone implements -in the present world, but these -specimens from ancient Egypt are unquestionably -the most magnificent types of stone -culture we have ever been privileged to observe.</p> -<p>The significant and startling fact is that -these stone knives have handles of beaten -gold. At once we are impressed with the -anomalous fact that the stone age was thus -synonymous with an age of metal. Furthermore, -it was an artistic age. The golden handles -on these stone weapons are engraved with -scenes common to the life of the people. On -one side of the stone dagger with the double -points, there is a sailing vessel typical of -the pleasure craft that were common to all -ages of Egyptian life. On the raised deck of -this boat, dancing maidens were entertaining -the circle of spectators. This work was -not crude and brutish, but showed a high development -of the engraver’s art. The reverse -side of the handle was even more interesting -in that it contained, in beautifully incised -characters, the cult sign of the owner.</p> -<p>Here is, indeed, a weird super-imposition -of ages and cultures. The body of the -weapon is of a stone age; the handle of the -weapon is of an age of metal; the engravings -upon that metal show an age of art and the -<span class="pb" id="Page_45">45</span> -possession of written characters. There is -no comfort for the evolutionary hypothesis -in the antiquity of Egypt. The contrary -rather is the case. There is a strange tide -sweeping through the record, portraying an -ebb and flow of culture that is fascinating -to observe.</p> -<p>The culture of Egypt starts on a magnificently -high level and is later reduced to a -tremendous degree by a consistent record of -degeneration. It might be said that by the -end of the fourth dynasty, the people had -reached the high peak of Egyptian art and -learning. But after the sixth dynasty had -well begun, a definite decline and retrogression -had set in. We find ourselves then groping -in a dark age wherein were no arts and -no written history. No great monuments -come from that period, and no great buildings -were begun, repaired, or finished. Writing -became extremely scarce and in many -sections of the land the art seems to have -been completely forgotten. As in the dark -ages of medieval Europe, learning was in -eclipse and the mental life of man degenerated. -Just when the renaissance began, it -is impossible to say, but in the eleventh dynasty -we are suddenly back into the light -again.</p> -<p>Egypt emerges from those dark ages, ruled -by powerful feudal lords, with the pharaohs -appearing to be mere figure-heads. These -<span class="pb" id="Page_46">46</span> -great barons left voluminous records, which -depict their conquests and their powers, and -tell of their own individual greatness. They -constructed magnificent tombs for their eternal -rest, and the land blossomed culturally -under their dominion.</p> -<p>These conditions prevailed until the coming -of the Hyksos dynasty. These conquering -kings were of Semitic origin and they -seem to have come from the region of Ur. -After this conquest, Egypt suddenly became -an unlimited monarchy. The great lords became -landless, stripped of their power and -robbed of all authority. The people literally -passed into the possession of the crown, and -Egypt became a nation of slaves who owed -their very existence to the royal head of the -government. The reason for this change will -be made manifest later in this present work. -We are now interested only in presenting -these strange cycles of culture as shown by -archeology.</p> -<p>It would take many volumes to give a detailed -picture of the early golden age in -Egypt. As an illustration of the art and development -of that culture, we refer the reader -to the tomb of a court official at the dawn of -the sixth dynasty. Buried with this minor official -were certain small wooden effigies depicting -customs, trades, and tools of his day. -There were porters laden with their heavy -burdens. There were scribes bearing stylus -<span class="pb" id="Page_47">47</span> -and plaque. Certain tradesmen were found in -these brilliant statuettes, each man’s craft -being shown by the tools that he carried in -his hand. Priests appeared clad in their -pontifical robes. Perhaps the most interesting -of all were the statuettes of candy -vendors, each man equipped with his tray of -sweets, and a horsehair tail wherewith to -fan the flies. Some of these statues were -so perfect in their execution that the eminent -Phidias might well have envied their perfection. -When we compare this art and culture -with the so-called pictures of brutish -cave-dwellers, we have one more failure in -the collapsing chain of evidences that was -supposed to show man’s constantly advancing -culture.</p> -<p>We might also give, by way of illustration, -the magnificent statue of Kephren. This -memorial was exquisitely carved from stone -so hard that it would blunt most modern -tools. Kephren constructed one of the pyramids -at Giza. This latter work was notable -in that there were evidences that some of the -stones had been cut with what appeared to -be tubular drills. Since this is possible in -our modern culture with the use of diamond-pointed -instruments, there is food for considerable -thought and speculation as to the -culture and learning of Kephren’s age! As -a general statement, it is not too much to -say that the farther back we go into Egyptian -<span class="pb" id="Page_48">48</span> -antiquity, the more perfect the arts and culture -in general seem to be.</p> -<p>When we compare, for instance, the brilliant -workmanship of the priceless pectoral -of the daughter of Usertesen (or Usertsen) -with the crude and amateurish workmanship -of the jewelry of the later queen Abhotep, it -is evident that the centuries brought retrogression. -The reign of Usertesen may be -correlated with the early period of the patriarchal -age, which fact has an important -bearing upon our study. The hopeful critics -of the Book of Genesis have postulated for -the age of Abraham a barbaric lack of culture -comparable to the nomadic tribes of -Arabia in the Middle Ages. We now see, -however, that the entire age of the patriarchs -was a period of exquisite culture and high -learning. To refer again to Usertsen, he -seems to have been a capable strategist, and -his system of working out his plan of battle -was something like the game of chess. His -artists had made for him models of the various -kinds of soldiers that made up his variegated -corps. The bowmen were armed -with exquisite miniature weapons that had, -to our delight and wonder, been preserved -against all the passing centuries. The black -troops that he used, of whatever origin, were -carved from a wood like our ebony, and the -tiny features were negroid in faithful representation -of the difference between the races -<span class="pb" id="Page_49">49</span> -of men employed in his army. These model -soldiers could be moved about a board which -depicted the terrain of battle, and his strategy -thus wrought out. Our present point, -however, is the artistic perfection of the -models of the soldiers that he used. The art -of his age was as nearly perfect as one could -wish.</p> -<p>Then there came another cycle of retrogression -and decay which climaxed in a period -of cultural darkness that reigned too long -over that ancient people. It is highly significant, -for instance, that the best glass of -Egypt is dug from the more ancient sites. -There came a time when the art of making -glass was forgotten by the people of Egypt -and had later to be rediscovered by other -races.</p> -<p>If there is one voice that can be heard in -archeology, and one lesson that can be specifically -learned, it is the certainty of the -fallacy of the theory of evolution. Egypt, -as elsewhere, shows us no dim, brutish beginning, -but a startling emergence of this -people in a high degree of culture. No gradual -ascent up the ladder of learning, but -cycles of retrogression and advancement, followed -by decay: then a new dawning of art -and science. The entire record of archeology -is thus a complete vindication of the premise -and basic contention of the inspired record -of God’s Word. No greater voice may be -<span class="pb" id="Page_50">50</span> -heard in our day than this definite, adamant -cry from Egypt, which depicts cycles of culture -that begin with a crest of learning. It -must not be presumed that this condition is -unique in Egypt, or peculiar to any one race -or country. The same queer discrepancy between -the fallacious theories of the philosophy -of organic evolution and the facts of -human history is observed wherever archeology -has been able to hold the torch of discovery -over a given area.</p> -<p>We have illustrated, for instance, in Plates -Number <a href="#pl6">6</a> and <a href="#pl7">7</a>, one of the most interesting -of the exhibits in the British Museum. This is -a stone weapon from the archaic ages of the -Chaldeans. It consists of a mace head, made -of limestone. Incidentally, this was a very -common type of weapon among those people -in their warlike culture. The particular one -that is illustrated is typical of its time. Note -that it is a STONE AGE WEAPON.</p> -<p>A note of wonder is caused in our inquiring -minds by the odd and utterly incompatible -fact that it is engraved clearly in high relief, -thus testifying to the fact that in the -archaic stone age of Babylon, men who -wrought in a time when the evolutionary -advocates demand a dim and brutish stage -of development were already gifted in the -art of sculpture!</p> -<p>To complicate the case still further, they -were possessed as well with a highly developed -<span class="pb" id="Page_51">51</span> -written language! Their stone implements -are in some instances crude, as they -did not spend time polishing and decorating -rude tools that were used for a base purpose. -Others of their artifacts, like this stone mace -head, are not only covered with finely sculptured -figures but are also inscribed with -written characters that are clear and well -executed. A “stone age” with a written culture, -scholars, and books, is an anomaly, indeed!</p> -<p>Where, then, in the light of these archeological -facts, is the evidence of the slow development -of the human mentality and the -emergence of primitive man from his “brutish” -state? Unfortunately for the high-priests -of the dying sect of organic evolution, -the science which delineates the true condition -of ancient races offers them no help or -proof whatever. The opposite is the case in -archeology, as <i>all</i> the evidence that has come -to us from the honest attempt to see man as -he was, and not as he was reported to have -been, has proved conclusively that organic -evolution is a false religion. It is inevitable -that this fact should some day come to light; -for although it may be that science moves -with leaden feet, when it does finally overtake -error, it smites with an iron fist!</p> -<p>Thus the false theory that man has struggled -upward from a valley of brutish darkness -is refuted by archeology, and the premise -<span class="pb" id="Page_52">52</span> -of specific creation, as set forth in the Bible, -is established by the discoveries in the realm -of this science. In every land that man has -occupied for a long period of time, the tide -of culture has ebbed and flowed from that -hour to this present moment of writing. Just -as the night follows the day, and the next -day dawns only to be succeeded by the darkness -in turn, so the learning and progress of -man has been a cycle, rather than a steady -climb up a ladder of learning, from level to -level, until the heights of present civilization -were reached. The old error must now be -abandoned, or else we must close our eyes -to the entire record of archeological discovery, -and frankly confess that we are not interested -in facts which refute erroneous, but -accepted theories.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER III</span> -<br />Converging Streams</h2> -<p>In a systematic presentation of the evidences -in the field of Christian apologetics, -it is necessary to review the Egyptian and -Chaldean records as they bear upon the text -of the Scripture, and illumine its meaning. -For it is here that the streams of History and -Revelation converge, to continue their flow -in mingled harmony throughout all the centuries -which follow this original conjunction.</p> -<p>In the very nature of the case we would -not expect direct archeological confirmation -of a great deal of the earlier portions of the -Old Testament. The record of creation -which was handed down from Adam to each -generation delineated an event which was -not witnessed by any human being. As has -been very clearly shown in the illuminating -book, “New Discoveries in Babylonia about -Genesis,” by P. J. Wiseman, this record was -undoubtedly preserved in a written form -from the very time of Adam himself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<div class="img" id="fig7"> -<img src="images/p05.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="653" /> -<p class="pcap">Khnum and Thoth in Creation Tradition.</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>The events of the Garden of Eden and the -subsequent history are not such as would -leave archeological material for the exact enlightenment -of later generations. There is, -however, a manner in which the study of -antiquity can bring a tremendous light to -shine upon the dark problem of the credibility -of these records. It is generally conceded -by ethnologists that when races of people hold -a strongly developed idea or belief, in common, -there must have been an historical incident -as the basis of that universal tradition. -Thus, among the very earliest traditions of -ancient Egypt, there is a record of the creation -of man that bears a valuable relationship -to the account in Genesis.</p> -<p>The Mosaic record states that God stooped -and created the body of man out of the dust -of the earth. Life was imparted to that body -by the very breath of God.</p> -<p>The earliest Egyptian record recounts how -the god Khnum took a slab of mud, and placing -it upon his potter’s wheel, moulded it -into the physical form of the first man. The -illustration facing this page shows the entire -process, with Thoth standing behind Khnum, -and marking the span of man’s years upon -a notched branch. Here then is a coincidence -of traditional belief in the manner of creation -of man that is of tremendous significance.</p> -<p>We also note that the earliest records of -Sumeria have this same incidental bearing -upon certain portions of the Old Testament -text.</p> -<p><i>All</i> of the records of antiquity begin the -history of man in a garden. This is of considerable -<span class="pb" id="Page_58">58</span> -significance in view of the account -of Eden that is so prominently given in the -record of Genesis.</p> -<p>Among the seals to which we shall occasionally -refer and which are shown in <a href="#pl8">Plate 8</a>, -there is one from an early period -in Sumeria from which we have derived -considerable understanding of Sumerian beliefs. -This seal shows Adam and Eve on -opposite sides of the tree of the knowledge -of good and evil, and can be nothing less -than a direct reference to the event that is -recorded in the Book of Genesis.</p> -<p>One of the most constantly cited documents -of antiquity, is the so-called Gilgamesh epic. -The high antiquity of the original form in -which this occurs may be seen from the fact -that many of the seals that go as far back -as the year 3,000 B. C. are made of illustrations -of the various episodes that are contained -in this valuable document. The original -home of Gilgamesh seems to have been -at Erech. The city was evidently besieged -by an army led by Gilgamesh, who, after a -three-year war, became the king of the city. -So harsh was the despotic rule of the conquering -monarch that the people petitioned -the goddess Aruru to create a being strong -enough to overthrow Gilgamesh and release -them from his sway.</p> -<p>Some of the gods joined in with this prayer -and as a result a mythical being, partly divine, -<span class="pb" id="Page_59">59</span> -partly human, and partly animal, was -created and dispatched to Erech for the destruction -of Gilgamesh. This composite hero -bears a great many different names, but the -earliest accepted form in the Babylonian account -was Enkedu. Gilgamesh, learning that -an enemy had been created for his destruction, -exercised craft and lured Enkedu to the -city of Erech. The two became fast friends -and set out finally to do battle with a mighty -giant named Khumbaba. When they arrived -at his castle, they besieged and captured the -stronghold of the giant, whom they slew. -They carried off his head as a trophy and -returned to Erech to celebrate their victory.</p> -<p>The plan of the gods being thus frustrated, -the goddess Ishtar besought her father Anu -to create a mighty bull to destroy Gilgamesh. -The bull being formed and dispatched upon -its duty, also failed of its purpose when Enkedu -and Gilgamesh vanquished the animal after -a tremendous battle. And so on, the story -goes with episode after episode, culminating -with a crisis in the account of the deluge.</p> -<p>In this climax, in a notable and fascinating -manner, we see again the coincidence of -tradition with a record of the Scripture. In -the Babylonian account of the deluge, every -major premise of the Mosaic record is sustained -in its entirety. The Gilgamesh account -tells of the heavenly warning, it depicts -the gathering of material and the building -<span class="pb" id="Page_60">60</span> -of an ark. In the ark was safely carried -the hero, his wife and his family with certain -beasts of the earth for seed. The ark of the -Gilgamesh episode was made water tight -with bitumen exactly as was the ark of Noah -in the record in the Book of Genesis. Entering -this ark, the Babylonian account tells -how the boat came under the direct supervision -of the gods. On the same night a -mighty torrent fell out of the skies. The -cloudburst continued for six days and nights, -until the tops of the mountains were covered. -The sea arose out of its banks and helped to -overflow the land. After the seventh day, -the storm abated and the sea decreased. By -that time, however, the whole human race -had been destroyed with the exception of -the little company who had been within the -Babylonian ark.</p> -<p>The ark of Babylon grounded in that portion -of the ancient world known as Armenia, -the Hebrew name of which is Ararat. Seven -days after the landing of the ark, the imprisoned -remnant sent forth a dove. When she -found no place to light and rest, the dove -returned to the ship. They waited a short -while and then sent forth a swallow. The -swallow also returned, wearied from a long -flight, and several more days were allowed -to elapse. The next attempt to discover the -condition of the earth by the imprisoned -remnant resulted in the sending forth of a -<span class="pb" id="Page_61">61</span> -raven. The bird returned and approached -the ark, but refused to re-enter the ship. -The remnant knew then that the flood was -ended. They accordingly went forth with -all the redeemed life, and celebrated their -preservation by offering up sacrifices to the -gods upon the mountains.</p> -<p>The goddess Ishtar was so pleased with -the sacrifice of the godly remnant that she -hung in the heavens a great bow, which Anu, -the father of the gods, had made for the occasion. -She swore by the sacred ornaments -that hung about her neck that mankind should -not again be destroyed by a flood, and this -heavenly bow was the sign of that covenant.</p> -<p>The incidental details which are found in -this hoary manuscript coincide too closely -with the record of Genesis to admit of coincidence. -Archeology has brought no stronger -testimony to the historicity of the Mosaic -record of the deluge than this great account -in the Gilgamesh epic, although interspersed -with mythological characters and deviating -from the simplicity of the Genesis account.</p> -<p>One of the most valuable publications of -the British Museum is their monograph on -the Gilgamesh legend, which contains a fine -and scholarly translation of the deluge tablet -in an unabridged form. Our own copy of -this publication has been of great value to -many students who have sought its aid in -their detailed studies of the Old Testament.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>Another one of the disputed portions of -the Old Testament text which brought great -comfort to the habitually hopeful among the -destructive critics, is that section of Genesis -which deals with the record of Nimrod and -the tower of Babel.</p> -<p>Modern archeology not only has failed to -bring any aid to the critics in this particular -incident, but has robbed them of all their -carefully erected structure of argument -which was predicated upon the assumption -that the tower of Babel was entirely mythological. -Among the recent excavations in -Mesopotamia was the work in the region -which bore the oriental name of Birs-nimroud. -When the excavators had finished -their enormous task, they had laid bare a -magnificent ziggurat of tremendous antiquity -which was the largest so far discovered. At -the time these ruins were first seen, this -enormous tower covered an area of 1,444,000 -square feet. It towered to the height of a -bit more than 700 feet. Time has, of course, -ravished this monument to some extent, but -enough of its grandeur and glory remains to -show it forth as the most ancient as well as -the most magnificent of the Babylonian ziggurats.</p> -<p>According to the description given by Herodotus, -in the middle of the fifth century, -B. C., the structure then consisted of a series -of eight ascending towers, each one recessed -<span class="pb" id="Page_63">63</span> -in the modern fashion of cutting-back that -is used in certain types of sky-scraper architecture. -The famous Step Pyramid at Sakkara -is another ancient example of this type -of structure, each successive and higher tower -being smaller than the one upon which -it rests. A spiral roadway, according to Herodotus, -went around the entire ziggurat, -mounting rapidly from level to level. He -states that at each level a resting place was -provided in this spiral roadway. At the top -of the structure was a magnificent temple -in which the religious exercises of the day -were observed.</p> -<p>That this was the tower of Nimrod is generally -accepted by the authorities of our present -day. The name of Nimrod which in the -Sumerian ideographs is read “Ni-mir-rud” -is found on a number of artifacts and records -of high antiquity, and reference is made as -well to the great monument that he built.</p> -<p>So as we <i>read</i> our way through the episodes -which constitute the earlier records of Genesis, -we also <i>dig</i> our way into the older strata -of humanity and find ourselves walking hand -in hand with the twins of revelation and scientific -vindication! They coincide in all their -utterances, teaching us that all that the Word -of God has to say to men may be accepted -without question or doubt.</p> -<p>The late Melvin Grove Kyle has written -extensively of his own researches at Sodom -<span class="pb" id="Page_64">64</span> -and Gomorrah, so that it is unnecessary to -recapitulate the results of his lifetime of labor. -The sulphurous overburden and the -startling confirmation of the Book of Genesis -derived from the work of Dr. Kyle and his -associates would vindicate the Scriptural -claims to historical accuracy even if they -stood by themselves.</p> -<p>In the general argument and discussion -that long has clustered about the record of -Abraham, the starting point of critical refutation -has generally been the fourteenth chapter -of Genesis. It is stated that the battle of -the kings that occurred in this disputed portion -of Holy Writ, was in the days of Amraphel, -king of Shinar. Since a contemporary -is named as Ched-or-la-o-mer, a storm -of argument has swept over and about that -one opening verse of this important chapter. -The allies of Ched-or-la-o-mer are well known -from his own records, and Amraphel was -not to be found among them. It was a tremendous -blow to criticism when the discovery -was made that Amraphel is the Hebrew -name of the Sumerian form, Khammurabi.</p> -<h3 id="pl3">Plate 3</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig8"> -<img src="images/p06.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="524" /> -<p class="pcap">Colossi of Karnak</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig9"> -<img src="images/p06a.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="520" /> -<p class="pcap">Colossi of Luxor</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl4">Plate 4</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig10"> -<img src="images/p07.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="514" /> -<p class="pcap">Colossi of Amen-Hetep III guarding Valley of the Kings</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig11"> -<img src="images/p07a.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="464" /> -<p class="pcap">At tomb of Tutanhkamen, in the Valley of Kings</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>The brilliant ability of this mighty ruler -is one of the high points of far antiquity. -The king-lists of antiquity, derived from -many sources, were compiled by order of -several of the kings of Assyria and constitute -another of the many valuable records to be -found in the British Museum. A recent publication -of the Museum entitled “The Annals -of the Kings of Assyria” is well worth many -times the price of one pound sterling which -is demanded for the volume. This scholarly -and brilliant piece of work contains the original -Assyrian text transliterated and translated -with historical data that the careful -scholar cannot be without. It settles the -question of Khammurabi. This Khammurabi, -whom we shall now call by his Hebrew -name Amraphel, has left us a long series of -tablets, monuments, letters, and a code of -laws which stands engraved upon a great -monument preserved also in the British Museum.</p> -<p>It is a long way back to that twentieth century -before Christ, but neither time nor distance -prevents our hearing the clamoring -voices of men long dead, who shout to us -their vindication of the nature, character, -and integrity of these testimonies which are -the Word of God!</p> -<p>It is a matter of common knowledge in our -day that the word, or name, pharaoh, may -be applied either to a person or to an office. -Exactly as our modern word “president” may -be applied to the function of the office, or to -the possessor of it in person, so the ruler of -Egypt could be known simply as The Pharaoh, -or shorter still, as Pharaoh. As every -president, emperor or king, however, has his -<span class="pb" id="Page_66">66</span> -own proper name, so each pharaoh also is -designated by his personal name. Fortunately -for our purpose, many pharaohs are -mentioned in the pages of Holy Writ under -the clear identification of their proper names. -Many of them, however, are not identified by -their personal name but are referred to only -by the title of their kingly office. Thus, for -instance, the pharaoh of the Exodus is not -named personally in the text. Such attempts -at identification of this pharaoh as are made, -must be made from external sources. However, -there can be no question of the identity -of the rulers of Egypt, who are specifically -named in the Word of God. Such men as -the Pharaoh Shishak, the Pharaoh Zera and -the Pharaoh So, are identified beyond any -possibility of question.</p> -<p>It is a happy circumstance for the student -of apologetics that each of the pharaohs who -is so named in person by the writers of the -Bible, has been discovered and identified in -the records of archeology. No more emphatic -voice as to the credibility and the -infallible nature of the historical sections of -the Scripture can be heard than that which -is formed by the chorus of these pharaohs.</p> -<p>To note the background of this record, may -we remind the reader that in early times, -Egypt was a divided kingdom. It was known -as Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, and a separate -monarch reigned over each section. It -<span class="pb" id="Page_67">67</span> -happens that in the period of the divided -kingdom, there were fourteen dynasties in -each section of the land. The Egyptian, like -all Eastern people, highly prized ancestral -antiquity. The farther back into antiquity -a man’s family could be traced in his genealogy, -the more the honour that accrued to -him. We are not without modern counterparts, -even in our present democracy.</p> -<p>Therefore, when the two kingdoms were -united, the first kings of the united kingdom -added together the fourteen dynasties of -Upper and Lower Egypt, making them consecutive -instead of contiguous. Thus they -built a spurious antiquity of twenty-eight -dynasties to enhance their greatness.</p> -<p>The earlier archeologists fell into this trap, -and consequently erected an antiquity phantom -which obscured the problem of chronology -for some considerable time. When it -was discovered that these dynasties were concurrent, -a great deal of the fallacious antiquity -of Egypt was abandoned. This fictional -antiquity, which doubled the factor of -time for that period, had been used to discredit -the text of the Bible by the critical -scholars, so-called. Now, in the light of our -present learning, we find no discrepancy between -the antiquity of Egypt, properly understood, -and the chronology of the Scripture, -when it is divorced from the errors of -Ussher. Incidentally, the chronology and -<span class="pb" id="Page_68">68</span> -antiquity demands of both archeology and -revelation coincide beautifully with the demands -of sane anthropology.</p> -<p>To delineate this background so necessary -to the proper understanding of the record -of the pharaohs, it is necessary to introduce -the first occasion of the coincidence of the -text of the Scripture with the land and the -people of Egypt, as it is here that the streams -of revelation and history begin to converge. -This beginning is made, of course, in the -flight of Abraham into Egypt at the time -of a disastrous famine. Overlooking for the -moment the reprehensible conduct of Abraham -concerning the denial of his wife Sarah, -and the consequent embarrassment of the -pharaoh, we digress to make a brief survey -of the incidents that lead up to the kindness -of Pharaoh to Abraham.</p> -<p>There had been previous Semitic invasions -of Egypt. The first reason for these forays, -of course, was famine. Due to the unfailing -inundation by the river Nile, the fertile land -of Egypt was a natural storehouse. The land -of Egypt is fertile, the sun is benevolent, and -wherever water reaches the land, amazingly -prodigious crops are the inevitable result. So -in the ancient days, whenever there was -drought in the desert countries surrounding -Egypt, the hungry hordes looked on the food -supplies of their neighboring country, and, -naturally, moved in that direction. Thus -<span class="pb" id="Page_69">69</span> -the pressure of want was the primary reason -for these early Semitic invasions.</p> -<p>The secondary cause was conquest. These -people of antiquity were brutal pragmatists, -as are certain nations in our present Twentieth -Century. The theme song of antiquity -undoubtedly was, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” -The motive for living in those stern -days seems to have been, “He takes who can, -and keeps who may.”</p> -<p>The activating motive of much past history -is simply <i>spoils</i>. Here now is a case in -point. A family of kings ruled in Syria, who -counted their wealth by flocks and herds. -Driven by a combination of circumstances, -they descended upon Egypt. They were -pressed by the lack of forage in their own -land, due to the drought, and they also lusted -after the treasure and wealth of the neighboring -country. So, without need for any -other excuse, they descended with their -armed hordes and conquered Egypt. There -they ruled, established a dynasty and possessed -the land for themselves. Since their -principal possessions were their flocks and -herds, they were known as the Shepherd -Kings. They have come down in history as -the Hyksos Dynasty. They unified Syria -and Egypt, and it is intriguing to study the -development of this unification as that process -is seen in the pottery of that period. The -work of Egyptian artisans began to take on -<span class="pb" id="Page_70">70</span> -certain characteristics of Syrian culture until, -finally, the characteristic Egyptian line -and decoration disappeared and the pottery -became purely Syrian. The Shepherd Kings -established commerce between the two halves -of their empire and prosperity followed their -conquest. These kings imported artists from -their native Syria, together with musicians -and dancers innumerable.</p> -<p>This intrusion of a foreign culture so -changed the standards of Egypt that for -generations the ideal of beauty was a Syrian -ideal. Later, when the Syrian kings were -expelled by Tahutmas the 2nd, the situation -was reversed and Egypt, now governed by -an Egyptian, kept Syria as her share of the -spoils.</p> -<p>Four hundred years later another Semitic -invasion swept over the land from Ur. It -is quite probable that these conquerors were -Sumerians. They established the sixteenth -dynasty and brought with them also their -treasure in the form of livestock. Thus, -when Abraham entered Egypt, he found that -it was ruled by his relatives! Thus we have -an explanation of the cordial welcome that a -Sumerian from Ur received from a pharaoh -in Egypt. This contact is well established -through the arts of that day, by pottery, by -frescoes, and by means of the records of -ancient customs. We know these things to be -facts.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>So when we read of the record of Abraham, -we have at our disposal a vast and overwhelming -source of evidence as to the credibility -of this section of the record. The -statements that are made in Genesis could -have been written only by one who was -intimately familiar with the Egypt of that -day and time.</p> -<p>The second contact of Egypt and the Genesis -record is found in the experience of Joseph. -Although harsh and unkind, the action -of the brothers in selling the youngest -into slavery was perfectly legal under the -code of that day. The younger brethren were -all subject to the elders, and the law of primogeniture -gave to the elder almost unlimited -power over the life of the younger. The -brutality and envy of this act are far from -unparalleled in the secular records of that -day. Nor was Joseph’s phenomenal rise to -power unusual in the strange culture of that -day and time. We must remember that Joseph -was a Semite at a Semitic court. There -is an unconscious introduction of a collateral -fact in the simple statement of Genesis, chapter -thirty-nine, verse one. After being told -that Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar, -the statement is made that Potiphar -was an Egyptian.</p> -<p>At first thought it would seem to be expected -that a trusted officer in the court of -a pharaoh would naturally be an Egyptian. -<span class="pb" id="Page_72">72</span> -The contrary is the case here, however. The -pharaoh himself being an invader, he had -surrounded himself with trusted men of his -own race and family. As far as may now be -ascertained, Potiphar was the only Egyptian -who had preserved his life and kept his place -at the court. He seems to have been the -chief officer of the bodyguard of Pharaoh, -and as such was entrusted with the dubious -honor of executing the Pharaoh’s personal -enemies. This, then, is a simple and passing -statement that gives us an unexpected means -of checking the scrupulous accuracy of the -Genesis record.</p> -<p>Joseph was comely, attractive, and faithful. -With an optimistic acceptance of his -unfortunate circumstances, which seem much -harder to us in our enlightened generation -than would actually be the case to one accustomed -to such vicissitudes of fortune, he -set himself to serve with fidelity and industry. -But above all this, the blessing of God -rested upon him and upon all that he did. -Since he was in the line of the promised -Seed, and was under the direct blessing of -that promise, it was inevitable that he should -prosper.</p> -<p>There is a flood of illumination that shines -upon this period from the frescoed tombs, -the ancient papyri, and the records crudely -inscribed upon walls and pillars. Particularly -is this true of the entire section of Genesis -that begins with the fortieth chapter -and continues to the end of that Book.</p> -<h3 id="pl5">Plate 5</h3> -<div class="img" id="imgx1"> -<img src="images/p08.jpg" alt="" width="368" height="600" /> -<p class="pcap">{open burial}</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="imgx2"> -<img src="images/p08a.jpg" alt="" width="572" height="796" /> -<p class="pcap">{open burial}</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="imgx3"> -<img src="images/p08b.jpg" alt="" width="393" height="599" /> -<p class="pcap">{open burial}</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig12"> -<img src="images/p08c.jpg" alt="" width="435" height="600" /> -<p class="pcap">Open burial lower left</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig13"> -<img src="images/p09.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="512" /> -<p class="pcap">Another mural from an ancient tomb: butchers at work</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig14"> -<img src="images/p09a.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="550" /> -<p class="pcap">The god Hapi drawing the Two Kingdoms into one</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<p>Among the quaint frescoes of antiquity, -there is one that has no word of explanation. -There are many such murals in Egyptian -tombs, and the cattle also figure often in the -pictures on the papyri. (See <a href="#pl9">Plate 9</a>.) -This fresco, however, was quite unique. -Across the scene there parade fourteen cattle. -The first seven are round, fat and in fine condition. -They are followed by seven of the -skinniest cows that ever ambled on four legs! -No word of explanation is needed to clarify -this scene for those who are familiar with -the history of that time.</p> -<p>There is another mural showing the chief -baker of Pharaoh, followed by his servants -and porters. In his hand he holds a receipt -for the one hundred thousand loaves that -were daily delivered to the palace of Pharaoh. -These “loaves” were in the nature of large -buns.</p> -<p>The multiplicity of these paintings would -require a volume to delineate carefully, but -there is information here that cannot be -passed over in silence. They bring to us -the solution of one of those mysteries of -Egyptian history, which is found in the collapse -of the feudal system and the consequent -complete possession of the land by the crown. -We can now read from the secular evidences -thus derived, that in a time of plenty a -<span class="pb" id="Page_74">74</span> -trusted lieutenant of the king built granaries -to store the surplus left over from the -time of plenty. Of course, to our enlightened -times or in the culture of this generation, that -is the height of ignorance. The proper thing -to do in a time plenty is to <i>destroy</i> the surplus -and plow under the excess. We sometimes -wonder what would have happened in -Egypt if our modern culture had prevailed -in the seven years of plenty, in the light of -the famine that followed!</p> -<p>We now find that when the whole land -hungered, the lords ceded their real estate -to the crown for grain to keep themselves -and their families alive. The people sold -themselves to Pharaoh and became slaves, -on condition that he feed them as he would -his cattle. When this time of famine was -ended, Egypt was so absolute a monarchy -that Pharaoh owned even the bodies of those -who had been his subjects.</p> -<p>As an illuminating collateral incident, we -now learn that a Sumerian name was given -to Joseph, the trusted lieutenant. To him -was accorded the title “Zaph-nath-pa-a-ne-ah.” -The Sumerian meaning is “Master of -hidden learning,” and was a title of honour -and distinction which was conferred because -of his wisdom and forethought in providing -for the future. To him also was accorded the -royal honour. He was to be preceded by a -herald who called upon the people to bow -<span class="pb" id="Page_75">75</span> -down as Joseph passed by. Herein there -comes the explanation of a slight philological -difficulty in the text of Genesis. They have -tried to make this title of honour to mean -“Little Father.” This difficulty, however, -disappears when we understand that it is -not a Hebrew word that is found in the -text, but an ancient Egyptian phrase. The -common form of the word is “Ah-brak” and -literally it means “bending the knee.” The -Babylonian form of the word is “Abarakhu.” -In some parts of the ancient world the term -“Ah-brak” is still used by cameliers to make -their beasts of burden kneel to receive their -load. Thus when Joseph, the master of the -hidden learning, went abroad throughout the -land the herald preceded him crying, “Bend -the knee,” and all the populace bowed in -homage to him in acknowledgment of his -distinguished accomplishments.</p> -<p>Against this background of understanding, -we now turn our thoughts to one of the most -stirring dramas in all human history. Again -there was a famine in the entire land of -Sumeria, and the people turned, as was customary, -to the land of Egypt for succor and -relief. Had this epic been invented by -some literary genius of antiquity, the arrival -of the brothers of Joseph to buy grain for -their starving clan would be deemed one -of the most melodramatic episodes ever conceived -by the human mind. Therein we see -<span class="pb" id="Page_76">76</span> -again how God overruled the evil deed of -the brethren, and by that very deed saved -the guilty. In a time of world oppression -and bitter famine, the family of Abraham -was reunited in the shelter of Egypt.</p> -<p>As the story unfolds, we see the significance -of Joseph’s instructions to his brethren. -These Semitic kings were shepherds who -highly prized their flocks and herds. The -Egyptians, however, despised husbandry, and -thus the monarchs were in great distress because -of the want of capable herdsmen. The -brethren of Joseph were distantly related to -the reigning pharaoh. They were of the -same race of people, and their father Abraham -had been a prince in that land of Sumeria. -So when the pharaoh asked them -what their occupation was, recognizing them -as distant relatives, they were canny enough -to reply, “We be shepherds; to sojourn in the -land are we come.” With great delight, the -pharaoh employed them to be the personal -overseers of his treasured animals.</p> -<p>Goshen, which consisted of two hundred -square miles of fertility, and was the finest -province and the juiciest plum in Egypt, was -turned over to them for a pasture! They -entered into a life of comparative ease, of -absolute security, and of importance in the -court of their day.</p> -<p>So there came into Egypt that group which -<span class="pb" id="Page_77">77</span> -was to constitute the spring that gave rise -to the historic stream of the Hebrew people. -The tribes were there in the persons of their -founders, and the long contact of Israel and -Egypt began through the pressure and want -occasioned by a time of famine.</p> -<p>One further interesting and collateral evidence -of the accuracy of these records is -found in the various texts and sections of -the Books of the Dead, and in the records of -the customs and practices of the ancient art -of embalming. In Egypt the general rule -was to allow seventy days for the embalming -of a dead body, the burial, and the mourning -for the dead. But the fiftieth chapter of -Genesis dealing with the death and burial -of Joseph tells us, in the third verse, “And -<i>forty</i> days were fulfilled for him; for so are -fulfilled the days of those <i>which are embalmed</i>: -and the Egyptians <i>mourned</i> for him -<i>threescore and ten days</i>.”</p> -<p>These statements could be true only in the -days of a Hyksos or Sumerian dynasty. The -manner of embalming introduced by these -Syrian conquerors, required forty days for -the complete process and the burial. Seventy -days was their custom for mourning, thus -making a total of one hundred ten days. Only -in these exact periods of Egyptian history -could this record of Genesis be thus established -and accredited.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>It is a fascinating experience for the student -of archeology to wend his way through -the mass of evidence derived from these generations -and now in the possession of the -great museums of our earth. A pilgrimage -begun in the British Museum, at London, continuing -through the Egyptian Museum at -Cairo, passing by way of Sakkara to culminate -at Karnak, will enable the fascinated -student to read this entire book of Genesis -from the sources of antiquity. Thus in the -very beginning of the convergence of the two -streams, Revelation and History, we see that -dead men <i>indeed</i> tell tales; and their stories -vindicate the record of the Word of God!</p> -<p>Much of this evidence is, in the very nature -of the case, inductive, and is valuable largely -because of the light it sheds on dark places -in the text of the Scripture. The customs of -the people of antiquity were in many ways -so different from those of our day, we have -lost the comprehension of their conduct that -is dependent upon mutual experience. There -are thus certain obscurities in the pages of -the Bible that have baffled modern man for -a long time, but which are now clearly understood -in the light of fresh understanding -of the beliefs and practices of the times that -are dealt with in the Scriptures. This is by -no means the least of the benefits of archeological -investigation.</p> -<p>One such field will be found in the record -<span class="pb" id="Page_79">79</span> -of the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt, -and the manner in which God shook the power -of the conquering pharaoh and devastated -Egypt for the relief of the oppressed. The -entire record has been repudiated point by -point by the various critics and the varying -schools of criticism, until their limited -opinions leave no grounds for belief in the -very fact of the event itself. These objections, -when analyzed carefully, are all predicated -upon the personal ignorance of the -individual critic concerning some phase of -the proceedings that climaxed with the departure -of Israel from servitude.</p> -<p>One of the commonest objections to the -credibility of the Old Testament history was -the oft-repeated assertion that though the -children of Israel were in bondage for a long -period in Egypt and left that land in the most -dramatic exodus antiquity had known, there -is no record from Egyptian sources of the people -or history of Israel. Such is not now the -case, but had it been so this would not necessarily -have diminished the value of the historical -statements to be found in the record -of the book of Exodus.</p> -<p>Very few of the races of antiquity recorded -in detail their defeats! Certainly no nation -that prided itself upon its greatness and power -ever suffered a more complete overthrow -than did Egypt in the redemption of Israel. -<span class="pb" id="Page_80">80</span> -It is only natural to presume that they would -make very little reference to the crushing -blow that they suffered at that time. There -is even today a strong tendency on the part -of the Egyptians to hush up all evidence of -this event as far as it is possible to do so. In -the great Egyptian Museum at Cairo, for instance, -we find a record of one of these texts -that does refer to the Israelites.</p> -<p>Exhibit 599 in this aforesaid Museum is a -large stele in dark gray granite, which is -beautifully engraved on both sides. On one -side there is an extensive inscription in which -Amenophis the Third gives a categorical list -of his gifts and offerings for the temple of -Amon. The other side of the stele has been -appropriated by Amenpthah. He gives a -highly dramatic account of his battles and -victories over the Libyans, and then alludes -to the assault of Ascalon, of Gezer, and of -Yanoem in Palestine. In the course of this -later record, the inscription reads, “Israel is -crushed. It has no more seed.”</p> -<p>In the Egyptian Museum this exhibit is accompanied -by the following ingenious statement: -“This is the sole mention of the Israelites -in the Egyptian texts known up to the -present day.”</p> -<p>This is not exactly the truth. The Egyptian -Museum itself at Cairo has a number of -the tablets containing the correspondence between -<span class="pb" id="Page_81">81</span> -the Egyptian court and the kings and -governors who were vassals to Egypt in Palestine -and Syria. These communications -make urgent demands upon the crown of -Egypt for military help against the invasion -of an armed horde who are called in the text, -Hebiru. The word “Hebiru” is commonly -identified with the modern term Hebrew.</p> -<p>Again, the late Director General of the Department -of Antiquity of Egypt and the great -founder of the Cairo Museum, Maspero, has -left us an interesting note of this monument -of Menepthah. Maspero points to the fact -that in comparison to Egypt, Chaldea and -Assyria, Israel was a very insignificant race. -If this was true when the nation was ruled -by her greatest and most glorious dynasty, -that of David and Solomon, it would be more -so when the nation consisted of a slave company -lodged in a corner of the delta.</p> -<p>The later ravages undergone by the temples -of Egypt, when they suffered incalculable -harm through the vandalism of the -darker ages, makes it indeed extraordinary -that <i>any</i> record of those earlier times has -remained.</p> -<p>In the very nature of the case, these details -could not have been comprehended by -the scholars of the past generation, as they -dealt with customs and ideas that were lost -to our age. The insatiable curiosity of the -<span class="pb" id="Page_82">82</span> -archeologist, combined with the care with -which the Egyptians preserved their records, -can be credited with the recovery of this lost -information, the possession of which so wonderfully -establishes our faith in this more -enlightened age.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER IV</span> -<br />The Ten Plagues</h2> -<p>The prosecutors of the old charge of “folklore -and mythology” so constantly directed -against the faith of those who hold to the -credibility of our present Scripture text, -found some of their keenest shafts in the Biblical -account of the exodus from Egypt. -Scrutinizing the record of that notable event -under the microscope of prejudice, the critics -claimed to have found many outstanding -weaknesses in the text. Particularly was -this so in that section of the story which -dealt with the plagues with which Almighty -God smote the land and broke down the -resistance of Pharaoh.</p> -<p>There is, therefore, a manifestation of a -sardonic humor in the present situation. After -denying for generations that these plagues -ever occurred, the critics now seek to rob -the account of any value by their new technique -of acquiescence. The really modern -method of discrediting the Scripture is to -admit that there is some truth in the record -and then subtly twist the meaning of the text -out of all harmony with the general plan of -revelation. As a noteworthy example of this -<span class="pb" id="Page_86">86</span> -modern technique of criticism, we submit a -leading article which appeared in the <i>London -Express</i> of Sunday, September 6, 1936.</p> -<p>Professing to accept the historical record -of the ten plagues, the writer of this article -then craftily proceeds to offer a peculiarly -human and mechanistic theory to account for -the disaster. In reading this news item, we -are at once struck by the fact that every -element of a supernatural nature is deleted -from the strange series of events, and the -credit for the entire victory of Israel is -ascribed to the human genius of the man -Moses. This news item appeared in the following -form:</p> -<blockquote> -<p class="center"><span class="large">THE PLAGUES OF EGYPT</span> -<br />SHOW THAT MOSES ANTICIPATED BY 3,000 YEARS THE GREATEST FEAR OF MODERN SCIENCE</p> -<p>Science has been inquiring -into one of the greatest -catastrophes that befell -a nation—the ten -plagues of Egypt.</p> -<p>They have found that -modern theories are in accord -with the Bible story.</p> -<p>The plagues were -brought upon the Egyptians -by Moses in the days -of Israel’s captivity. Dr. -Charles J. Brim, a New -York authority on public -health, says that Moses -must have anticipated by -3,000 years modern science’s -greatest fear—the -use of disease germs, water -pollution and other attacks -on sanitation as war -weapons—in short, bacteriological -warfare.</p> -<p>Moses, states Dr. Brim, -<span class="pb" id="Page_87">87</span> -in addition to being the -founder of the science of -hygiene, showed that germ -warfare could annihilate -man and beast more effectively -than arms and -man power. With it he -bent the mighty Egyptians -to his will and thus -brought about the Exodus, -the release of the Israelites -from Egyptian slavery. -With it he so undermined -their man power and morale -that it became impossible -for them to face the -hardships of war.</p> -<p>The ten plagues, in their -order, were:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">Changing the water into blood;</p> -<p class="t0">The frogs;</p> -<p class="t0">The lice;</p> -<p class="t0">The flies;</p> -<p class="t0">The murrain of cattle;</p> -<p class="t0">The boils on the Egyptians;</p> -<p class="t0">Hail;</p> -<p class="t0">The locusts;</p> -<p class="t0">The darkness;</p> -<p class="t0">The death of the first-born.</p> -</div> -<p>“The first step in this -carefully planned attack,” -says Dr. Brim in a newly -published book, “Medicine -in the Bible,” “was the -pollution of Egypt’s water -supply.”</p> -<p>This had two results: -First, it attacked the god -of Egypt—the Nile; secondly, -it sapped the very -fountain of the country.</p> -<p>Egyptian legend said -that the Nile sprang from -the blood of the god Osiris. -Hence, “the waters of the -Nile were turned into -blood.”</p> -<p>Egypt depended on the -Nile for its drinking water, -on its yearly inundations -for the irrigation of -the fields.</p> -<p>A polluted Nile was a -smashing blow at the water -supply and at the -crops and cattle. Nobody -could wash or drink.</p> -<p>The fish—one of the -staple foods—died. Frogs -were forced to leave their -natural haunts in the river -banks and invaded the -streets, fields and houses -in their millions.</p> -<p>Swarms of frogs, with -no water or food, died and -rotted over the countryside. -Cartloads were burned, -but not before the -germs of pollution had -time to multiply.</p> -<p>The air became filled -with the disease germs -bred in this ideal forcing-ground. -<span class="pb" id="Page_88">88</span> -People and animals -became infected.</p> -<p>Flies descended in -swarms greater than people -had ever seen, bringing -more germs with them. -Cattle died in their thousands.</p> -<p>Dust, in a naturally -dusty country, became infected, -spreading more -disease and death. Nature -took a turn. A terrific -hailstorm shrieked over -Egypt. The few crops -that were left standing -were flattened and destroyed. -Animals were -killed by the force of the -hailstones. Next came the -locusts, dropping in their -millions on the fields, eating -everything the hail -had left.</p> -<p>When they passed, a -dust storm, caused probably -by the hot, electrical -wind known as the hamsin, -blew up and darkened -the sky for days on -end, as sandstorms still do -in that part of the world. -The tenth and last plague, -the death of the first-born, -was a natural consequence -of all that had happened -since the day the water -became polluted.</p> -<p>The Bible does not say -explicitly that only the -first-born died in this -plague.</p> -<p>What it does say is:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>And it came to pass that -at midnight the Lord -smote all the first-born -in the land of Egypt, -from the first-born of -Pharaoh that sat on his -throne to the first-born -of the captive that was -in the dungeon.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The epidemic killed -many others, but in the -death of the first-born lay -the greatest calamity, for -the first-born son was -chief in every Egyptian -household.</p> -<p>Dr. Brim does not explain -how the first plague -was brought about, but if -Moses did pollute the Nile -it must have been done -when the water was low.</p> -<p>It is certain that Moses -was a medical genius, as -his laws of health prove, -and knew the certain effects -of water pollution.</p> -<p>Neither does the doctor -explain how Moses foresaw -the hail, but it is -possible he could judge -atmospheric conditions -with precision.—V. B.</p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>It is perhaps an inaccuracy to talk about -“modern” attempts to thwart and deny the -Word of God! There is nothing modern about -this entire propaganda, popular as it may be -in our own day. The error is ancient, as is -the attitude of mind that would set aside -the element of the supernatural in Holy Writ, -and oppose the time-honored revelation of -God’s will by the modern self-satisfaction -with human learning. Indeed, this common -and basic sin of our generation is so far from -being modern, that the very first recorded -case of denial of God’s Word comes from the -Garden of Eden, man’s first and original -home.</p> -<p>Even before sin had reared its ugly head, -to shatter the sweet communion and spoil -the fair harmony that was the basis of man’s -fellowship with his Creator, this error appeared. -It was Satan who, encroaching upon -the beauty of Eden’s fair content, first said, -“Hath God said?” The denial of the truth -of God’s spoken word originated with the -enemy of man: and it would behoove us all -to remember that any man who has questioned -His written word from that hour to -this, is also an enemy, and an emissary of the -original foe of mankind! Do we owe Satan -so great a debt of gratitude for the deep and -dark pit of woe into which he has lured our -race, that we must lend slavish attention to -the same old error when he sponsors it today?</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>For this “modern” attempt to discredit the -Scripture is but a recrudescence of his ancient -and simple strategy for the hurt of mankind. -Well does he know that if he can but shake -the faith of our generation in the integrity of -the Bible, faith in God must soon be lost as -well. Once more pedantic scoffers, professors -of this and of that, arise solemnly to -refute the truth of the only “map” that can -ever guide men back to the Paradise we lost -when the first man rejected God’s revelation.</p> -<p>It is interesting to see that this old error -is in no new guise, in the article referred to -above. This is nothing new, it is just an -original approach to the same old mess of -Satanic whispering. Indeed, Paul warned us -of the possibility of this very article and -method in II Timothy 3:8, when he said:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, -so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt -minds, reprobate concerning the faith.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>He introduces the very age of Egyptian history, -and the events connected with the Exodus -in speaking thus of the false teachers -of the apostate days that should precede the -time of our Lord’s return. And lo! the -event transpires in this year of grace, as the -press of the twentieth century casts doubt -upon the Ten Plagues in this subtle manner.</p> -<p>It <i>is</i> subtle. Also dishonest to the nth degree. -<span class="pb" id="Page_91">91</span> -Professing to accept the historicity -of the events, the article then proceeds to -demolish the credibility of the record, by -ascribing all the plagues to natural forces, -directed by the genius of a human being, -namely, Moses. God is ruled out, the supernatural -denied, and common sense prostituted -to infidelity in a manner that the shallowest -thinker could not countenance. For -a man of medicine, or a scholar in any realm -of science, to foster such a contemptible -evasion of plain fact, passes understanding.</p> -<p>A few years ago it was customary for -criticism to deny that these plagues ever -happened. Classifying them among the reputed -folklore of the Hebrews, and relegating -them to the realm of the purely mythological, -the critic calmly and boldly denied that they -ever occurred at all. But these past years -of research and study have so established the -historicity of the record, that this procedure -is no longer possible; so the new attack is -made, on the basis of naturalism.</p> -<p>It is plainly stated that Moses himself -brought about these plagues upon the Egyptians, -and that he did so by the use of his -own superior knowledge. In a word, he was -a bacteriologist, three and a half thousand -years before Pasteur! That in itself is a -greater miracle than the plagues could ever -have been! No microscope, no instruments -<span class="pb" id="Page_92">92</span> -of research, yet he not only anticipated the -discoveries of Lister and Pasteur, but he also -applied <i>germ warfare</i> to the redemption of -Israel, and “bent the Egyptians to <i>his</i> will.”</p> -<p>More marvelous than all this, he did it by -simply polluting the Nile River, the source -of the life of Egypt. This of course was a -simple task! The Nile is a mighty river. -If we follow its course just from the First -Cataract at Assuan to the mouth, it is over -five hundred miles as the river twists and -bends round and about.</p> -<p>Now all Moses had to do was to impregnate -those five hundred miles of winding river -with some deadly form of disease germs, that -would affect the Egyptians <i>but not the Israelites</i>! -Any nice germ would do! Of course, -he had also to <i>keep</i> those five hundred miles -of flowing stream polluted, in spite of the -rushing current that swept fresh water down -day by day! Let us not forget, <i>that he did all -this while Pharaoh was looking on</i>: and that -for seven days the condition continued, then -to end as suddenly as it had begun. We -should like to know something of his technique!</p> -<p>Then, after the river had cleared its waters, -Moses boldly announced that the Lord would -overrun the land with frogs! This was done, -not as a result of a polluted river, but rather -after the river was clear. Pollution with -<span class="pb" id="Page_93">93</span> -disease germs might have driven the frogs -out of the river: but how did Moses get them -to go <i>back</i>, as Pharaoh entreated him to do?</p> -<p>Most conveniently, the author of the above -cited article does not mention how the lice -were spread over the land by Moses! Did -he personally catch them and spread them all -around, or had he been breeding and storing -them for years in advance? The flies may -have increased in the rotting piles of frogs, -but what kept this pest of flies out of the -small section of Egypt called the Land of -Goshen, where the children of Israel were? -Given the conditions that caused the flies to -breed, why did they refrain from the particular -portion of the land where Moses and -his people were camping?</p> -<p>So also for the murrain on the cattle, and -the boils on the Egyptians. None of Israel -were affected by these disasters. Did Moses -have some kind of salve or prophylactic -serum that he used, he being the great medical -genius that this article makes him to be? -Even that will not account for the fact that -when the hail came, it, also, avoided the -camp of Moses and his three and a half -million compatriots!</p> -<p>But even a great medical genius and an -accomplished meteorologist could not have -foreseen the coming of the locusts that darkened -the sky and the land as well. Nor -<span class="pb" id="Page_94">94</span> -could this great medical genius, even had -he also been an able entomologist, have seen -to it that the locusts ate only Egyptian vegetation, -as Goshen greenery would have been -just as acceptable to <i>hungry</i> locusts! And -who ever saw any other kind?</p> -<p>Passing over the supernatural darkness -with the simple observation that it was <i>not</i> -an ordinary phenomenon such as a sandstorm -(which left the houses of the Israelites -unaffected), we will hasten to the conclusion -of the matter, the death of the first-born. -The article we are quoting makes a terribly -strained attempt to prove that others died as -well as the first-born, but the text of the -Scripture does not so state or imply. Indeed, -the text very clearly sets forth the fact that -it was only the first-born who died. They -died dramatically; all at the same hour.</p> -<p>At midnight, simultaneously, death smote -a certain restricted class.</p> -<p>The prince in the palace, and the felon in -the dungeon; the cattle as well.</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0"><i>But the first-born of Israel did not die!</i></p> -<p class="t0"><i>They were all under the blood!</i></p> -</div> -<p>Quaint epidemic, was it not? It came as a -result of disease germs in the river Nile, it -killed all its victims out of just one class, the -first-born, and it passed over any home that -had lamb’s blood on the door posts!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<p>Is it necessary for a man to believe such arrant -nonsense, and accept such utterances -of folly before he can qualify as an educated -man, or a scientist?</p> -<p>Most fortunately, it is not!</p> -<p>To show the truth of this matter, we can -indeed study these ten plagues in the light -of modern science. Not by the flickering -rays of the lamp of human speculation can -understanding be achieved. Only in the -full illumination of the sunshine of historical -fact can the truth be discerned. So, we will -turn to the great and truly modern science -of archeology to study the Ten Plagues of -Egypt, and see what the truth of the matter -really is.</p> -<p>In the first place, thanks to the vast amount -of research in the archeology of Egypt, we -now know that these ten plagues were a -contest between the Lord God of the Israelites, -and the pantheon of Egypt.</p> -<p>The genesis of the contest is given in -Exodus 3:18. Here Moses is instructed by -God to ask Pharaoh for a three-day furlough -for the entire company of the Twelve Tribes, -that they might go three days’ journey into -the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah. -This initial request was to be the first step -in a campaign that would result in the redemption -of Israel from their long bondage, -<span class="pb" id="Page_96">96</span> -and the apparently reasonable request was -made with the certainty that it would be -refused. Indeed, the request was such that -Pharaoh <i>could not grant it</i>!</p> -<p>As we shall later see, the Egyptians were -the most polytheistic nation that ever lived. -In their pantheon of deities there were more -than twenty-two hundred gods and goddesses, -and each of them had a particular theophany. -That is to say, these gods and goddesses -had certain animals that were sacred -to them, and in which animal form the particular -god or goddess occasionally manifested -a personal presence. So very often -the deities of Egypt are depicted in stone -and painting as having a human body, but -an animal head. Thus Thoth might be seen -with the head of an ibis, while Hathor sometimes -has a human head, but more often she -is portrayed with the head of a cow.</p> -<p>So there was no animal that the Hebrews -could sacrifice to their God, Jehovah, that -would not be sacred to some Egyptian deity. -This sacrifice would constitute blasphemy -in the eyes of the Egyptian masters, and -trouble would eventuate immediately! Indeed, -when Pharaoh, worn out by the troubles -brought upon him by the plagues, suggested -to Moses that the people sacrifice to -Jehovah without going to the wilderness, -<span class="pb" id="Page_97">97</span> -Moses simply replied in the language that -is recorded in Exodus 8:26:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“What shall we sacrifice, that will not be an -abomination in the eyes of the Egyptians? -Will they not stone the people if they sacrifice -in the land?”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The justice of the reply was so self-apparent -that the ruler did not press his suggestion, -as the text shows. Thus God forced -the issue and provoked the conflict that not -only freed His people from slavery and eventually -established them in the land that He -had promised them through Abraham, but -also showed His supremacy over the gods of -Egypt. Even more than that, in the resultant -series of events, the Lord God brought -such glory to His own Name, and showed -such omnipotence that the world has never -forgotten this drama, even to our own day -and time. Witness the very article that is -the subject of this present comment!</p> -<p>The clear statement of God’s attitude toward -the conflict is seen in Exodus 4:23, 24. -The figure of speech used there is a divine -choice, therefore we use it just as God Himself -expressed His own mind to Moses. The -“first-born” was the chief object of interest -in every Egyptian household, for two reasons. -The law of primogeniture ruled in that day -and land, even as it does in England and other -<span class="pb" id="Page_98">98</span> -countries today. Also, the first-born of every -species, animal or human, was dedicated to -the gods, and was a sacred object, in a very -strong sense of that word. So later, we hear -the law of Israel as set forth by God, that -the first-born of man or beast in the land is -to be sacred to Jehovah: <i>not</i> to the gods of -Egypt.</p> -<p>Now then, as Moses was sent to Pharaoh, -to carry the demands of God for the release -of the people, he was instructed to tell the -ruler that Israel was, in God’s sight, as -prized and beloved a group as the “first-born” -was in an Egyptian household. In a -figure of speech that Egypt as a whole could -most clearly grasp, God said: “Israel is <i>My</i> -son, <i>My first-born</i>: And I have said unto thee, -Let my son go that he may serve me; and -thou hast refused to let him go; behold, I will -slay <i>thy</i> son, <i>thy</i> first-born.”</p> -<p>With this introduction, we can see clearly -the genesis of the conflict. It is most clearly -stated in Exodus 5:1-3. When Moses said -to Pharaoh, “Thus saith Jehovah, the God -of Israel, Let my people go, that they may -hold a feast unto Me in the <i>wilderness</i>:” -the ruler of the land said, in just so -many words, “Who is Jehovah? I never -heard of him!” Not only did the mighty king -reject the word and the commands of God, -but he also denied Him in no uncertain terms. -<span class="pb" id="Page_99">99</span> -This upstart Jehovah, who was <i>He</i> to give -orders to Pharaoh the mighty? He was the -god of an humbled and captive people, therefore -the king reasoned that his own gods -must be far mightier! So the proud and -haughty monarch said, “I’ll stick by the gods -of Egypt; I know not this Jehovah, and I -will not obey His words.”</p> -<p>Moses left with the clearly expressed warning -that the king might not then know Jehovah, -but that he was certainly destined -to find out about Him! The call to arms, -the challenge to combat, and the prophecy of -God’s victory are all expressed in the single -verse in Exodus the seventh chapter, where -God tells Moses that “the Egyptians shall -know that I am Jehovah, when I stretch out -my hand upon Egypt....” This, then, was -the primary reason for the ten plagues. God -would teach the Egyptians a lesson through -<i>judgments</i> that the land would never forget! -When he finished with them, none were ever -again able to say, “And who is this Jehovah? -The gods of Egypt are stronger.”</p> -<p>Thus we see that the contest was primarily -between the monotheism of Israel and polytheism -of Egypt. We would emphasize the -fact that the Egyptians were perhaps the -most polytheistic race the world has so far -known. It is impossible to say just how many -deities existed to the Egyptian mind, but -<span class="pb" id="Page_100">100</span> -“their name was legion”! Two hundred separate -deities are named in the Pyramid Text, -and four hundred and eighty more are named -in the Theban Recension of the Book of the -Dead. Altogether, archeologists have recovered -the names of over two thousand two -hundred different gods and goddesses that -were worshipped by the Egyptians! Is it any -wonder that Jehovah must start His laws to -His people with the commandment: “Thou -shalt have no other <i>gods</i> before me!”?</p> -<p>A word about these objects of Egyptian -worship will be necessary to clear up the -necessary later references to the practices -and the beliefs of the Egyptians. While these -ancient folks never had the idea of an immanent, -pervasive God, in the monotheistic -sense, they still had a dim conception of a -super-god principle, behind and over the -various individual gods and goddesses. There -was first of all the grouping of gods into -triads, which was a widely accepted custom. -Since each triad consisted of a god, a wife, -and a son, this grouping is less a degeneration -of the principle of the Trinity than might -seem to be suggested at first thought. Rather, -it was a glorification of the <i>family</i> principle.</p> -<p>Thus we see that at Thebes, the principal -triad of deities consists of Amon-Ra, the king -of all the gods, Mut, his Wife, and Khons, their -son.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>Ba-neb-Ded, with his wife Het-mehit, and -their son Harpakhrad (whom the Greeks later -called Harpokrates) constituted the triad -at Mendes. In like manner, the Memphis -triad was composed of Ptah, Sekhmet, and -Imhotep. Sometimes the greater gods were -grouped into a company of nine, called the -Ennead. There was also the grouping of -the major deities into the “Three Companies,” -being the gods of the heaven, the earth, -and the Other or Under World.</p> -<p>All the gods had human bodies, but some -of them had animal heads. Sometimes a god -who customarily had a human head would -appear wearing the animal head of his theophany, -as in the case of Hathor, cited above. -Thus when Hathor appears with a cow’s -head upon a human body, she appears with -the solar disk between her horns; and when -she appears with the human head, she wears -as a headdress the bonnet of the goddess Mut, -the wife of Amon-Ra, the horns of the cow, -the solar disk which shows her relationship -to Horus, and the feather of the goddess -Maat.</p> -<p>We have previously asserted that each -plague was a direct blow at one of these -celestial beings, and it might be profitable -to demonstrate this fact with a few concrete -illustrations.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<div class="img" id="imgx4"> -<img src="images/p10.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="599" /> -<p class="pcap">Hapi</p> -</div> -<p>The First Plague was a direct -and definite blow at a -numerous company of these -objects of worship. In the -first place, the River Nile was -itself an object of worship. -It was reputed to flow from -the celestial stream called Nu, -and was heavenly in its origin. -It brought life to the entire -land of Egypt, and was worshipped -with appropriate and very exact ritual. -There were hymns to the Nile, prayers -and offerings to and for the Nile, and the -river possessed in itself a very real personality. -The River is pictured in the form of -a man wearing a cluster of water plants upon -his head, and the idea of fertility is conveyed -by giving him the heavy pendant breasts of -a nursing mother! In the British Museum -may be seen a remarkable papyrus, containing -the Hymn to the Nile. To show the -reverence felt for the power of the great -River, we quote just a sentence or two from -this Hymn:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>... Thou art the Lord of the poor and needy. -If thou wert overthrown in the heavens, the -gods would fall upon their faces, and men -would perish....</p> -</blockquote> -<p>This deified river, then, the source of life -<span class="pb" id="Page_103">103</span> -and blessing in Egypt, was smitten by God, -and its waters turned to blood. Frantically -the Egyptians sought to dig shallow wells -by the banks of the stream, as their water -supply failed them for the first time in the -memory of man! Truly, Jehovah was greater -than the Nile! And not only greater than -the River itself, there was more than this -involved. There were many issues involved, -and many deities suffered “loss of face” that -day!</p> -<div class="img" id="imgx5"> -<img src="images/p10a.jpg" alt="" width="216" height="601" /> -<p class="pcap">Osiris</p> -</div> -<p>There was the mighty Osiris, -who was himself the cause and -source of the resurrection and of -everlasting life. Greatest of all -the gods of the underworld, he has -an important part in the text of -the Book of the Dead. The Nile -was supposed to be his bloodstream! -When God smote the Nile, -he laid the mighty Osiris low in -the dust! With him fell Hapi—who was the -Nile-god, and also Satet, the wife of Khnemu, -the goddess of the annual inundation. Her -divine sister, Anqet, bit the dust that day, -as she was the personification of the Nile waters, -which turned into an offense and a -stench when Moses stretched out his staff. -Time will not permit the presentation of the -characters of Isis-Sothis, Isis-Hathor, Ament, -Menat, Renpit and at least two score more, -<span class="pb" id="Page_104">104</span> -all of whom met defeat in the First Plague. -None of them could sustain their prestige -and power in the face of the action of Jehovah, -and He emerged victorious in the -first trial of strength.</p> -<div class="img" id="imgx6"> -<img src="images/p11.jpg" alt="" width="366" height="690" /> -<p class="pcap">Khnum</p> -</div> -<p>The Second Plague was likewise -a contest between the Lord -of the heavens and the earth, -and certain specific ideas of the -Egyptian system of worship. -The plague of frogs that covered -the land, making life a -burden to the people, was a -blow struck at Heqt, the wife of -the great Khnum, whose theophany -was a frog. Indeed, she was called -the “frog-goddess,” and this lowly creature -was sacred to her. The frog was the symbol -of the resurrection, and the emblem of fertility. -It was reverenced by the people, and -to have one around the dwelling place was -a sign of good fortune and was supposed to -ensure a fertile year for farm and family -alike.</p> -<p>They got enough of this quaint object of -reverence when God flooded their land with -myriads of the beastly things! They were -in the bread-trough, and got tangled up in -the dough, thus adding a rather quaint flavor -to the bread! The bread could not be baked, -<span class="pb" id="Page_105">105</span> -however, as the baking ovens crawled with -frogs, and the fires could not be lighted. -They hopped all over the master of the house, -and when he sought his bed in disgust they -were there before him.</p> -<p>Like a blanket of filth the slimy, wet monstrosities -covered the land, until men sickened -at the continued squashing crunch of -the ghastly pavement they were forced to -walk upon. If a man’s feet slipped on the -greasy mass of their crushed bodies, he fell -into an indescribably offensive mass of putrid -uncleanness, and when he sought water to -cleanse himself, the water was so solid with -frogs, he got no cleansing there. In sheer -desperation the mighty king was forced to -beg, “Call off your frogs, and I will let the -people go!” Read Exodus 8:1-15.</p> -<p>And with that cry, the prestige of Heqt -and Khnum was gone forever, drowned out -in the tidal wave of disgust that rolled up -in protest at <i>too much</i> of her theophany!</p> -<p>It is a bit difficult to imagine that generation -of Egyptians ever worshipping the Frog -again.</p> -<p>Plagues Three and Four are a bit more -difficult to deal with at the present writing, -because of the personal ignorance of the -writer. By that he means to say that more -light is required here as he does not know -definitely the exact god that was meant to -<span class="pb" id="Page_106">106</span> -suffer in the estimation of the people, with -the plague of lice. There can be no question, -however, that the people themselves were -hard hit, as any veteran of the A. E. F. will -be only too glad to testify! This unclean -parasite must have been a source of misery -that was well-nigh insuperable, when it became -as numerous as the very dust of the -ground! It must have made the Egyptians -somewhat envious to see the Israelites basking -in peace and bodily comfort, while they, -the lords of the land, itched and scratched -and suffered the misery of this vicious pest! -How much better to trust the God Jehovah -who demonstrated His ability to keep His -followers free from even such a plague as -this.</p> -<p>As for the flies, there is this suggestion, -at least: one of them was sacred to the name -of Uatchit. What variety of fly is intended -in the text we cannot definitely say, as there -are numerous species of flies. But the -<i>ichneumon</i> fly is a symbol of this god, and -their figures in tiny statues and on papyri -are well known to the modern archeologist. -They are a brilliant and beautiful insect, -somewhat prized by the entomologists of our -day as specimens, but they can be a pest -when they come in too numerous companies!</p> -<p>Some years ago we were encamped in -Mexico, with a company who were digging -<span class="pb" id="Page_107">107</span> -for archeological treasure. The site was -pleasant, the camp was near a clear, meandering -stream, and the shade trees were enjoyable. -There was just “one fly in the ointment” -and that fly was the ichneumon. Every -time food was placed upon the camp table, -this gorgeous insect responded with enthusiasm -and delight. They came in regiments -and companies, bringing all their relatives -and friends with them! So we could say -from experience, that anyone who had to -fight with a swarm of ichneumon flies for -his own share of the lunch, would soon come -to revile the god to whom this symbol was -sacred! Not only Jehovah, but <i>any</i> god -would seem preferable to Uatchit after an -invasion of his particular pets. Or should -we turn this last word around and make it -pest, instead?</p> -<div class="img" id="imgx7"> -<img src="images/p12.jpg" alt="" width="288" height="698" /> -<p class="pcap">Hathor</p> -</div> -<p>When we come to the Fifth -Plague, we are again on solid -and assured territory. Once -more firm archeological ground -supports the theme of this chapter. -When God smote the cattle -of Egypt, He dealt most definitely -and drastically with Egyptian -polytheism. There were -many of the supreme objects of -Egyptian worship that met their -Waterloo in the murrain on the cattle.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>Chief of these is the mighty and venerated -Hathor. She was the “cow-goddess” that -was universally worshipped in all the land, -and was to the human race of that day the -“mother” principle of deity. Her most common -name in the Egyptian language is Het-Hert, -which literally means “the House of -Horus.” The House of Horus is that portion -of the sky where Horus lives and is daily -born, namely, the east. Hathor is depicted -in antiquity in many forms. Always she appears -with a human body, and may sometimes -have a human head as well. But more often -she has a cow’s head on a human body, as the -cow was her symbol. She often walked the -land in the theophany of a cow, and one -could tell when a calf was born, whether -Hathor had come to earth, or not.</p> -<p>When this great goddess is pictured with -a human head, she wears an impressive headdress. -This is composed of the spreading -horns of a cow, between which are seen the -bonnet of Mut, the divine wife of Amon-Ra, -the king of the gods. Above this is seen the -solar disk, as Hathor was of “The Great Company” -and was associated with all the beneficence -of the glorious and life-giving sun. -The Book of the Dead teaches that Hathor -provides nourishment for the soul in the -other-world, and as such a provider she excels -all the minor gods. So in all the forms -in which she is carved or drawn, she wears -<span class="pb" id="Page_109">109</span> -the sacred uraeus, to show her exalted power.</p> -<p>When God smote the cattle, her especial -symbol, He struck a mighty blow at the -tottering system for which Pharaoh had confidently -expressed his preference. The other -forays were but skirmishes: this was a real -and decisive battle! This shrewd and telling -victory was the beginning of the end of -the conflict. If the divine Hathor could not -protect her faithful following from the power -of Jehovah, who could?</p> -<p>For not only Hathor was thus challenged -and defeated, but other important members -of the Heavenly Company met defeat and -disgrace in the plague that smote the cattle. -A common object in the Egypt of that day -was the sacred bull, Apis, whose power was -vast indeed. His temples dotted the land, -and the priests of his cult were many and -their power was impressive in the extreme. -On the forehead of Apis appears the sacred -triangle of eternity, and on his back is always -seen the sacred scarab, with spread -wings.</p> -<p>Apis was the theophany of the god whose -name was Ptah-Seker-Asar, and he also was -one of the triune resurrection gods. The -living worshipped him that they might live -again in the world to come, and the dead, -of course, all worshipped him because he -<span class="pb" id="Page_110">110</span> -had made them to live again. Now, alas, -for those who trusted in him against Jehovah! -He could not even defend his own -earth-form from the blight that his new -enemy, Jehovah, had sent on all that represented -the great and powerful Ptah-Seker-Asar. -Thus God humbled the sacred Apis -in the same stroke that crushed the cult of -Hathor.</p> -<p>To this record must also be added the name -of Nut, the goddess of the sky, and the wife -of Geb. She it was who produced the egg -out of which the sun hatched, so in reality -she preceded Horus and even Amon-Ra, even -though they ascended to a higher power and -authority later. She is depicted with a female -human body, and the head of a cow. -However, she does not wear the solar disk, -nor the headdress of Hathor, as she was a -little lower in the social company of the weird -organization of nonsense and mysticism that -was the religion of Egypt.</p> -<p>The simple summary of the whole record -is just this: all the gods of Egypt were not -able to defend the cattle, when the Lord God -Jehovah stretched out His hand to smite -them! This the people of Egypt were forced -to concede, as their cattle died by the thousand -before their bewildered eyes, while not -one of the herds of Israel lost so much as -one head of cattle by the murrain.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<div class="img" id="imgx8"> -<img src="images/p13.jpg" alt="" width="421" height="609" /> -<p class="pcap">Reshpu</p> -</div> -<p>The Sixth and Seventh -Plagues are simple to deal -with, as the record of Egypt -gives valuable aid to the unprejudiced -student here. Imhotep -was the god of medicine, -and the guardian of -all the healing sciences. -Prayers were made to him -for protection as well as for -cures, and he was greatly revered. In like -manner, Reshpu and Qetesh were the gods -of storm and of battle, and they controlled -all the natural elements except the light. So -the noisome and painful boils struck the devotees -of Imhotep and left him powerless to -aid his praying following, and their plight -was pitiful indeed. How little it helped to -see that the followers of the god Jehovah, -at whom Pharaoh had sneered with ridicule, -were comfortable, and with unblemished -skins! No suppurating sores advertised the -pain of the Hebrews; the good hand of their -God was upon them, to protect them from -the very disaster that came upon all the -Egyptians for Israel’s sake!</p> -<p>The medical man of the twentieth century, -whose article we are now considering, attributes -all this painful consequence to the -bacteriological pollution of the Nile, which -was accomplished by the skill and wisdom -of Moses. The present writer of this refutation -<span class="pb" id="Page_112">112</span> -is not utterly ignorant of the science of -bacteriology, but he humbly confesses that -he does not know of any pathogenic micro-organism -that would bite everybody except -a Hebrew! We would like to know the name -and the nature of such a bacterium or bacillus! -The Hebrews were exposed to the same -flies, the same germs, the same stench of the -dead frogs, the same epidemic that was consequent -upon this chain of events, unless -Moses vaccinated or inoculated them all, -some three and a half millions in number. -Truly the natural explanations of the supernatural -cause reason to totter on her throne!</p> -<div class="img" id="imgx9"> -<img src="images/p14.jpg" alt="" width="360" height="640" /> -<p class="pcap">Sebek</p> -</div> -<p>But if God was at war with -Imhotep, Reshpu and the gods -of healing, and desired to scatter -their following and to open -their eyes to the folly of idol -worship, we can see how He -might protect His own, while -smiting the followers of the -false religion. In that case -also, Moses would not need to -be the only man in antiquity who could call -up a devastating hail storm at the dictate of -his own will. Moses could leave it to God -to shame Reshpu and the other gods of the -elements in the eyes of their devotees.</p> -<p>The Eighth Plague, that of the locusts, is -<span class="pb" id="Page_113">113</span> -the easiest of all to comprehend. This was -a direct blow at the Egyptian conception -of Providence, and a sweeping victory over -all that was holy in the eyes of this idolatrous -people. These ancient people ascribed the -fertility of their fields and the abundance -of the harvests to certain specific deities. The -modern scholar establishes this fact by studying -the hymns of praise and the votive records -of the Egyptians. But after the hail -had hammered their lovely ripening crops -flat on the ground, and even while they -mourned their loss, swarms of locusts descended -like a cloud, and swept the land as -clean of vegetation as a forest fire could have -done.</p> -<p>To see God’s purpose in this act, we need -only consider the prophecy of Joel. With -a fidelity to detail that arouses the admiration -of the modern entomologist, this prophet -of Israel portrays the devastation of the land -by a swarm of locusts, as a judgment from -God upon His own people. When famine and -want stare men in the face, and they are beyond -the hope of other aid, then they turn -back to God in sorrow and in repentance. -For where can men turn except to God, when -the land lies barren and devastated, and -famine stalks the earth?</p> -<p>Thus in Egypt, when God would teach an -unforgettable lesson to the proud and haughty -<span class="pb" id="Page_114">114</span> -king whose impertinent comment had been, -“Who is this Jehovah?”, He punctuated His -answer to Pharaoh’s question with a swarm -of locusts. It is reasonable to conclude that -long after the starving Egyptians had forgotten -the pangs of hunger that came inevitably -on the heels of that visitation of -consuming insects, the lesson of that visitation -remained.</p> -<p>All these disasters, following one after the -other, had struck telling blows at the very -foundation of Egypt’s religion. But a worse -was to follow.</p> -<p>The Ninth Plague struck at the very apex -and head of all the Great Company of the -pantheon. The most essential thing in all -the physical realm is light, and the Egyptians -seemed to realize this fact. The darkness -of the ninth plague was a supernatural darkness. -This much is evident from the record, -which says that it covered the land so grossly, -the people sought refuge in bed! Evidently -artificial light would not penetrate that fearful -gloom; <i>but the children of Israel had light -in their dwellings!</i></p> -<p>Of course they had it!</p> -<p>They are the people who later sang: “Jehovah -is my light and my salvation.”</p> -<p>But the songs of the Egyptians were directed -to different gods entirely. Here, then, -<span class="pb" id="Page_115">115</span> -was a golden opportunity to test the might -of these conflicting ideas of deity. Is Jehovah -able to maintain His superiority over -the hosts of the Egyptian gods? They were -indeed mighty in the hearts of the people, -and the contest was long and grim.</p> -<p>First of all to consider, there was the incomparable -Thoth who had worked out the -system of placing all the stars, the sun and -the moon in the heavens. He had arranged -also the seasons, as they had been decreed -by Ra. Although inferior to Ra and to Horus, -nevertheless Thoth gave light by night, and -on those days that the sun was not visible. -He also gave Isis the power needed to raise -the dead, and to offend him was to suffer -eternal loss. Remembering that the Hebrews -had lived under this culture and psychology -for generations, and considering that they -all must have been tinctured somewhat with -these beliefs, many of them must have trembled -indeed when Jehovah calmly engaged in -battle with Thoth! So the Lord God not only -smote the god of Egypt in this part of the -conflict, but He also established His personal -superiority in the minds of His own -despairing people. Certainly, when this -plague ended, the Hebrews hastened to follow -His next commands without hesitancy, -even though those commands laid them in -danger of the death penalty under Egyptian -law.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<div class="img" id="imgx10"> -<img src="images/p15.jpg" alt="" width="279" height="624" /> -<p class="pcap">Sekhmet</p> -</div> -<p>A lesser deity, but also a powerful -one who suffered grievously -in loss of prestige while the -darkness reigned, was the fire-goddess -Sekhmet. She was the -divinity of fire, and thus also of -artificial light. This darkness -that covered the land during this -plague was called “thick” darkness, -and it was so impenetrable -that for three days and nights, the Egyptians -stayed in bed! They saw the face of no man -in those dark days and dense nights, and it -is evident that artificial light was useless. -Only in the houses of Israel did any light -shine, but in each dwelling in Goshen the -light was undimmed. So it was demonstrated -in the case of Sekhmet, the lioness-headed -goddess of artificial light, that she -was powerless when Jehovah invaded her -realm.</p> -<p>With what delight did Moses remember all -this, when later he wrote the words of the -First Chapter of Genesis. How his heart -must have thrilled as he spoke of God commanding -the light to shine on the first day -of creation, and recorded the obedience of -the light to the spoken word of Israel’s God. -He had seen that when God commanded -darkness all the gods of Egypt were powerless -before Jehovah, and that it was therefore -<span class="pb" id="Page_117">117</span> -simple for God to reverse the process, and -bring light to alleviate the darkness of the -chaos.</p> -<p>The section of the pantheon that crumbled -in the regard of the devoted Egyptians that -hour was a broad and numerous company. -No divinity of all the polytheistic company -was very much more reverenced than Horus, -the hawk-headed. He was called “the eye of -Ra,” and was the god of the noontime sun. -When the flaming heat of Ra was just overhead -at the hour of midday, and when its light -and heat were the most intense, Horus was -in the ascendancy. When the deep darkness -of the ninth plague hit the land, the hearts -of the people were sick with fright. Believing -that the sun was born anew every -morning, and having an intense and well-thought-out -system of deities connected with -this rite, they must have thought that there -had been wholesale slaughter and failure -among the heavenly beings. But there still -would smoulder in their deepest thinking, -the dim hope that at noon the incomparable -Horus would glow, as Ra was the omnipotent, -and his <i>eye</i> could not be dimmed. But not -only did the noon pass in the same awful -darkness, but two more noons followed each -other in slow succession, and the feebleness -of the once-revered Horus could no longer -be doubted. So when they said, “Who is -mightier than Horus?” the children of Israel -<span class="pb" id="Page_118">118</span> -could reply with grateful hearts, “Jehovah -is; see, we have light in <i>our</i> dwellings!”</p> -<p>But like many other heathen and idolatrous -people, the chief object of Egyptian worship -was the sun itself. The natural mind can -comprehend this, and there is a little of the -Parsee in most modern men. So to the -ancients the sun was a personification of -beneficence and providence. The worship -of the sun took many forms in Egypt, but -the oldest and most general form of that worship -was in the person of the god Ra, who -appears in ancient records in many guises, -and under many names. Perhaps the most -common of these names is Amon-Ra. He -was unquestionably the chief form of deity -to the Egypt of Moses’ generation.</p> -<div class="img" id="imgx11"> -<img src="images/p16.jpg" alt="" width="298" height="660" /> -<p class="pcap">Taueret</p> -</div> -<p>As far as it can be said that the -Egyptians conceived of a god-principle, -this was expressed in -the person of Ra. He was the -creator of earth and of heaven, -and of all things therein. All -other gods were parts of his person, -and members of his body -and substance. The pantheon -was headed by Ra, and after him -came the gods and goddesses -who were parts of his body. One was his -eye, another his ear, while still another was -his foot. This quaint conception was carried -<span class="pb" id="Page_119">119</span> -out for every known section of the anatomy, -which the Egyptians seemed to have known -fairly well.</p> -<p>Seeing, then, that Ra was immanent, pervasive, -and the principle back of all deities, -he was the chief object of Jehovah’s enmity, -and the real subject of the contest and conflict. -In all the other plagues the <i>parts</i> of -Ra were defeated, and now at last the two -ideas are locked in the final struggle. It was -preposterous to the Egyptians that any god -or power could be superior to Ra, as the sun -is the source and seat of all power. But -the plague of darkness left him shorn of -power and greatness, and prostrated him before -the feet of <i>Jehovah</i> forever. Three theophanies -had Ra, and God desecrated every -one of them!</p> -<p>Ra appeared in the form of the sun: so -that was blotted out of the sky for three days. -Sometimes he walked the earth in the form -of the first-born of a cow, if that first-born -was a bull. So the first-born of all the cattle -died, and Ra was covered with shame. Occasionally -he was supposed to visit men in -the form of a ram. The first-born were all -sacred to him and dedicated to him from -birth: yet when all the first-born of Egypt -died, the babes of Israel, with their cattle -and flocks were all safe, because they were -under the shed blood of what was Ra’s chief -theophany, next to the sun! The application -<span class="pb" id="Page_120">120</span> -of the blood to the lintel and the doorpost -was an act of blasphemy against Ra, yet in -that very defiance the Hebrews were acknowledging -at last that <i>Jehovah</i> should be -their God forever, in that He had proved His -power.</p> -<div class="img" id="imgx12"> -<img src="images/p17.jpg" alt="" width="308" height="600" /> -<p class="pcap">Amon-Ra</p> -</div> -<p>The Tenth Plague intrudes -into the sphere of the ninth. -The death of the first-born was -the proverbial straw that broke -the camel’s back, as far as the -Egyptian resistance to Jehovah -was concerned. This is still -aimed primarily at Ra, although -there were notable deities other -than he that suffered defeat in -this last and awful skirmish. -When the Children of Israel left Egypt, -bribed to depart by a people who were -prostrated with grief, the mourning Egyptians -pressed upon them the cattle and the -flocks, the gold and the jewels requested. -Anything to get rid of the devotees of the -awful Being who left every home in Egypt -bowed in sorrow, and who had slain, as well, -every particle of faith the people had in the -once-powerful gods of the land of captivity!</p> -<p>To name many of these gods would be to -weary the reader. But we cannot refrain -from naming Meskhemit, who was the goddess -of birth. She was also the companion -<span class="pb" id="Page_121">121</span> -of Hathor, and overshadowed the first-born -of the land. To what avail, when <i>all</i> died -who were under her divine protection! And -even stronger than she, was the mighty Min, -the god of virility and generation. Closely -related to Amon-Ra, being the means of extending -the power of Ra to those who worshipped -him, he too, fell with a resounding -crash, when the hand of The-Only-God-That-There-Is -swept all the idols of Egypt off -their pedestals, in what might be called the -greatest “ten rounds” ever fought! Not only -did <i>Jehovah</i> win the battle and the crown, -He also won every round! The victory was -complete and crushing.</p> -<div class="img" id="imgx13"> -<img src="images/p17a.jpg" alt="" width="321" height="600" /> -<p class="pcap">Set</p> -</div> -<p>Many centuries later, Paul -the Apostle recalled all that is -implied and stated here, when -he wrote the ninth chapter of -Romans and the seventeenth -verse. Here it is stated that -God dealt so with Pharaoh, that -the name of God should be advertised -throughout all the -earth.</p> -<p>Is it so advertised?</p> -<p>Witness this article, cited above! Thirty-five -hundred years have come and gone since -these things transpired, but the mind of man -has not been able to escape from the demonstration -of God’s power that He gave in -<span class="pb" id="Page_122">122</span> -that far-off day. And all we can say about -this latest attempt to explain the victory of -God in the land of Egypt by attributing it -all to the smartness and genius of a learned -man, is, it just will not stand up! For the -God who smashed the pantheon of Egypt -evidently knew that this attempt was due, -and He raised from the dead, in an archeological -resurrection, the witnesses to the -facts at issue. And we have done nothing -in this simple reply but review <i>their</i> evidence! -But in so doing, we note again that modern -science, whenever her voice may be heard, -establishes the Scripture and vindicates its -claim, that “holy men of old spake as they -were moved by the spirit of God.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER V</span> -<br />Sources</h2> -<p>One of the many questions that are frequently -asked of the archeologist, and one -that is most difficult to answer in a few brief -words, concerns the source of his material. -There is a sort of mystery that hovers over -this modern calling which intrigues the fancy -of the average layman. When an archeologist -begins to dig in some barren waste of -sand and comes upon a buried city that has -been missing from the history of men for -multiplied centuries, it impresses the casual -observer as magic of the blackest kind. -There is, however, nothing supernatural or -uncommon about these discoveries, although -the element of chance does enter in to a minor -extent. Some of the greatest and most prolific -fields we personally have investigated -were brought to our attention when the plow -of a farmer cast up a human skull and focussed -attention upon that particular field. -Generally, however, the sources of archeology -are uncovered by hard, patient, painstaking -labor.</p> -<p>When an able prospector starts out in his -search for gold, he is guided by certain known -<span class="pb" id="Page_126">126</span> -factors that have been derived from the experience -of generations. Panning his way -up a stream-bed, the keen-eyed hunter of -fortune tests every spot that previous experience -had taught him might be profitable. -He may labor at one thousand barren sites -before he strikes gold. If he is in a mountainous -country and the placer deposits are -not rich enough to pay him to tarry on the -spot where the first discovery was made, he -will work his way on up the stream, testing -site after site for increasing values. If the -show of color in his pan suddenly ceases, he -knows that he has passed the sources of -these wandering fragments. He then goes -back to the last point where he found traces -of gold and then begins to search the side -canyons and branch streams that lead into -the main channel. In this way he traces his -path step by step to the ledge from which -the gold originally came. After laboring -weary months, or even years, with heart-breaking -disappointment and grim, hard -work, if he is fortunate he announces a discovery. -The thoughtless immediately credit -his good fortune to the goddess of luck and -wonder why they also could not be blessed -that way.</p> -<p>This illustration is an exact picture of the -manner in which archeologists go about their -business. There are certain sites that experience -has taught us should be profitable -<span class="pb" id="Page_127">127</span> -to investigate. The region is carefully combed -for surface indications. These may be such -things as shards of pottery, arrowheads, -fragmentary bones, or any of the ordinary -debris that indicates a site of human habitation -or burial. When the surface indications -suggest the probability of a real find, then -the digging commences. Most of our great -discoveries are made only after months, and -even years, of painstaking survey. These -surveys must be made by men who are expert -in the interpretation of surface indications -and fragmentary evidences. Thus it is -at once apparent that there is really nothing -supernatural or magical about this sober -craft; it is scientific in its procedure. There -is no “doodle-bug” for archeology such as -is sometimes used by those who are found -around the fringe of geology.</p> -<p>It must be remembered that the orientals -differed greatly in their building methods -from the occidentals. It is customary among -us to excavate to bed rock before we lay the -foundation for a building. The orientals, -however, began to build right on the surface -of any site that suited their fancy. For instance, -a wandering tribe of nomads desiring -to settle either temporarily or permanently, -would pick out a hill that was more easily -defended than a level site would be. Upon -its crest, they built their houses and generally -fenced the scene for the purposes of -<span class="pb" id="Page_128">128</span> -defense. Within these fortifying walls they -dwelt in more or less security until they became -rich enough to be robbed. It would not -be long, however, under the brutal law of -might that prevailed in those ancient days, before -some marauding band would overrun -that site with fire and sword. The walls would -be breached or cast down and the inhabitants -put to sword or carried away into slavery. -Usually fire would sweep the homes of this -once contented people and their memory -would soon be forgotten.</p> -<p>To one who has seen the sand storms of -the East, the rest of the story is self-evident. -Even in our own times and in our own land, -we have seen what can happen when drought -and wind begin to move the surface of a -country and make the efforts of man fruitless -and unavailing. When men lived in -these sites of antiquity and kept the encroaching -sands swept and shoveled out, they were -able to maintain their position of security. -As soon, however, as the site was deserted, -the sand would begin to drift over the deserted -ruins. In a very few years the remains -of the ruined city would be lost from -the sight of men. Perhaps a century or two -would pass by, during which this abandoned -region would be devoid of habitation.</p> -<h3 id="pl6">Plate 6</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig15"> -<img src="images/p18.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="865" /> -<p class="pcap">Mace-head in British Museum</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl7">Plate 7</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig16"> -<img src="images/p19.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="902" /> -<p class="pcap">Note cuneiform writing and sculpture on stone weapon</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<p>Then another company of people looking -for a permanent dwelling place would chance -upon this hill. Finding it suited to their requirements -they would immediately start -building upon the surface. With no knowledge -whatever that a previous group of people -had made this hill their habitation, the -new dwellings and walls would rise high -upon the covered ruins of the earlier period. -Within a comparatively short time they also -would be the victims of some wandering conqueror, -and once again the wrecked habitations -of men would be repossessed by the -drifting sands of the desert. It is not uncommon -that in the course of a thousand -years such an experience would be repeated -from three or four to a dozen times upon -the same site.</p> -<p>When the archeologist finds such a mound -or hill, he has a treasure indeed. By excavating -this deposit one stratum at a time, he -builds up a stratographical record which is -highly important in reconstructing a consecutive -history of this region. The date factors -of the various strata are generally established -by the contents of each horizon of dwelling, -in turn. If the archeologist depends upon -facts instead of his imagination, a credible -chronology for the entire region can thus be -constructed.</p> -<p>In such a recovery the common life of the -people of antiquity is revealed in amazing -detail. We learn their customs of living, -something of their arts and crafts and their -manner of labor. Their knowledge of architecture -<span class="pb" id="Page_130">130</span> -is clearly portrayed through such -ruins as remain, and the general picture of -the incidental events that made up their living -is clearly developed as the work proceeds.</p> -<p>Since the destruction of such a city was -usually catastrophic, the record suddenly -breaks off at the point of the tragedy. The -abruptness wherewith the life and activity -ceased, leaves all of the valuable material -undisturbed <i>in situ</i>. This circumstance, -though unfortunate for the ancients, is a -happy one for the archeologist who thus is -enabled to rebuild their times and lives.</p> -<p>These sites yield many types of material. -In establishing chronology, the most important -of all of these is probably the pottery. -There is no age of men so ancient that it -does not yield proof of human ability in the -ceramic art. Without aluminum cooking -utensils or iron skillets, the folk of antiquity -depended upon clay for the vessels of their -habitation. Dishes, pots, jars, and utensils of -a thousand usages were all made of this common -substance. Before the invention of paper, -clay was also the common material for -preserving written records. As each race -of people had its own peculiarities in the use -of clay, the pottery that is found on a given -site is one of the finest indications of a date -factor that the site can contain.</p> -<p>Even after the invention of papyrus or -parchment, these types of writing material -<span class="pb" id="Page_131">131</span> -were too costly for the average person to use. -Requiring some cheap, common, readily accessible -material upon which to write, the -poor of antiquity laid hold upon the one -source of supply that was never wanting. -This consisted of shards of pottery. By the -side of every dwelling in ancient times might -be found a small heap of broken utensils of -clay. The ingenuity of man suggested a -method of writing on these fragments. In -every home there was a pen made of a reed -and a pot of homemade ink. With these -crude tools, the common people corresponded -and made notes on pieces of clay vessels. -When a fragment of pottery was thus inscribed, -it was called an ostracon.</p> -<p>These ostraca are among the most priceless -discoveries of antiquity. They were -written in the vernacular and dealt with -the common daily affairs that made up the -lives of the humble. They shed a flood of -light upon the customs and beliefs of the -mass of the people. Some of the wall inscriptions -of great conquerors, if taken by themselves, -would give an impression of grandeur -and splendor to their entire era, if we believed -such record implicitly. But for every -king or conqueror there were multiplied -thousands of poor. These were the folks who -made up the mass of humanity and whose -customs and lives paint the true picture of -ancient times. Therefore, these ostraca, being -<span class="pb" id="Page_132">132</span> -derived from the common people, are -the greatest aid in the reconstruction of the -life and times wherewith the Bible deals.</p> -<p>Another source of evidence is found in tools -and artifacts which show the culture of any -given time and region. Knowing how the -people worked and what they wrought, has -been of priceless value to the Biblical archeologist. -Since the critics made so great a -case out of the alleged culture of the people -in every age, it is eminently fitting that the -refutation of their error should come from -the people themselves.</p> -<p>Still another source of archeological material -is to be found in the art of antiquity. -It seems that from the time of Adam to the -present hour the desire to express our feelings -and emotions in the permanent form of -illustration has been common to man. The -sites of antiquity testify to this fact in unmistakable -terms.</p> -<p>In the art of the days of long ago many -subjects were covered. Much of the painting -and sculpture had to do with the religion of -the time. Thus we can reconstruct the Pantheon -of Egypt very largely from the illustrations -that come to us from monuments -and papyri.</p> -<p>Another large section of ancient art dealt -with the history of the time in which the -artists lived and wrought. Since the work -<span class="pb" id="Page_133">133</span> -of such artists was generally intended to flatter -and please the reigning monarch, most of -this illustrated history is military in nature. -Thus we are able to confirm much of the Old -Testament history through the recovery of -ancient art.</p> -<p>Other artists, in turn, dealt with the human -anatomy, the style of dress and the industries -of old. When we gather together all of this -illuminating material, it is safe to say that -ancient artists have brought to us a source -of material which is not the least of the -treasures of antiquity.</p> -<p>A final source of material is found upon -the walls that made up the actual dwellings -of old. This business of scribbling names -and dates upon public buildings or objects of -interest is not unique to modern men. Deplorable -as the custom may be, this ancient -vulgarity has, nevertheless, proved a great -boon to the archeologist of our day. For instance, -many of the scribes and officials of -antiquity, traveling about the country upon -the business of their lords, would visit one -of the tombs of a former age. Prompted by -curiosity and interest in the grandeur of antiquity, -they came to stare and to learn. -Their emotions being aroused they desired -some expression. This desire they sometimes -satisfied by inscribing upon the wall -of a certain tomb or temple their names and -the fact that at such a date they visited and -<span class="pb" id="Page_134">134</span> -saw this wonder. Since they generally dated -their visit by the reign of the king under -whom they lived and served, a chronology -may be builded for antiquity from this source -of material alone.</p> -<p>It has been more or less customary in our -era for the itinerant gentry to leave valuable -information for fellows of their fraternity -who come along after them. This custom also -is a survival of an ancient day. A man -journeying from one region to another would -stop by the side of a blank wall and inscribe -road directions for any who might follow -after him. Sometimes he would add his name -and the year of the reign of a given monarch. -It was not unusual also for such an amateur -historian to make some caustic and pertinent -comments upon the country, the officials, or -the people. These spontaneous records are -priceless. They are the free expression of -an honest opinion and are not constructed -with the idea of deluding posterity with a -false standard of the grandeur of some conquering -king.</p> -<p>It is rather amusing now to look back to -the long battle that was fought between -criticism and orthodoxy in this very field. -With a dogmatic certainty which was characteristic -of the assumptions of the school -of higher criticism, these mistaken authorities -assured us that the age of Moses was an -age of illiteracy. In fact, the extreme scholars -<span class="pb" id="Page_135">135</span> -of this school asserted that writing was -not invented until five hundred years after -the age of Moses. We have ourselves debated -that question with living men.</p> -<p>One such occasion occurred recently, when -we were delivering a series of lectures at -Grand Rapids, Michigan. The subject had -to deal with archeology and the Bible, and -the men in attendance seemed to appreciate -the opening lecture extremely. Therefore, -we were the more surprised when a gentleman, -clad in clerical garb, came forward and -in the most abrupt and disagreeable manner -demanded,</p> -<p>“By what authority do you state that Moses -wrote the Pentateuch? Your dogmatic assertion -is utterly baseless!”</p> -<p>In some surprise we replied, “I am sorry -to sound dogmatic, as I try never to dogmatize. -All that I mean to imply is that I am -absolutely certain that he <i>did</i> write it!”</p> -<p>Our humor, which was intended as oil on -troubled waters, turned out to be more like -gasoline on raging fires! The exasperated -gentleman exclaimed with considerable more -heat than he had previously manifested, “You -can’t <i>prove</i> that Moses wrote the Pentateuch!”</p> -<p>“I don’t have to,” I replied, “as the boot -is on the other foot! May I quote to you a -section from Greenleaf on Evidence? Here -is the citation: ‘When documents purporting -<span class="pb" id="Page_136">136</span> -to come from antiquity, and bearing upon -their face no evident marks of forgery, are -found in the proper repository, the law presumes -such documents to be authentic and -genuine, and <i>the burden of proof to the contrary -devolves upon the objector</i>.’ Now, my -dear brother, these documents <i>do</i> come from -antiquity. They bear no evidence of forgery, -and have thus been accepted and accredited -in all of the ages that make up three millenniums -of time. You face a problem if you -are going to repudiate all the evidence and -tradition of their credibility. Just how are -you going to prove that Moses <i>did not</i> write -these books ascribed to him?”</p> -<p>“That is easy,” the scholarly brother retorted. -“Moses could not have written the -first five books of the Bible, because writing -was not invented until five hundred years -after Moses died!”</p> -<p>In great amazement I asked him, “Is it possible -that you never heard of the Tel el Armana -tablets?”</p> -<p>He never had!</p> -<p>So we took time to tell him of the amazing -discovery of this great deposit of written -records from the library of Amenhetep the -Third, and their bearing upon the great controversy. -Then we told him also of the older -records of Ur, that go all the way back to -the days of the queen Shub Ab, and manifest -a vast acquaintance with the art of writing -as far back of Abraham as this patriarch in -turn preceded the Lord Jesus Christ! He -frankly confessed his total ignorance of this -entire body of accumulated knowledge, and -then closed the debate by stating,</p> -<h3 id="pl8">Plate 8</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig17"> -<img src="images/p20.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="297" /> -<p class="pcap">Ancient seals, depicting historic events.</p> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p20a.jpg" id="ncfig1" alt="Seal" width="569" height="322" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p20b.jpg" id="ncfig2" alt="Seal" width="578" height="334" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p20c.jpg" id="ncfig3" alt="Seal" width="540" height="336" /> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig18"> -<img src="images/p21.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="598" /> -<p class="pcap">Section of a funerary papyrus, showing the progress of the soul on its journey -in the Other World</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<p>“Well, it may be that every one else in antiquity -could write, <i>but Moses couldn’t...!</i>”</p> -<p>And such an one would accuse another of -dogmatism! Because we stand upon the certainty -of the approved and orthodox conception -of the credibility of the Scriptures, and -maintain our case with the most exact evidence, -we are not “scholarly.” Yet here is -a reputedly religious leader, utterly ignorant -of an enormous body of knowledge derived -from a generation of research, who misleads -those who are unfortunate enough to be under -his ministry, and offers them the fallacious, -repudiated, and utterly baseless conclusions -of higher criticism, in the place of -the living bread which God has provided for -His children! This is but to be expected -when we think the matter through. The -bread of life is to be found only in the pages -of God’s Book. Therefore, if the source of -this bread is rejected and derided, the bread -cannot be available!</p> -<p>The great pity of the matter is seen in the -fact that this attitude is entirely untenable, -in the light of our present knowledge. Although -our science has demonstrated a remarkable -<span class="pb" id="Page_138">138</span> -culture for the very age of the -patriarchs, we are faced with religious leaders -who are so far behind the advanced learning -of our day that they still teach the outmoded -nonsense of criticism, and claim that -Moses could not write!</p> -<p>It is rather amusing in the light of this dogmatic -assurance of critical authorities to -journey back through the hallways of time -and find that writing was a common custom -a thousand years before Moses, or even a -thousand years before that! Throughout -Egypt especially, the art of writing was a -universal possession among all classes of the -populace. The toilet articles used by the -beauties of Ancient Egypt were highly engraved -with charms, and with prayers to the -goddess of beauty. As an Egyptian damsel -prepared herself for the evening’s engagement, -she would read these prayers and -charms which were supposed to give her -divine aid in impressing the ladies with her -outstanding beauty! Poems of love and lyrics -of passion were engraved upon her toilet articles -and were incised upon the walls of her -apartment as well.</p> -<p>In addition to this, most of the ancients -wore amulets to guard them against the evil -eye and every sort of disaster.</p> -<p>Some wore engraved pectorals that showed -the high development of the art of writing -to a great antiquity.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>Businessmen of various kinds, minor officials -and even the common people carried -upon their persons seals wherewith to sign -the documents and contracts of their casual -business affairs.</p> -<p>From this common source there is a kaleidoscopic -view of ancient life that thrills the -observer with its ever-changing magnitude. -It is almost impossible to limit the value of -such discoveries as to the integrity of the -Scriptures. In all this enormous mass of -authoritative data not one single fact has ever -been derived which argued against the credibility -of any statement in the Bible.</p> -<p>An even more important source of historical -evidence is found among the papyri of -old. This valuable material was invented in -Egypt at a very early age. In Upper Egypt -the Nile was bordered, and in some places -overgrown, with a prolific reed which is scientifically -called “cyperus papyrus.” It is -from this name that the paper manufactured -from this substance derives its identification. -The manufacture of papyrus was a simple -procedure which nevertheless required time. -Briefly stated, strips of the papyrus reed, cut -to a uniform length and saturated with water, -were laid down side by side. Another layer -of strips was laid across them transversely, -and usually a third layer was superimposed -upon the second layer. These layers of reed, -<span class="pb" id="Page_140">140</span> -being laid in alternate directions, were then -pounded with a flat paddle and smashed into -a pulp. When the mass dried, it was a sheet -of rough paper, somewhat comparable to the -paper towels that are used in our generation. -The edges were trimmed smoothly and the -surface of the paper was smoothed off with -a shell or rubbed with sand. This finished -side of the paper was called the obverse and -was the side upon which writing was customarily -inscribed. So expensive was this -substance, however, that frequently both -sides would be covered with writing. In that -case the rough side was always known as -the reverse. Many of these papyri not only -were inscribed with a written text but were -highly illustrated with scenes depicting the -life and customs of the people. These illumined -papyri, some of which go back to -a very remote age, are of tremendous value -to the student of the Scriptures.</p> -<p>We have, for instance, papyri from Egypt -at the time of Moses, showing the fowlers -engaged in capturing quail. (See <a href="#pl10">Plate 10</a>.) -These birds being tired by their long -flight in their annual African migration, fell -easy victims to the men who smote them to -the earth or captured them in hand nets. Incidentally, -the author has frequently been -offered such quail upon the streets of Cairo -by vendors who earned a precarious living -by peddling such game. Many Scriptural -<span class="pb" id="Page_141">141</span> -events are attested in this manner by these -illustrated manuscripts.</p> -<p>Since there was a high content of starch in -the finished papyrus, it was possible to make -them any length desired. By moistening the -edges of two sheets and pressing or pounding -them together, the result would be a -single sheet when the joint had dried. This -process could be continued indefinitely. As -a method of comparison let us note that the -entire Gospel of John could be written on -a papyrus of the usual width, if it was eighteen -feet in length. Such a long sheet would -be rolled to form a complete volume. The -longest papyrus we have ever seen is in the -British Museum and is exhibit No. 9999. This -single sheet is 135 feet long.</p> -<p>Another papyrus of unusual length is that -which shows the funery experiences of the -scribe Ani. This is a highly illumined specimen -and contains many illustrations of the -soul of Ani, as he goes through the intricate -process of achieving eternal life in the realm -of Osiris. This papyrus is 78 feet long and -is one foot, three inches wide. The average -sheet of papyrus, however, is about six by -nine inches.</p> -<p>These papyrus records are divided into -many kinds and types. Some of them are -funery, and deal with the events of the decease -and resurrection of the individual. Most -<span class="pb" id="Page_142">142</span> -noteworthy among the papyri of this type -are the various texts of the “Book of the -Dead.” These are illuminated with scenes -of religious beliefs. They depict the experience -of the soul on its pilgrimage into the -hereafter. They tell of the conditions of life -in the other world and the manner of entering -into a blessed state after death.</p> -<p>There are also papyri that deal with pure -literature. Almost every subject common to -modern literature is found in the ancient records -of this type. For instance, fiction was -a common field for the scribe of antiquity. -The British Museum contains many of these -prized papyri, as does the Egyptian Museum -at Cairo.</p> -<p>It might surprise the modern reader to -know that the Egyptian people of old highly -prized stories of mystery and imagination. -Some of their greater manuscripts bear a -strong resemblance to portions of the Arabian -Nights, and they may indeed have been the -original basis of that later production.</p> -<p>In the British Museum a papyrus, No. -10183, is a fine example of this common -theme. This is entitled, “The Tale of the -Two Brothers.” In the introductory section, -the life of a humble farmer in ancient Egypt -is given in detail. The familiar triangle develops -between the elder brother, his wife -and the younger brother. The plot develops -when the wicked wife made herself sick by -<span class="pb" id="Page_143">143</span> -rancid grease, and, bruising herself with a -stick, lay moaning on the floor when her -husband returned. Accusing the younger -brother of attempted assault, she aroused her -husband’s anger to the point where he -grabbed an edged weapon and set out to kill -the suspected villain. The oxen, however, -told the younger brother of the ambush that -was set for him and he fled the home. Marvelous -miracles occurred during this flight, -which opened the eyes of the elder brother -to the injustice that he had been about to -perpetrate. Whereupon he returned home, -and satisfied the demands of the stern justice -of his day by slaying his wife and feeding her -body to his pet dogs. The rest of the story -is taken up with the wanderings and adventures -of the younger brother. This record -goes back to the thirteenth century B. C., -and is a perfect specimen of the fiction of -that time.</p> -<p>Limited space will not permit the introduction -of other notable classics of fiction -such as the story of the shipwrecked sailor; -the story of the doomed prince; the story -of the possessed princess; the story of the eloquent -peasant, and any number of other -records, nor is their presentation essential -to the development of our thesis. Their value, -however, is seen in the fact that not only -do they depict the literary tastes of antiquity, -but they delineate many of the common details -<span class="pb" id="Page_144">144</span> -and incidents of the daily life of those -ages.</p> -<p>There are also any number of poems which -have a high historical value. We shall refer -later to the famed poem of Pentauer, which -immortalizes the victories of Ramses the -Second, which this great conqueror achieved -over Egypt’s ancient enemies the Hittites. -The discovery of this record was the first appearance -of the Hittites in archeology and -caused a sensation in the ranks of Biblical -criticism.</p> -<p>Among the more sober types of literature -will be found narratives of pure history. Such -would be the lists of the kings, giving the -chronology of the dynasty of each. Records -of conquest, lists of tribute, and the names -of captive races form the bulk of this type -of material.</p> -<p>There are also books of maxims teaching -the higher morality of the age in which the -papyrus was written. In a word, the literature -preserved in the papyri of Egypt deals -with religious aims, books of magic, records -of travel, and the science of that day. From -the latter we learn their beliefs and technique -in the realm of astronomy. Their system of -mathematics is preserved for us in such prize -records as the Rhind Papyrus which deals -with the geometry of that age. This papyrus -is in the British Museum and is numbered -10,057. In the Museum at Cairo is a papyrus -<span class="pb" id="Page_145">145</span> -illustrating the geography and cartography -of antiquity. This famous map shows the -religious divisions of that province, which is -now called the Fayyum. Others of these -papyri deal with medicine as it was practiced -in that ancient day. There are, of course, -biographical papyri that are almost innumerable, -all of which reconstruct for us the lives -and times of these people who are so long -dead, but far from forgotten.</p> -<p>Among the most important of all the varieties -of papyri are those which preserve -for us the embalming technique practiced at -various stages in the development of this art -in Egypt. Since the Egyptians believed that -the resurrection of the body and its eternal -life depended upon the preservation of the -physical form, they took great pains in their -preparations for the burial of their dead. The -most graphic description of the method used -is given by Herodotus and is thus familiar -to all students of history. This noted writer -states that three general methods were used -by the Egyptians and the cost of each was -graduated to the thoroughness of the method.</p> -<p>The most expensive means of embalming -was an elaborate process indeed. The abdominal -cavity was opened and the viscera -were removed from the body. These were -carefully washed in palm wine, thoroughly -dried and sprinkled with certain aromatic -spices. The brains were withdrawn from -<span class="pb" id="Page_146">146</span> -the head and treated in this same fashion. -These cavities were then dried and filled -with a combination of bitumen, myrrh, cassia -and various other expensive and astringent -spices. The openings were then sewed up. -A tank was prepared which was filled with -a solution of soda, and the body was steeped -in it for seventy days. After removal from -this pickling solution the body was thoroughly -dried in the hot sun and anointed with -spicy compounds which had the two-fold purpose -of imparting a fragrant odor to the -mummy and of further preserving its structure. -The process was completed when the -body was wound with the strips of linen -with which all students of Egyptology are -so familiar.</p> -<p>The cost of this type of embalming varied, -of course, in each dynasty, but as a general -average it would be in the neighborhood of -$1500 in our modern currency. When we -consider the disparity between our standard -of money value and that of ancient Egypt, -it can be seen that such a preparation was -enormously expensive.</p> -<p>A cheaper method of embalming consisted -of dissolving the viscera by means of oil of -cedar. The flesh also was dissolved with -a caustic soda solution, and the skin shrunk -tightly to the bones. This dessicated form -was then wrapped in the traditional linen -bandages. The cost of this process was in -<span class="pb" id="Page_147">147</span> -the neighborhood of $300 in the currency -of our day.</p> -<p>For the very poor, however, a cheaper form -of preparation was used. The body was -dumped into the tank of soda, where it was -alternately saturated and dried for a period -of seventy days. The pickled body was then -handed over to the relatives, who wrapped -it according to their own ability and means -and arranged for burial at any convenient -site. This process would cost in the neighborhood -of $1.50 in our present standard of -currency.</p> -<p>It will be noted that the customary period -of embalming was seventy days. A discrepancy -has been fancied here between this -ordinary custom and the embalming of Israel, -as it is recorded in the fiftieth chapter of -Genesis. The third verse of that chapter -states, “And forty days were fulfilled for -him, for so are fulfilled the days of those -which are embalmed: and the Egyptians -mourned for him three score and ten days.” -The discrepancy, however, has been cleared -up by the discovery of the fact that under -the Hyksos Dynasties the period of the embalming -was forty days instead of seventy, -and the mourning of the dead was more important -than the time used in preserving the -body.</p> -<p>In the Egyptian Museum at Cairo, exhibit -No. 1270, is a magnificent anthropoid sarcophagus -<span class="pb" id="Page_148">148</span> -from the time of Psammetichus the -Second. The inscription on this sarcophagus -confirms the statement that the embalming -process lasted seventy days and is a testimony -of the honesty of the undertaker in -that he did not shorten the time for the extra -profit involved.</p> -<p>It is to the reverence for their dead that -was manifested by all in Egypt that we owe -our present wealth of archeological material. -The most voluminous evidences for the accuracy -of the Bible come to us from burial -sources. Very often the coverings of the -corpse were inscribed with verbose descriptions -of the life, morals, and piety of the -dead individual.</p> -<p>A further source of material is found on -the cartonnage. When the body had been -encased in bandages a type of coffin was -made that is called mummiform or, more -commonly, anthropoid. (See <a href="#fig1">Frontispiece</a>.) -This first covering was made of some plastic -material, which was moulded to the form of -the individual to be buried. In the earlier -days this cartonnage was made of strips of -linen cloth pasted together and covered with -a type of shellac. While still plastic, this -material was moulded to the contour of the -head and shoulders of the occupant until it -took on a rough resemblance to the individual. -This may have been the origin of the -death-mask custom which continues in some -<span class="pb" id="Page_149">149</span> -regions even to the present time. In later -times this first covering was gilded, and, in -the case of the very rich, might be decorated -also with eyes of obsidian or lapis lazuli.</p> -<p>In later periods, the cartonnage was made -of outmoded papyri. These were dampened -and moulded into a mulch like the method -of using papier-mache in our generation. In -so doing, however, the writing was not demolished. -Some of the greatest discoveries -of antiquity have come to us when a cartonnage -made of papyrus has been carefully -separated into its original sheets and the -writing thereof recovered.</p> -<p>When the mummy was enclosed in its cartonnage, -a wooden coffin was then prepared, -which quite frequently was also anthropoid -in shape. (See <a href="#pl11">Plate 11</a>.) Not only did it -maintain the form of the human body, but -very often it had also a painted portrait of -the dead person to identify the deceased. This -wooden coffin was painted and inscribed on -the inside and the outside with a record and -history of the individual, to which were added -scenes and texts from the Book of the Dead. -(See <a href="#pl12">Plate 12</a>.) This second coffin was not -always made of wood, however. In the case -of Tut-ankh-amen, the coffin was of solid -gold, and constituted a tremendous treasure -in itself. This was possible only to a monarch -or a noble of enormous wealth.</p> -<p>The final covering was the sarcophagus, -<span class="pb" id="Page_150">150</span> -a great rectangular box sometimes made of -wood, but often formed of stone. In this -box the anthropoid coffin was carefully -placed and the lid was tightly sealed. In -preparing the sarcophagus, every inch of the -inside would be engraved with a record of -the history of the individual as well as of -the times in which he lived. On the inside -of this box, the bottom, both ends, and the -two sides would be covered with writing as -closely as the characters could be engraved. -Not content with this, the industrious scribe -of antiquity also covered the outside of the -sarcophagus, both ends, both sides, and the -top with further writings. We have illustrated -this custom clearly in <a href="#pl13">Plate 13</a>.</p> -<p>To make the case complete, the noble, the -wealthy, and the great of antiquity were -buried in tombs, the walls of which were -illuminated with frescoes, murals, and texts -in written script that covered every square -inch of space on the ceiling, as well as on the -four walls. All of the visitors to the Valley of -the Kings in Upper Egypt have wondered -over these remarkable and complete records. -They are, however, more than just a curious -sight to satisfy the interest of the tourists. -They are one of the priceless sources of valuable -information concerning the coincidence -of ancient history with the text of the Scripture! -(See <a href="#pl14">Plate 14</a>.)</p> -<p>Still another source of material and information -<span class="pb" id="Page_151">151</span> -is found in the innumerable stelae -which covered the ancient world. The word -“stele” is a Greek word meaning “an upright -stone.”</p> -<p>Archeologically it applies to slabs of stone -which were erected over a burial site in the -fashion of a headstone in our modern custom. -Some were square, some rectangular, -and some were artistically rounded at the -top. In the case of a burial stele, the name -of the man so honored, together with a record -of his life and conduct, was carved in -high relief upon the stone. Thereon were -named the king and the dynasty under which -the dead man had lived, and sometimes the -important historical events of that reign. -Always such a stele contained the episodes -of history to which the given individual had -personally contributed. They are a large -source of historical information. These stelae -were sometimes erected in public places as -memorials of great events. (See <a href="#pl15">Plate 15</a>.)</p> -<p>When Ramses the Second won his great -campaign against the Hittites, he ended a -five hundred year period of warfare in which -the Egyptians had been consistently defeated. -To celebrate his victory, a voluminous account -of his valor and skill was carved upon -a large number of stelae and erected in prominent -centers throughout his kingdom. So -<span class="pb" id="Page_152">152</span> -also Amenhetep the Third set up a stele to -record his conquest of the country of Abhat. -This beautifully preserved record may be -seen in the British Museum. It is exhibit -No. 657 in Bay 6.</p> -<p>In the Egyptian Museum at Cairo there -is a stele originally erected by Amenhetep the -Third. We shall refer to this one again because -his successor Menepthah appropriated -this stele, and because it contains his record -of the Israelites, who are thus acknowledged -by the monarchs of Egypt to have been a -people of importance in the annals of their -empire.</p> -<p>The most stupendous source of material is -found in monuments. The larger and most -important type of monument is of course the -buildings of antiquity. To the Egyptologist -the most entrancing and magnificent spectacle -on the face of the earth is the ruined -temple at Karnak. The general public is so -familiar with the magnitude and extent of -these stupendous ruins, it is not necessary -to make more than a brief reference to them -in this paragraph. Any standard encyclopedia, -such as the current Britannica, carries -a more or less lengthy article on this subject, -and the number of interested observers who -have studied these ruins is almost beyond -estimating.</p> -<p>The present city of Luxor, in Upper Egypt, -<span class="pb" id="Page_153">153</span> -was once known as Thebes, and was the center -of government in times long past. Three -very important sources of study are found -in that vicinity. There is the great Valley -of the Kings, where so many of the dead great -of Egypt were buried. Then also there is -the great temple at Luxor, which is still in -the process of recovery. It is to be regretted -that excavations there have been halted for -some time, due to the fanaticism of the Moslems, -who refuse to permit a mosque to be -moved from the top of the remaining mound, -under which the balance of this great temple -still lies buried.</p> -<p>Last, but far from least, there is the great -temple, called Karnak. The evidences that -have been recovered from this site carry us -as far back as the early stages of the Old -Kingdom, and may indeed be pre-dynastic. -There are a number of temples that have -been erected upon this site, which contribute -to the glory of its past history. The earliest -relics found are flint instruments, and there -are a number of recoveries from the Middle -Kingdom also. While the famed archeologist -Legrain was in charge of the work of recovery -here, he opened one great pit from which an -unbelievable amount of material was recovered. -In this one find, seven hundred and -fifty large statues were dug up, and more -than twenty thousand smaller objects were -recovered from this same pit. This was -<span class="pb" id="Page_154">154</span> -largely a Middle Kingdom deposit. It may -be said that the entire history of the land -is seen here, from the archaic age to the -end of the Ptolemaic period.</p> -<p>There are three major ruins that make up -the vast monument of Karnak, which, with -the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes, is almost -a mile in length. Each of these three enclosures -has its own story to tell. The smallest -one is the most northerly, and was built -by Amenhetep the Third. Ramses the Second -added to its structure, and the imposing gate -was built by Ptolemy Euergetes the First. -This magnificent gate is practically all of -the original structure that remains today. -The outline of the foundation of the original -temple may be traced, but its material, with -the exception of the gate, has long since disappeared.</p> -<p>The south enclosure contained the temple -built to the glory of the goddess Mut by -Amenhetep the Third, of which also very -little of the original structure remains. Behind -this temple, however, is a sacred lake, -shaped like a horseshoe, upon which tradition -says the barge of the sacred lady used -to appear. Indeed, there are fellahin in -Egypt today who maintain that at certain -times when the moon is just right, this notable -barge may still be seen if one is fortunate -enough to be on the spot at the right -time. (We regret to say that the times that -<span class="pb" id="Page_155">155</span> -we were there were never the right ones!)</p> -<p>There were small temples and shrines inside -both of these enclosures where various -kings honoured other deities in the lengthy -pantheon. Some traces of these may still be -seen here and there, and much more may yet -be brought to light by the excavations now -being conducted there by the Department of -Antiquities.</p> -<p>It is the third enclosure which is the great -one, and the really thrilling monument. It -is about 1,500 feet square, so that it is at once -apparent that it is immense. Undoubtedly -it is the largest temple ever constructed by -man. Two million, two hundred and fifty -thousand feet of floor space make quite a -place of worship in any day and age!</p> -<p>The original sanctuary was probably begun -by Usertesen the First, who dedicated -it to Amon-Ra. Having done so, the king -then used the walls, pillars, beams, and all -other available space to carve a record of -his own reign and greatness; not forgetting, -of course, to give Amon-Ra due credit here -and there for such divine aid as the Pharaoh -may have needed from time to time! The -drawings, paintings, and carvings of this -monarch are a fine source of information -concerning his times and peoples.</p> -<p>This seems to have established a precedent -at Karnak, for the original temple was added -to by Thothmes the First, who faithfully followed -<span class="pb" id="Page_156">156</span> -the example of his predecessor, and -told what a mighty man he also turned out -to be! Then Seti the First followed him, to -be in turn replaced by Thothmes the Third, -and neither neglected to carve the tale of his -power and successes on the additions to the -original temple that Usertesen had started.</p> -<p>The next builder was Amenhetep the Third, -and after him the three successive Ramses -all built extensive votive shrines and temples. -The amount of carving, painting, and hieroglyphics -that covers all this mighty pile of -stone work is almost unbelievable, and leaves -the beholder amazed and somewhat awed.</p> -<p>The most noteworthy section of the standing -ruins is the great hypo-style hall, which -is one of the architectural wonders of the -world. This hall is 171 feet deep and 338 -feet in breadth. The roof was supported by -134 mighty columns, set in 16 rows, of which -the two central rows were by far the highest. -The roof of this great hall was 78 feet above -the floor, and the entire structure was covered -with reliefs and painted scenes from the -conquests and lives of the builders.</p> -<p>Here are to be found the most gratifying -evidences of the integrity and accuracy of -the Scripture that the most ardent devotee of -the Bible could desire. The Pharaohs who -appear in the text of Holy Writ are there -on Karnak’s walls as well, and this testimony -<span class="pb" id="Page_157">157</span> -of ancient heathen monarchs is conclusive -and final.</p> -<p>As the kings of antiquity consistently -carved upon the walls, the pillars, and the -beams of Karnak the proud record of their -conquests, it is inevitable that this source of -material should be drawn upon heavily by -the exponent of the Scripture. In a later -chapter we shall return to Karnak again and -again to read these treasured accounts.</p> -<p>There are many other temples of antiquity -that are of almost equal value, such as the -great temple at Luxor. Students have long -been familiar with the nature of the great -pyramids which have also a great contribution -to make to our sources of evidence. It -is to be noted, however, that only an honest -and honorable evaluation of these evidences -is of any aid to the faithful student of the -Scripture.</p> -<p>One of the greatest but most nonsensical -heresies of our generation is the false teaching -that parades under the name of “British-Israelism.” -This ridiculous fantasy is predicated -upon the false premise that the Great -Pyramid is a prophecy erected under divine -leading. By a weird interpretation of its -mathematical proportions, it is presumed to -portray a prophetic record of coming events. -It is the source of more fantasy than has ever -been derived from any other misapplication -of coincidence!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>The advocates of British-Israel heresy -claim that the pyramids were never used as -burial sites. This is, of course, arrant nonsense. -They were nothing but stupendous -graves.</p> -<p>We have ourselves been in the burial chambers -of the Great Pyramid and have seen -the sarcophagi.</p> -<p>We have had the pleasure of examining -the great stone casket that was taken out of -the pyramid, containing the mummy of the -buried king, as well as the replica thereof -which was put back into this burial chamber -to satisfy the interest of visiting tourists.</p> -<p>We have been in the burial chamber of the -queen and the royal children as well.</p> -<p>We have seen these mummies that came -out of the Great Pyramid, have poked our -way into the treasure room and have seen -some of these recoveries which were made -when the pyramid was entered.</p> -<p>To show something of the interest the -kings of antiquity had in their resting places, -it is recorded on credible ancient authority -that the building of this Great Pyramid occupied -twenty years, and that three hundred -thousand men were employed in the building. -Ten years were occupied in the one task of -quarrying the stone. Another decade passed -by in the erection of the monument. Herodotus -states that the men worked in groups -of ten thousand, laboring three months at a -<span class="pb" id="Page_159">159</span> -shift. The records of Herodotus contain a -description of the construction of earthen -ramps up which the stones were skidded by -means of wooden machines.</p> -<p>The Cairo Museum contains a number of -very valuable exhibits from this greatest of -all burial mounds. So also has the second -pyramid of Gheza, in turn, yielded its mummies, -as have the others which have since -been breached.</p> -<p>We cannot ignore the great evidence given -by the type of monument composed of the -obelisks, the erection of which delighted the -ancient conquerors. These consisted of -enormous stone shafts that towered into the -air sometimes to a distance of seventy feet. -These great spires were engraved with the -name of the monarch, a description of his -greatness, and some of the more important -records of his reign.</p> -<p>In closing, we must not neglect to mention -also the boundary markers that were so common -in the Assyrian culture. These engraved -stones, often illustrated with sculptured figures -in high relief, are of unique importance -not only because of their written records -but also because of their ubiquity. Throughout -all of the ancient world of Mesopotamia -they seem to have been in general use. Since -they were an important factor in deciding -the title of a section of land, they were carefully -made and preserved. The date factor is -<span class="pb" id="Page_160">160</span> -generally a certain year of the reign of a -given king, and the historical information -derived from monuments of this type is practically -unlimited. (See <a href="#pl16">Plate 16</a>.)</p> -<p>Also, since the ancients had no hinges, -it was customary in constructing a door to -have it turn upon a pivot. Beneath the door -sill was a hollowed stone customarily called -an ouch. This acted as a bearing which supported -the weight of the door and enabled one -man easily to swing a very heavy structure. -These ouches were generally engraved with -the name of the building, the purpose of the -building and, perhaps, the cost and record of -the construction. (See <a href="#pl17">Plate 17</a>.)</p> -<p>From all these scattered sources, then, we -gather together the unified testimony of multiplied -thousands of men once dead who speak -from the long silence of their forgotten era. -Their united testimony is an unbroken -chorus of assurance for those who are concerned -over the integrity of the text of the -Scripture.</p> -<p>In the bewildering mass of all this evidence -which together would weigh so many tons -that the figure, if computed, would appear -fabulous, there is not one word, one testimony, -or one fact that has contradicted or -disproved a single line of the Holy Bible.</p> -<h3 id="pl9">Plate 9</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig19"> -<img src="images/p22.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="628" /> -<p class="pcap">Herds of cattle, such as the Hyksos kings possessed</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl10">Plate 10</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig20"> -<img src="images/p23.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="528" /> -<p class="pcap">Ancient mural of the slaughter of cattle</p> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig21"> -<img src="images/p23a.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="542" /> -<p class="pcap">Papyrus showing the capture of quail</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER VI</span> -<br />Fragments</h2> -<p>“Rome was not built in a day,” is a self-evident -truth: but it is equally true that it -was not <i>excavated</i> in a day, either! In fact, -as all visitors to Italy can testify, the Department -of Antiquities is still working on some -of the more ancient sites, and certain of the -most extensive ruins are just beginning to -emerge for the delight of our generation. -Archeology is a very fine exposition of the -truth inherent in the old proverb of science: -“Research is the examination of the tenth -decimal place.”</p> -<p>There are many stupendous monuments -that have been uncovered with surprising -speed, but the majority of our most valuable -evidence has been derived from long and -patient digging, and is often composed of innumerable -fragments from here and there. -Standing alone, any one of the many items -that appear to be inconsequential would -arouse no interest in the average observer, -and would be passed over without comment. -Such evidence is similar in its accumulative -force to the action of water. A drop, or any -number of single drops of water, attracts very -<span class="pb" id="Page_164">164</span> -little attention, but when enough of them -combine to form a flood, great cities and -whole nations sit up in alarm and pay strict -attention to the course of the flow.</p> -<p>So it is today with the flood of facts that -make up the great stream of discovery, and -constitute so forceful a demonstration of the -value and accuracy of the Bible. A few facts -from Egypt suddenly fit into the pattern of -certain other events that occurred in Assyria, -and these in turn naturally correlate themselves -with a record inscribed upon a stone -by some king of Moab. Like the pieces of a -jigsaw puzzle, these isolated and apparently -unrelated facts make a complete picture -when they are intelligently assembled, but -careless or ignorant handling can never show -the marvelous pattern in its complete beauty.</p> -<p>In this chapter we will offer a group of -these fragments from here and there, and -show their value to the student who seeks -evidence on the question of the authority of -the Holy Word. Their accumulated force is -irresistible, and their final authority cannot -be refuted. Just as grains of sand make up -a mighty mound when they are assembled -into one great heap or deposit, these fragmentary -facts have an imposing authority -when they are taken together. In support -of this statement, we shall cite the problem -of chronology.</p> -<p>One of the greatest difficulties that has always -<span class="pb" id="Page_165">165</span> -faced the students of antiquity was the -construction of an accurate and detailed -chronology. The early Egyptians paid no -attention whatever to chronological sequence, -but dated the episodes and events which they -recorded by the year of the contemporary -monarch. Among the Chaldeans and the -Sumerians, however, lists of eponyms were -carefully kept. In the Assyrian meaning of -this word an eponym was an official whose -name was used in a chronological system to -designate a certain year of office. From -these consecutive records of the eponyms, -king-lists of unusual and detailed accuracy -were compiled. A great deal of the difficulty -in harmonizing the chronological factors in -the study of antiquity has recently been -solved by a close study of these canons, which -studies were first begun by Sir Henry Rawlinson. -As an instance, we note that one -such consecutive list gives all of the eponyms -from B. C. 893 to 666.</p> -<p>Another magnificent aid to the Biblical -chronologist is found in the astronomical data -which were so carefully kept at the same historical -period. Through these credible records -we have the material to check the accuracy -of the king-lists that adds to their -tremendous value. For instance, a tablet -has come to us stating that in the eponym -of one Pur-sagali, there was an eclipse of the -sun which took place in the month Sivan. -<span class="pb" id="Page_166">166</span> -Since Sivan would be composed, according -to our calendar, of the last two weeks of May -and the first two weeks of June, it is easy -to make an astronomical calculation to fix -this date. We are delighted to find that there -was an eclipse of the sun which would have -been visible at Nineveh on June 15, 763 B. C. -With this factor fixed, we can now date all -of the events of that period of antiquity from -these king-lists to the time of the beginning -of the reign of Assur-bani-pal.</p> -<p>Another such tablet, which came from -Babylon, gives us an opportunity to check -back the other way. This tablet merely -states, “In the seventh year of the reign -of Cambyses, between the 16th and 17th of -the month Phemenoth, at one hour before -midnight, the moon was obscured in the vicinity -of Babylon by one-half of her diameter -on the north.” We then turn to our modern -astronomical sources and learn from them -that there <i>was</i> just such an eclipse of the -moon which would have been visible in -Babylon in the year 522 B. C. Since this was -the seventh year of Cambyses, it follows that -he must have ascended in the year 529.</p> -<p>This is exactly what is demanded by the -Biblical chronology accepted at our present -time. Incidentally, by correlating the prophecies -and history of the Old Testament to -the proved chronological points in these records, -archeology has vindicated the historical -<span class="pb" id="Page_167">167</span> -and traditional acceptance of those dates -which criticism unsuccessfully disputed. The -kings of Israel and Judah, with the writing -prophets of each monarch’s reign, may now -be correlated into this accredited system of -chronology. When this is done, the traditional -and accepted dates for the prophecies -of the Old Testament which orthodox scholarship -has always maintained, are established -beyond reasonable doubt.</p> -<p>In the confused condition of the Egyptian -chronology it is difficult to dogmatize concerning -the exact identification of certain -pharaohs whose records are contained in the -Sacred Text, but who are not identified by -their prenomen in Holy Writ.</p> -<p>A good deal of this confusion, however, is -being dissipated with surprising rapidity due -to the recovery of some hitherto unknown -sources. The tendency of our present day -is to concede that the Pharaoh Thotmes, -whose name is more commonly given as Tuthmosis, -was the pharaoh of the Oppression. -There is a great deal of reliable authority -for adopting this view. This mighty sovereign, -whose history we have partly covered -in connection with his sister, wife and domineering -queen, Hatshepsut, in the portion -dealing with the times of Moses, according -to the best chronologist, reigned fifty-one -years. He died in 1447 B. C., and was succeeded -by Amenhetep the Second. This fact -<span class="pb" id="Page_168">168</span> -would make it practically certain that the -latter monarch was the pharaoh of the Exodus.</p> -<p>There is a great deal of gratifying demonstration -in the new chronology which, being -purged from the gross errors that naturally -resulted from chronological differences -inevitable to pioneers in Egyptology, has -brought great comfort and aid to the orthodox -believer in the Old Testament. There -were almost as many different dates given -by the critics for the Exodus from Egypt as -there were critics. It may be noted in passing -that one of the major difficulties of criticism -and one of its foundational weaknesses -is to be seen in the fact that each individual -critic is his own highest authority. The only -finality that criticism recognizes is the dogmatic -decision of a particular individual to -believe one way or the other.</p> -<p>So it is rather hard to say that criticism -in general held to any certain thing. The -consensus of opinion, as far as such can be -gathered from criticism, however, would -make the date of the Exodus not any earlier -than 1220 B. C.</p> -<h3 id="pl11">Plate 11</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig22"> -<img src="images/p24.jpg" alt="" width="546" height="999" /> -<p class="pcap">Cartonnage in the anthropoid sarcophagus</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl12">Plate 12</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig23"> -<img src="images/p25.jpg" alt="" width="601" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Showing both outside and inside writings and -decorations on anthropoid sarcophagus</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<p>The <i>new</i> chronology, derived from archeological -research, has utterly and finally upset -these critical conclusions. The Exodus -can be credibly dated now to within a span -of ten years. The earlier probability is 1447 -B. C. and the latest possible time would be -1437. It may be said that if we consider the -archeological sources alone, there is a possible -spread of thirty years, but no more. -Even if we make the most liberal concessions, -the Exodus must be fitted into the record -between 1447 and 1417 B. C. Allowing -then for the years of wandering in the wilderness, -the fall of Jericho occurred with a possible -spread of ten years, between 1407 and -1397. The earlier date is now accepted as by -far the most credible. We may state almost -with finality that Jericho was destroyed in -1407 B. C., and remain secure in that conclusion.</p> -<p>Therefore, if Tuthmosis died in 1447, the -reign of Amenhetep the Second would have -ended in 1421. These perplexing seals of -Amenhetep, if they have not been derived by -intrusion, would thus have had a sufficient -time to reach Jericho in connection with some -official business of the kingdom in the forty -years elapsing between the Exodus and the -assault on the Canaanite city.</p> -<p>It will be remembered that Josephus makes -a passing reference to the statement of the -Egyptian historian, Manetho, that the pharaoh -of the Exodus was Amenophis. Amenophis -is another form of the name Amenhetep, -which would add a great deal of authority -to our present conclusions. Josephus is not -willing to acknowledge the dependability of -Manetho, due to the fact that Manetho came -<span class="pb" id="Page_170">170</span> -so long after the event. But since the Egyptian -historian preceded Josephus by some -three hundred years, the older authority -would seem to be at least as dependable as -Josephus! Incidentally, this fact, if accepted, -would be a confirmation of the accepted -date for the Tel-el-amarna tablets with the -reign of Amenhetep.</p> -<p>The final word as to the date, based upon -authoritative evidence derived from the pottery -culture as given by Dr. Garstang, makes -the destruction of Jericho to have been not -later than 1400 B. C. Thus the pendulum of -opinion and discussion has now swung back -to the point where we can authoritatively -stand upon the earlier conclusions of the Book -of Joshua and accept its credibility without -the slightest question.</p> -<p>Most of us can remember how recently it -was the fashion for the opponents of the -Bible to laugh at those who believed in the -historicity of Joshua’s strange conquest of -the Canaanite city of Jericho. The collapse -of the walls of that ancient city has long been -a source of mystery to the scientific student, -and of hilarity to the unbeliever. The faith -of the intelligent is vindicated, however, and -the laughter of the unbeliever is stilled, by -the exhaustive work that archeology has done -in the vicinity of Jericho.</p> -<p>The site has been explored a number of -times, but the most comprehensive and conclusive -<span class="pb" id="Page_171">171</span> -work was done by the 1933 expedition -that was headed by Dr. Garstang. The -walls of Jericho were mighty, and as long -as they stood the city was impregnable to the -armed forces of antiquity. The unusual structure -of Jericho’s walls was manifested when -they were uncovered from the dirt and debris -of centuries. The word “walls” is properly -given in its plural form as there were outer -and inner walls that entirely encircled the -city. There was, first of all, surrounding the -city completely, an outer wall, which seemed -to have been held up as much by faith as -by gravity!</p> -<p>Ever since we had the first opportunity of -personally examining the geology of Jericho -and noting the insecure structure upon which -those walls were builded, our own private -wonder has not been that the walls fell down; -rather we have been bewildered by speculating -as to what in the name of physics ever -held them up! Perhaps it was the binding -of the buildings that anchored the outer wall -to the inner wall, and made a sort of tripod -structure of the whole, which accounted for -this phenomenon. Some fourteen feet back -from the outer wall and roughly paralleling -the convolutions of the former, there was an -inner wall of the same height as the outer -one. Across these two walls great beams had -been laid, and dwellings constructed upon -this unique foundation. The outer wall was -<span class="pb" id="Page_172">172</span> -pierced by the one gate, in exact accordance -with the description in the Book of Joshua.</p> -<p>There is no natural explanation to account -for the unique evidence of the collapse of -these walls. They were not undermined by -military engineers, for they all seem to have -collapsed around the entire circumference of -the city at one and the same time. They -were not shaken down by an earthquake. This -would have resulted in a haphazard piling -of the wall material in a number of different -directions. It seems as though a mighty blast -had been set off in the center of the city, -thrusting the walls outward, in what might -roughly be described as a circle. This collapse -of the walls naturally resulted in the -wrecking of the houses builded thereon. -When the preliminary clearance had been -made and the excavators came down to these -great ruins, every demand of the Book of -Joshua was satisfactorily met by the conditions -there uncovered.</p> -<p>In the remnants of the houses found in -Jericho there was overwhelming evidence of -a systematic destruction by fires that were -set to sweep the entire ruin. Among the -most interesting and significant of the -charred evidences were the great stores of -burned grain which showed that even the -food of Jericho had been dedicated to the -fire, as Joshua had commanded.</p> -<p>When the discoveries of Jericho were first -<span class="pb" id="Page_173">173</span> -publicized, Dr. Garstang could find only one -apparent contradiction between the record -of Joshua and the evidences in the city. That -was in the time factor, or chronology, that -was involved. In the cemetery of Jericho -upon its excavation, there were found two -seals of the Pharaoh Amenhetep the Third. -Since this monarch reigned probably at least -a hundred years after the time of Joshua, it -was difficult to reconcile the apparent discrepancy. -The apparent difficulty, however, -dissolves when we consider the possibility of -later intrusion.</p> -<p>Before the excavations at Jericho could -begin, it was necessary for the workers to -clear away the remains of a fortress of Ramses, -the monarch who headed the nineteenth -dynasty, which in turn followed that of the -dynasty of Amenhetep the Third. Since this -site had been temporarily used by the Egyptians -two hundred years after its destruction, -it is highly probable that it might also have -been temporarily visited by them the century -immediately following its destruction. -If the presence of two seals of Amenhetep -are to be taken as a date factor in view of -the fact that burials at that site were by -intrusion, then a great case could be made -for a later date by the ruined fortress of -Ramses.</p> -<p>The pharaoh who ruled in the day when -Joshua led the conquest of Canaan was most -<span class="pb" id="Page_174">174</span> -probably Tuthmosis the Third, who reigned -contemporarily with the Queen Hatshepsut -until he was sufficiently entrenched to overthrow -her dominion. This queen, as all the -evidence most clearly suggests, was most -probably the one who drew Moses out of -the Nile. The contemporary and collateral -evidence is fairly conclusive, so that this fact -is generally accepted. Relegating the one -anomalous discovery, then, to the probability -of intrusion, we find that Jericho, perhaps -more than any other site in antiquity, has -vindicated the record of the Old Testament -text.</p> -<p>In this very connection, it is interesting -to note how the queen Hatshepsut came into -the record, and first interested the student -of apologetics. The eminent archeologist, -Flinders Petrie, found a tablet on the slope -of Mt. Sinai which was written in an archaic -script that baffled every attempt to decipher -its mystery for nearly thirty years. But at -long last Professor Hubert Grimme, who held -the chair of Semitic languages at the University -of Munster, made out two words. -One of these was the ancient Hebrew name -for God, which in this form of writing appeared -as “JAHUA.” The other word that -Dr. Grimme succeeded in reading was “HATSHEPSUT,” -who was known from her monuments -and obelisk.</p> -<p>With this key, the table was quickly deciphered, -<span class="pb" id="Page_175">175</span> -and was ascribed to Moses. The -text as it appeared follows:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">“I am the son of Hatshepsut</p> -<p class="t0">overseer of the mine workers of sin</p> -<p class="t0">chief of the temple of Mana Jahua of Sinai</p> -<p class="t0">thou oh Hatshepsut</p> -<p class="t0">wast kind to me and drew me out</p> -<p class="t0">of the waters of the Nile</p> -<p class="t0">hast placed me in the temple (or palace).”</p> -</div> -<p>On the reverse were directions for locating -the place where the writer reported he had -buried certain tablets of stone, which he had -broken in his anger. Since all the landmarks -the writer used to identify the place of burial -have disappeared, nothing has so far come -from the search that resulted when this tablet -was at last read.</p> -<p>Incidentally, this queen Hatshepsut left her -mark upon the age in which she lived, as -she was one of the most persistently determined -women who ever appeared upon -the pages of ancient history. There is a remarkably -complete record of her history and -her imperial reign which may be read today -in the relics of her times and in the ruins of -the great works which she caused to be constructed.</p> -<p>Her important place illustrates one of the -difficulties of chronology, which we have -previously mentioned. Her background is -clear and undisputed. When Tuthmosis the -<span class="pb" id="Page_176">176</span> -First died, his son and heir Tuthmosis the -Second succeeded to the throne. He was a -physical and mental weakling, and very little -is known of him from the monuments of old. -But he married his half-sister Hatshepsut, -and started a train of events that had surprising -consequences. Incidentally, it was the -custom for Egyptians to marry in the closest -family ties, and brother and sister more often -wed than not. In view of this famous lady’s -character and later conduct, it is highly probable -that the king had no choice in marrying -his sister, but was led to the slaughter -whether he would or not! At any rate, he -died very soon after the wedding, and the -widow Hatshepsut declared herself queen. -To make her position secure, she married -her young stepson and half-brother, Tuthmosis -the Third, who was the legal and rightful -heir to the throne. During his boyhood -the queen reigned in undisputed power, and -developed the country in a surprising manner.</p> -<p>She was a feminist with a vengeance, and -called herself KING Hatshepsut, and stated -that she was a god and as such was entitled -to worship and obedience. What is more, -she made it stick! Since she could not lead -her armies in person, she pursued the ways -of peace, and the troubled land had rest and -prospered. Some of the greatest building -operations of the ancient world were begun -and finished under her direction and patronage.</p> -<h3 id="pl13">Plate 13</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig24"> -<img src="images/p26.jpg" alt="" width="402" height="599" /> -<p class="pcap">Detailed study of outside and inside of anthropoid -coffin. Note voluminous record</p> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p26a.jpg" id="ncfig4" alt="inside" width="398" height="600" /> -</div> -<div class="img" id="fig25"> -<img src="images/p26b.jpg" alt="" width="401" height="600" /> -<p class="pcap">Outside, or rectangular coffin also covered with -writing and records</p> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p26c.jpg" id="ncfig5" alt="records" width="400" height="600" /> -</div> -<h3 id="pl14">Plate 14</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig26"> -<img src="images/p27.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="502" /> -<p class="pcap">Murals and frescoes from tomb walls</p> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p27a.jpg" id="ncfig6" alt="murals and frescoes" width="981" height="610" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p27b.jpg" id="ncfig7" alt="murals and frescoes" width="800" height="502" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p27c.jpg" id="ncfig8" alt="murals and frescoes" width="981" height="616" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_177">177</div> -<p>When her husband-brother-consort became -of age, he naturally rebelled against her usurpation. -He gathered a company of adventurous -nobles about him and forced the queen -to abdicate, after which she disappeared under -circumstances which would have interested -Scotland Yard, if that noted institution -had been in existence in that day and place! -The ambitious young king took the name of -Tuthmosis the Third, and left a brilliant record -as a conqueror and builder. Counting -the twenty-one years he lived as co-regent -with Hatshepsut, he ruled the land fifty-three -years, which was an enviable span for those -warlike days.</p> -<p>If the present accepted chronology is right, -he came to the throne in 1501 B. C. and -died in the year 1447. This would have -made him the Pharaoh of the Oppression! -In which case, the queen Hatshepsut would -have unconsciously offended him in elevating -Moses to a place of prominence and power, -which might explain why Moses felt it necessary -to flee from Egypt when he was in -trouble. At any rate, out of this tangled -skein of human conduct and ambition, some -present help is offered to the learning of our -day by the known facts that have been clearly -established from the relics of this embattled -couple. The name of the queen Hatshepsut -<span class="pb" id="Page_178">178</span> -was abhorrent to her brother-husband-regent-successor; -and he tried to obliterate -it wherever it appeared. But she had -built so many great works and had left such -ample records that his actions in this matter -came to nought, and she lives today to shed -the assurance of probability upon the record -of Moses.</p> -<p>We have seen her obelisks, her records and -some of the ruins of her great works, and -the entire pattern is of a piece with the demands, -both chronological and ethnological, -of the text of the Scripture. It is apparent -that not only dead <i>men</i>, but also dead <i>women</i>, -may tell tales, if their voices are heeded and -the ears of the listener are not stopped with -the wax of infidelity and disbelief.</p> -<p>The amazing and scrupulous accuracy -which is maintained by the Old Testament -in its historical statements is once again -demonstrated by the record of Ahaz as it is -given in the Old Testament and found on -the monuments in Assyria. We read in II -Kings and the sixteenth chapter, these words:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son -of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham king of -Judah began to reign.</p> -<p>Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began -to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, -and did not that which was right in the -sight of the Lord his God, like David his -father.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_179">179</div> -<p>But he walked in the way of the kings of -Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through -the fire, according to the abominations of the -heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before -the children of Israel.</p> -<p>And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the -high places, and on the hills, and under every -green tree.</p> -<p>Then Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah son -of Remaliah king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem -to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but -could not overcome him.</p> -<p>At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered -Elath to Syria, and dwelt there unto this day.</p> -<p>So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser -king of Assyria saying, I am thy servant and -thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand -of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of -the king of Israel, which rise up against me.</p> -<p>And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was -found in the house of the Lord, and in the -treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for -a present to the king of Assyria.</p> -<p>And the king of Assyria hearkened unto -him: for the king of Assyria went up against -Damascus, and took it, and carried the people -of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The visit of Ahaz which closes this record -was made in 732 B. C. Tiglath-pileser has -left his own story of these stirring events and -has called Ahaz by name upon his monument. -The unfortunate action of Ahaz in calling for -Assyrian aid against his enemies Pekah king -of Israel and Rezin king of Syria, resulted, -according to Tiglath-pileser’s account, in his -invasion of both Syria and Palestine. From -<span class="pb" id="Page_180">180</span> -thence he carried away into captivity the two -tribes of Reuben and Gath, and the half tribe -of Manasseh. The distress of Israel was not -ended until Hoshea, shortly afterward, became -the new king of Israel. As a matter -of policy he formally accepted the yoke of -Assyria and became the vassal of Tiglath-pileser.</p> -<p>In the Assyrian Room of the British Museum, -Wall Cases 14 to 18 contain a valuable -collection of inscribed bowls, ostraca, and -fragments of records which extend from the -days of Assur-resh-shi, down to the end of -the Assyrian dynasty. Among them are fragmentary -inscriptions from the reign of Tiglath-pileser -the Third. He is known in the -Scriptures also by his Babylonian name of -Pul. In I Chronicles 5:26 both names are -found in the one verse, as though the scribe -were anxious that the identification should -be complete:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit -of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tiglath-pileser -king of Assyria, and he carried -them away, even the Reubenites and the Gadites, -and the half tribe of Manasseh, and -brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and -Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Tiglath-pileser again appears under the name -of Pul in II Kings 15:19:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>And Pul the king of Assyria came against -<span class="pb" id="Page_181">181</span> -the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand -talents of silver, that his hand might be with -him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>In the twenty-ninth verse of this chapter, -however, his Assyrian name is given alone, -as is done in the sixteenth chapter.</p> -<p>In the above cited wall cases, exhibit K -2751, is an inscription of Tiglath-pileser’s -setting forth some of his conquests, and an -account of certain of his building operations. -Among the tributary kings who accepted his -yoke, he <i>specifically mentions Ahaz king of -Judah</i>.</p> -<p>Modern man is so used to the phenomena -that make up the miracle of our modern living -that such fascinating possessions as this -are not generally appreciated and properly -valued. Here, however, we hear again the -voice of a man who died in the year 727 -B. C. The phenomenon is seen in the fact -that in spite of the indescribable vandalism -and wreckage wrought by those intervening -ages, a fragment of clay persisted, and remained -in existence until it could be uncovered -from the dust heaps of antiquity by -<i>the one generation that desperately needed its -testimony and was able to interpret and prize -its record</i>!</p> -<p>Here indeed is a dead man who tells tales, -and who tells them with such authority and -accuracy that the mouth of criticism is -stopped and the Word of God completely -<span class="pb" id="Page_182">182</span> -vindicated. Incidentally, Tiglath-pileser’s -record corroborates the prophecy of Isaiah, -concerning the destruction of both Israel and -Syria, because they had joined their forces -to make war upon Judah.</p> -<p>This prophecy is given at length in the -seventh chapter of Isaiah and was the instance -of introducing the greater prophecy -of the final redemption of the people with -the coming of Messiah. He was to be identified, -according to Isaiah, by means of the -miracle of the virgin birth.</p> -<p>When Omri, the general of the armies of -Israel, was elevated by popular acclaim to -the throne of dominion, he climaxed an astonishing -career that left a deep impression upon -antiquity. At the beginning of his reign the -nation was divided in its allegiance and this -division resulted in a civil war that was bitter, -though brief. The power and might of -Omri quickly pacified and subdued the land, -which accepted his dominion, and for twelve -years his hand guided the helm of the ship -of state. One of his earlier acts was to buy -the hill of Samaria for a sum that is given -as two talents of silver, which would be in -the neighborhood of $4,000 in our reckoning. -So impressive was his personality that from -his day on to the end of the kingdom, the -land of Israel was generally known among -the Assyrian peoples as the Land of Omri.</p> -<p>On the black monolith for instance, which -<span class="pb" id="Page_183">183</span> -was set up by Shalmaneser the king of Assyria, -there are many sculptured pictures -which illustrate the text of this priceless -historical record. One of the scenes shows -that among the conquered rulers, one is entitled -“Jehu the son of Omri.” A record is -made of the silver, gold, lead, vessels of -gold, and of other materials that Jehu brought -in tribute to Shalmaneser. (See <a href="#pl18">Plate 18</a>.) -This black obelisk may be seen in the Nimrud -Central Saloon of the British Museum in London. -That this was a general is seen from the -fact that on the nine-sided prism which gives -the record of Sargon concerning his conquests -in Palestine, the great Assyrian lists the people -of Israel whom he calls “Bit-Khu-um-ri-a” -(Omri-land), among other subdued races. -Omri was succeeded on the throne by Ahab, -who was a young man when he came to the -throne. He left an unenviable record of -apostasy and idolatry, but was none-the-less -a courageous and able administrator whose -work strengthened the realm greatly. In -the twenty-two years of his reign the Word -of God was ignored and unbelief swept over -the land. In his day the first persecution -of God’s people, which was directed against -their ministry, began when his wife Jezebel -caused the slaughter of the prophets.</p> -<p>The entire career of Ahab occupies considerable -space in the records of the Old -Testament and is almost as prominent in the -<span class="pb" id="Page_184">184</span> -monuments of antiquity. One of the most -outstanding and notable of his early acts -was the famous overthrow of Benhadad, the -king of Syria. The invasions of Israel by -Benhadad are fully covered in the historical -texts of the Old Testament, so they need no -recapitulation here. When the Syrian king -suffered an overwhelming and crushing defeat -at the hands of Ahab, he submitted himself -to the king of Israel with a humble plea -for mercy. In spite of the denunciation of -the prophet, who warned that Benhadad -would bring disaster upon the realm, Ahab -restored him to his Syrian dominion and -made a covenant of brotherhood with him. -Later on, Ahab and Benhadad united in a -rebellion against their Assyrian overlord in -one of the most disastrous acts of his career. -The battle that decided the campaign was -fought at Karkar.</p> -<p>In the British Museum, the Nimrud Central -Saloon exhibits a stele of Shalmaneser -the Third which bears the identifying number -of 88. The inscription sets forth the -names, titles, and ancestry of the king and -gives a complete account of several of his -military adventures. He states that in the -sixth year of his reign, he battled against -certain allies who had rebelled against his -authority. Among them he lists “Ahab of -the land of Israel.” Shalmaneser tells how -he defeated this coalition and slew fourteen -thousand of the Syrian warriors in one great -battle.</p> -<h3 id="pl15">Plate 15</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig27"> -<img src="images/p28.jpg" alt="" width="594" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Commemorative stele</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl16">Plate 16</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig28"> -<img src="images/p29.jpg" alt="" width="374" height="578" /> -<p class="pcap">Ancient boundary markers</p> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p29a.jpg" id="ncfig9" alt="boundary marker" width="372" height="574" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p29b.jpg" id="ncfig10" alt="boundary marker" width="368" height="574" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p29c.jpg" id="ncfig11" alt="boundary marker" width="374" height="568" /> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_185">185</div> -<p>On the monolith of Shalmaneser the record -begun on this stele is further continued. -This battle, according to Shalmaneser’s -chronology, would be about 854 B. C. This -Benhadad is known on the Assyrian monuments -variously by the names of Hadad-ezer -and Hadad-idri. He is authenticated by the -finest type of historical proof that the most -carping critic could demand. Incidentally, -Benhadad is one of the forty-seven kings -mentioned in our preliminary remarks, who -were supposed to be legendary characters, -until archeology called them forth from the -dead to testify in their own behalf.</p> -<p>Ahab was one of the most industrious -builders who ever occupied the throne of -Israel. Although he lacked the resources -of Solomon, there are a number of records -in the Scripture that shed light upon his -architectural interests. In I Kings 22:39 all -of this activity is summarized in their brief -epitome:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all -that he did, and the ivory house which he -made, and all the cities that he built, are -they not written in the book of the chronicles -of the kings of Israel.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The hill of Samaria, which Omri had -purchased, passed by inheritance to Ahab. -<span class="pb" id="Page_186">186</span> -The ivory palace that is mentioned in -I Kings 22:39 was built on this site. Solomon -may have had his throne of ivory, but -Ahab improved upon that idea, as this text -seems to imply. This summer palace which -he built for himself and Jezebel on the crest -of the hill of Samaria has been the scene of -recent expeditions. A great deal of archeological -industry has been expended in reconstructing -the beauty and marvel of this -palace of Ahab. It has been discovered that -the walls were decorated with ivory carvings, -and that much of the furniture was inlaid -with ivory. This valuable substance was -used with a profligate hand to construct one -of the most splendid edifices of all antiquity.</p> -<p>Some of the most skilled craftsmen of human -history were employed by this enterprise. -To show something of the ability of -these ancient artists, we present a photograph -of the figure of an ivory lion which -came from the site of Ahab’s palace. The -illustration is magnified four times, but tiny -as this priceless relic is, the lines and perfection -of the carving cannot be excelled by any -craftsman today.</p> -<p>The Harvard expedition under Dr. Reisner, -and the joint expedition of 1931, both made -delighted comment on the unprecedented -perfection of the structure of this great palace. -It covered an area between seven and -eight acres in extent; the masonry of the -<span class="pb" id="Page_187">187</span> -building was no less than marvelous in the -perfection of its structure and joining. Concerning -these ivory miniatures, inlays, and -friezes, the leader of the expedition said, -“These ivories are the most charming example -of miniature art ever found on an -Israelite site.” By referring to the ivory lion -in <a href="#pl19">Plate 19</a> the reader can see -that this is indeed the fact.</p> -<p>The excavations at Samaria have been going -on since the Harvard expedition began -in 1908. Among the valuable finds from -the ivory palace of Ahab must be listed a -group of seventy-five ostraca. These ancient -fragments of pottery, inscribed and engraved -with the homely affairs of the daily -life of Ahab’s time, contain the same script -as is found on the Moabite stone.</p> -<p>This great relic of antiquity has had a -fascinating but unfortunate history in itself. -It will always be a matter of sincere regret -that the first discoverer of the Moabite stone -did not make a copy of its complete text. -The Moabite stone states that Ahab reigned -forty years. The Scripture record, however, -makes his reign to be twenty-two years. According -to the credible chronology of II Kings, -upon the death of Ahab, his son, Jehoram, -ascended to the throne and reigned twelve -years. Mesha, who had accepted the lordship -of the able Ahab, rebelled against the -weaker son.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_188">188</div> -<p>At some time during this reign, Mesha, -a minor king of Moab, tired of paying to -Israel the annual tribute of one hundred -thousand lambs, plus one hundred thousand -rams, with the wool thereof. He rebelled -against the overlord of Israel and successfully -threw off the yoke. On an enormous -stele which was erected at Dhiban by the -successful king we find these words:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“I Mesha, son of Chemosh-melech, king of -Moab, the Dibonite. My father reigned over -Moab 30 years and I reigned after my father. -I have made this monument for Chemosh -at Qorhah, a monument of salvation for he -saved me from all invaders and let me see -my desire upon all my enemies. Omri was -king of Israel, and he oppressed Moab many -days, for Chemosh was angry with his land. -His son, Ahab followed him and he also said: -I will oppress Moab. In my days Chemosh -said: I will see my desire on him and his house -and Israel surely shall perish forever. Omri -took the land of Medeba and dwelt in it during -his days and half the days of his son, -altogether 40 years. But Chemosh gave it -back in my days. I built Baal-Meon and -made therein the ditches; I built Kirjathaim. -The men of God dwelt in the land of Ataroth -from of old, and the king of Israel built there -the city of Ataroth; but I made war against -the city and took it. And I slew all the people -of the city, for the pleasure of Chemosh and of -Moab and I brought back from the Arel of -Dodah and bore him before Chemosh in -Qerioth. And I placed therein the men of -Sharon and the men of Mehereth. And -<span class="pb" id="Page_189">189</span> -Chemosh said unto me: Go, seize Nebo of -Israel and I went in the night and fought -against it from the break of dawn till noon; -and I took it, slew all of them, 7,000 men and -boys, women and girls and female slaves, -for to Ashtar-Chemosh I devoted them. And -I took from thence the Arels of Yahwah -and bore them before Chemosh. Now the -king of Israel had built Jahaz and he dwelt -in it while he waged war against me, but -Chemosh drove him out from before me....”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>When this great monument was first discovered -in 1868, its value was of course not -appreciated and no copy of the text was made. -The Museum of Berlin heard of it and moved -for its purchase. An employe of the French -Consulate heard of the negotiations, and offered -a large bribe for the possession of the -stone. The Turkish officials then interfered. -The superstitious Arabs, believing that the -monument must have some magical value, -broke it into a number of fragments and distributed -the pieces as amulets, or charms. A -French agent, however, industriously pursued -these fragments and with the help of a -squeeze which he had made, reconstructed -the major portion of the writings. The ancient -name of Jehovah occurring on this text -was an additional delight to these students of -antiquity.</p> -<p>Certain small cities that Israel had wrested -from Moab were returned to Mesha at the -time of this rebellion. Jehoram, and Jehoshaphat, -<span class="pb" id="Page_190">190</span> -the kings of Judah, later battled against -the increasing power of Moab and administered -a crushing defeat to the Moabites -sometime after the successful uprising that -is recorded here in this text.</p> -<p>Among the ostraca excavated at Samaria, -were some that mentioned many of the historical -personages of the Old Testament, -which also enhanced their value in the eyes -of archeologists.</p> -<p>The later expedition to Samaria which was -working in 1931, apparently reached the -foundations of the first buildings of Omri. -They have left a record stating, “No remains -earlier than the building of Omri are to be -found upon this site.” This being so, we -cannot question the statement of the text -that Omri was the original builder on the -crest of the hill of Samaria, which fact is -in itself of considerable importance to the -subject of our present study. The question -has been raised as to what the effect would -have been on the problem of the integrity -of the text of the Scripture if this site had -proved to have been like the other regions -excavated, and was occupied by many older -and underlying ruins! The simple answer -is that such a discovery was <i>not</i> made; and -the evidence that has been derived is of such -nature that this portion of the sacred Book -<i>must</i> be accepted by the intelligent and informed -scholar.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_191">191</div> -<p>These fragmentary events and references -are of as much value as are the individual -bricks that make up the mass of a wall or a -building. One or two standing alone would -be relatively unimportant, but when scores -of such evidences are gathered into a composite -unit, they offer a formidable and impressive -structure of evidence that is extremely -difficult to refute. Although it has -been the custom to construct the critical -argument against the integrity of God’s Word -from imagined <i>minor</i> errors in the text, so -intrenched is critical dogmatism that nothing -but a <i>major</i> rebuttal will be heeded. Happily, -a major structure may be erected from minor -materials: and thus these <i>fragments</i> serve -their destined purpose.</p> -<h3 id="pl17">Plate 17</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig29"> -<img src="images/p30.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="556" /> -<p class="pcap">Stone ouches, or door-sockets</p> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p30a.jpg" id="ncfig12" alt="door-sockets" width="800" height="563" /> -</div> -<h3 id="pl18">Plate 18</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig30"> -<img src="images/p31.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="1001" /> -<p class="pcap">The famed Black Obelisk, which confirmed the -record of Jehu</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_194">194</div> -<div class="img" id="fig31"> -<img src="images/p32.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="719" /> -<p class="pcap">Hamath Inscription</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_195">195</div> -<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER VII</span> -<br />The Rebirth of an Empire</h2> -<p>Among the ancient races that are catalogued -in the lists which appear in the pages -of the Old Testament, the most important one -in the presentation of this thesis is the Hittite -race. In the heyday of their brief popularity -the higher critics indulged in an orgy of refutation -concerning these sections of the Scripture. -Since the Hittites are mentioned forty-eight -times in the pages of the Bible, if it -could be proved that these people were fictitious -in character, the critical case against -the Old Testament would be demonstrated -beyond question. It would almost seem as -though the writers of the ancient word had -invited this contest with deliberate intention. -It is impossible to justify the manifold appearances -of the Hittites in the Sacred Word, -if they were not an actual people.</p> -<p>In addition to the many other references, -in the various lists of races given as occupying -different portions of the ancient world, -the Bible mentions the Hittite peoples twenty-one -separate and distinct times. The eminent -dean of higher criticism, the late Canon -Driver, ascribes these historical catalogs of -<span class="pb" id="Page_196">196</span> -peoples to imagination and fiction, and refers -to them in such words as these, “The -Hittites are also regularly mentioned in the -rhetorical lists.” Canon Driver is careful to -note that these lists of peoples are found -in that section of the Scripture which he calls -the “Elohistic Manuscript.” It is not hard -to understand that one who starts with the -assumption of incredibility, would have trouble -believing in the reality of the statements -in a document so treated.</p> -<p>The writers of the Scripture, in their dealings -with the subject of this forgotten people, -sketch an amazing picture indeed. They portray -a warlike, powerful, well organized race -whose genius at colonization and military -ability combined to win for them a veritable -world empire. The center of their dominion -was Syria, but from thence they reached out -to lay their yoke upon Egypt, to overrun -Palestine, and to force the early Assyrians -to pay tribute to their might and power.</p> -<p>It seems almost inconceivable that in the -voluminous records of antiquity there should -have been no single word concerning this -mighty race. For until the closing decades -of the nineteenth century, the Hittites had -no place in secular history. They were preserved -to the memory of man, simply and -only because of the forty-eight Old Testament -references which we have previously -mentioned. The scholarly critics argued that -<span class="pb" id="Page_197">197</span> -it would be impossible for a world empire -to disappear from history without leaving -a single trace. They insisted that if a race -of men had ever lived who dominated the -world of their day, common sense would -incline us to the conclusion that they could -not suddenly fade away from the memory of -man and leave no evidence of their existence.</p> -<p>But they did! From the very beginning -of this argument, it should have been apparent -that there were two ways to approach -the problem. One way was the method -which was adopted by the higher critics, -namely, to assume that the Old Testament -is fallible. Adopting as the grounds of investigation -the pre-conceived conclusion that -the records of the Old Testament are fallacious -and incredible, the critics then proceeded -to search for proof of this basic assumption. -By dogmatically asserting that the -Old Testament was not historical, but that -much of its contents consisted of folklore and -myth, inductive conclusions were offered as -proof of this presumption.</p> -<p>It did not seem to occur to the higher critical -scholars that a better way to study the -Word would have been to concede the historicity -of the text until it was disproved -by evidence. This, of course, has ever been -the method used by the orthodox student -of the Word. We might say in passing that -this is not only the intelligent technique but -<span class="pb" id="Page_198">198</span> -is also the safer process. To say the very -least, it saves the embarrassment that inevitably -comes to him who arrays himself against -the integrity of the Word of God!</p> -<p>The first appearance of the Hittites in the -Bible is in the fifteenth chapter of the Book -of Genesis, verse twenty:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the -Rephaims.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>This is perhaps the very earliest coincidence -of archeology with the records of the Scripture. -In the various lists of races who were -to be displaced by Israel, according to the -covenant God made with Abraham, the Hittites -are frequently named. Without any -reservation or qualification whatever, this -text which we have just cited states that the -Hittites were Canaanites. According to Genesis -10:15, the Canaanitish people came -through the line of Sidon and Heth. It is -apparent also from Genesis 10:6, where -Canaan the son of Ham first comes into the -record, that these Hittites, if they had existed, -would have been akin to the early population -of Chaldea and Babylon. It is an -interesting fact to note that the monuments -of antiquity which have restored these Hittites -to their proper place in secular history, -show them to have had a mixture of Semitic -and Mongolian characteristics.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_199">199</div> -<p>In the various appearances of these people -in the Old Testament records, it is to be noted -that several characters married Hittite wives. -Bathsheba, who was the mother of Solomon, -and thus infused a Gentile strain into the -genealogy of Mary, who was the mother of -our Lord, was a Hittite woman. In I Kings -11:1, it is also stated that Solomon, among -his many political marriages, had taken to -himself wives from among the Hittites.</p> -<p>These people, although unknown in the -orderly annals of human history, might have -been recognized had the scholarly ability of -earlier generations been able correctly to -interpret obsolete systems of writings. The -Assyrians called them the “Khatti.” In the -Egyptian inscriptions they are known as the -“Kheta.” The fact that these names referred -to the Hittites was not known until the Hittite -inscriptions themselves were read and -interpreted and the fact of their reality established. -It is to be regretted that in a -work as short as this one we have not room -to recapitulate their long and fascinating -history. The romance of their recovery of -their rightful place in the annals of human -conduct is all that we can present in this -chapter. They were thrust by human ignorance -into the outer darkness of forgotten -things, but we can trace the hand of God -in bringing them back into the light of remembrance -and establishing them in their -<span class="pb" id="Page_200">200</span> -proper place of glory and prominence among -the empires of antiquity.</p> -<p>Without hesitation we would offer this as -the perfect demonstration of the manner in -which Almighty God cares for His Word. -When His Book is assailed and discredited, -He will, if need be, raise the dead to establish -the integrity of the Inspired Record. It -might be noted in passing that secular history -is now often corrected by archeology. The -misunderstandings and errors which were -alleged to appear in the Bible, and which are -common to the production of a purely human -document, are being done away with as we -read them again in the light of the monuments. -Wherever such correction has been -made, it has had the effect of bringing secular -history into complete harmony with the -Bible. So in restoring the empire of the Hittites -to the staid columns of accredited history, -the Divine Record is again confirmed.</p> -<p>It is inevitable that these Hittites should -appear in the Ancient Word, as they largely -parallel the history of the Hebrew kingdom -in point of time. From the days of Abraham -to the end of the kingdom of Israel, the Hittites -and the Hebrews walked side by side -and hand in hand. During that time Hittites -and Israelites alike are the enemies of Egypt. -Alike they battled against Babylon and Assyria, -they intermarried, had treaties and -covenants each with the other, and had a -well developed system of commerce between -the nations.</p> -<h3 id="pl19">Plate 19</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig32"> -<img src="images/p33.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="597" /> -<p class="pcap">Small ivory lion from Ahab’s palace -<br />Author’s collection<span class="hst"> (Photo by Dworshak)</span></p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl20">Plate 20</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig33"> -<img src="images/p34.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="598" /> -<p class="pcap">Fragmentary frieze showing ancient chariots (Museum of the University of Pennsylvania)</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_201">201</div> -<p>King Solomon, the merchant prince, had -developed business relations with all of the -many chieftains and kings of the Hittite peoples, -and had a well developed trade in the -horses and chariots for which the Hittites -were famous in their day. (See <a href="#pl20">Plate 20</a>.) -This coincidence of affairs began when Abraham -consummated the first commercial transaction -that is mentioned in human history. -Before Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees to begin -his strange pilgrimage, the Hittites were -already established in Canaan. It must not be -thought that Abraham at that time was the -ancient prototype of our modern hobo, wandering -from point to point with no estate! The -pastoral pursuits of Abraham had built up -for him flocks and herds that made him enormously -wealthy. He was an able strategist, -and his military skill, combined with his personal -valor, had elevated him to a high position -of power and influence.</p> -<p>In the land of Canaan he was treated with -honor and admiration as befitted his station -and position. His armed retainers constituted -a formidable army for that day, and this -trained manpower compelled respect for -Abraham, the wandering prince. When -Sarah died, the Hittites were in possession -of the land and Abraham recognized the -validity of their title when he opened the -<span class="pb" id="Page_202">202</span> -negotiations for a burial plot for Sarah, by -defining himself as a stranger and a sojourner -in their land. With typical oriental courtesy -in bargaining, the Hittites replied to his request -for a burying place for his dead wife by -saying, “Hear us, my lord, thou art a mighty -prince among us,” and they offered him -freely and without price the choice of a plot -for a sepulchre. Abraham designated the -cave of Machpelah as his choice and offered -to pay the full value of the site. This courtesy, -of course, was expected of him. Though -it had been offered as a free gift, it would -have been a breach of manners of the worst -type, according to the customs of that day, -for him to have accepted the gift.</p> -<p>It will be noted in this account in Genesis -that when Abraham weighed out the requested -price of four hundred shekels of silver, -the statement was made that it was the -shekel which was the current money with -the merchants. The sum was equivalent to -about $300 in our present system of values. -This is the first reference made to coinage, -and it fits in beautifully with the archeological -indications that the Hittites were the -inventors of the principle of coining both -gold and silver as a medium of exchange.</p> -<p>From this first moment of their contact -with Abraham there is no period of Hebrew -history, up to the time of the fall of Samaria, -where the people of Israel lost contact with -<span class="pb" id="Page_203">203</span> -the nation of the Hittites. Their mercenary -soldiers became captains in the army of David -and Solomon, and they were occasionally allied -in important battles in which the people -of Israel fought side by side with them. It -is amazing that the critics, in the face of the -tremendous emphasis laid upon the Hittite -empire by the writers of the Scripture, did -not exercise some discretion in their repudiation -of the historicity of this people. Even -while the tongues of the unbelieving were -clamoring with loud denunciations of the -text of the Word of God, Libya, Syria, and -Asia Minor in general exhibited magnificent -sculpture, incised stones, and monuments -written in a strange system of hieroglyphics -that none had been able to read. These -proved later to be the records of the Hittite -peoples as they themselves had cut them with -their own hands.</p> -<p>We shall later refer to the great work of -Dr. A. H. Sayce in deciphering these hieroglyphics. -His achievement in that instance -was, in the annals of human history, one of -the greatest triumphs of pure reason. Before -this was done, however, the Hittites had -begun to stretch themselves and stir in the -tomb of oblivion. Their long sleep was ended -and they began to rise from the dead, when -experts in Egyptology read the record of -Ramses the Second. It is not too much to -say that these early discoveries threw the -<span class="pb" id="Page_204">204</span> -camp of higher criticism into utter confusion.</p> -<p>Ramses the Second successfully ended a -period of warfare with the Hittites which -had vexed and distressed Egypt for more -than five hundred years. So great was the -power of the Hittite empire that no previous -conqueror or king in Egypt had been able -to shake off their yoke completely. Indeed, -Ramses the Second succeeded in so doing -only by contracting an important political -marriage with a Hittite princess.</p> -<p>The center of the Hittite empire was -Charchemish. On the site of Megiddo, which -was so often the scene of battles in successive -years, the forces of Ramses fought with the -armed forces of the Hittites. There the Egyptian -monarch successfully defeated the Hittites -in one of the most stirring battles preserved -to us in ancient records. The Hittites -at this time were governed by a number of -kings who had a close confederation in all -affairs pertaining to the empire. In the day -of Ramses the confederation was headed by -the king of Kadesh. According to Ramses’ -record, which is preserved for us on the walls -of Karnak, all “the kings and peoples from -the water of Egypt to the river-land of Mesopotamia -obeyed this chief.”</p> -<p>This army of the confederation massed itself -on the bloody field of Megiddo in a battle -which lasted six hours. Ramses tells in detail -<span class="pb" id="Page_205">205</span> -how he marched and maneuvered his -forces to gain strategic advantages.</p> -<p>It was a coincidence that the battle began -on the morning of the twenty-fifth anniversary -of the ascension of Ramses the Second. -He celebrated the anniversary of his crowning -by throwing off the yoke of the Hittites. -A complete victory was denied Ramses, due -to the fact that when the Hittite force broke -and fled before him, his army failed to take -advantage of the rout. Falling upon the rich -plunder, they fought among themselves over -the spoils so long that the Hittites were able -to enter their fortified city and barricade -it against the Egyptians. An element of -humor enters into the final statement. Ramses -recounts that he besieged the city for a -number of days, but since “Megiddo had the -might of a thousand cities, the king graciously -pardoned the foreign princes.” In the list -of the spoil that the Egyptians gathered from -this battle, there occurred the names of one -hundred nineteen towns and cities which -henceforth paid tribute to Egypt. The next -important item was the capture of nine hundred -twenty-four chariots, including the personal -chariot of the Hittite king which was -plated and armored with gold. (See <a href="#pl20">Plate 20</a>.)</p> -<p>Although Ramses boasted that he had -“completely overthrown the might and power -of the Hittites,” the future history of this -Pharaoh depicts campaign after campaign -<span class="pb" id="Page_206">206</span> -lasting until the end of his life. At least nine -campaigns are recorded on the walls of Karnak, -in each of which the Hittites were singularly -exterminated, completely overthrown, -and defeated for all time hereafter. The -only trouble seems to have been that the -Hittites didn’t realize how completely they -were defeated, so that they came back again -and again! The nearest to peace that Ramses -ever achieved, in his dealings with this race, -was when upon his marriage with a Hittite -princess, a great treaty was signed. In the -records of his battles, Ramses refers to the -Hittite king as “the miserable lord of the despised -Hittites.” When he records the treaty -that he made at the time of his marriage, he -refers to the same man as “his noble and magnificent -brother, a fellow to sit with the god -of the sun by the side of Ramses himself.” -It is evident, then, that some of Ramses’ -records must be taken with a grain of salt. -We noticed recently, as we were studying -and photographing the battle scene of Megiddo -which is portrayed on the north side of -the great temple at Karnak, that Ramses is -shown as having thrown to the ground all -the Hittites and as having slain their king. -Seven years later, however, the king is still -alive to give his daughter in marriage to -Ramses!</p> -<p>Since the Hittites were at this time the -central power of the ancient world, peace -<span class="pb" id="Page_207">207</span> -with them meant peace with all the other -enemies of Egypt. Perhaps, for this reason, -Ramses’ boasting of his great victory might -be pardoned.</p> -<p>This great battle is also immortalized by -a contemporary poet. The papyrus copy of -this poem is now in the possession of the -British Museum. Many stanzas from this -notable work, however, are to be seen in -connection with the magnificent battle pictures -at Karnak. Some of these are also -repeated in the temple at Luxor, as well -as on the great monument at Abydos.</p> -<p>Professor Wright refers to this poem as -“the earliest specimen of special war correspondence.” -This work is known as the poem -of Pentauer. Pentauer is the name of a -Theban poet who wrote his dramatic ode -two years after the battle between Ramses -the Second and the Hittite horde. The boastful -extravagance of his language becomes a -bit wearisome as he sings the praises of Ramses -and chants of the impossible feats of the -monarch. An example of hyperbole is offered -in this verse:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“King Pharaoh was young and bold. His -arms were strong, his heart courageous. He -seized his weapons, and a hundred thousand -sunk before his glance. He armed his people -and his chariots. As he marched towards -the land of the Hittites, the whole earth trembled. -His warriors passed by the path of the -desert, and went along the roads of the north.”</p> -</blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_208">208</div> -<p>The “miserable and deceitful king of the -Hittites,” however, had prepared an ambush. -When the Hittites sprang their trap with their -king in their midst, Pharaoh called on his -mighty men to follow him. Leaping into his -chariot, he assaulted the numberless horsemen -and the armored footmen of the horde -of the Hittites, and plunged into the midst of -their ablest and bravest warriors. As he -fought his way into the press of these noble -horses, Ramses looked around to see how his -force was getting along. To his surprise -he found that they had not followed him; and -he was hemmed in by two thousand five hundred -chariots which were manned by the -mightiest of the Hittite champions. Deserted -by his entire army, Pharaoh saw that he had -to rely upon his own ability, so “shouting -for joy, with the aid of the god Amon, he -hurled darts with his right hand and thrust -with the sword in his left hand!” He “slew -two thousand five hundred horses which were -dashed to pieces!” He “laid dead the noble -Hittite knights until their limbs dissolved -with fear and they had no courage to thrust!” -He swept them into the river Orontes and -slew as long as it was his pleasure.</p> -<p>It is quite evident that Pentauer relied -largely upon his imagination for the details -of this great battle. However exaggerated this -poem may be, nevertheless it has some historical -value. Especially is this so since the -poem of Pentauer and the Karnak record of -Ramses the Second are in virtual agreement -as to the essential details of this battle.</p> -<h3 id="pl21">Plate 21</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig34"> -<img src="images/p35.jpg" alt="" width="667" height="1001" /> -<p class="pcap">{hieroglyphs}</p> -</div> -<dl class="undent pcap"><dt>divinity</dt> -<dt>king</dt> -<dt>country</dt> -<dt>plurality</dt> -<dt>supremacy</dt> -<dt>e, i.</dt> -<dt>u, o.</dt> -<dt>dimes, di</dt> -<dt>tu, to</dt> -<dt>kus</dt> -<dt>ku</dt> -<dt>khat, khattu</dt> -<dt>si</dt> -<dt>es</dt> -<dt>tar</dt> -<dt>sis</dt> -<dt>sar</dt> -<dt>tarku, tarkus</dt> -<dt>kue, mesi</dt> -<dt>seal, inscription</dt> -<dt>“to speak”</dt> -<dt>sun-god: “behold”</dt></dl> -<div class="img" id="fig35"> -<img src="images/p36.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="603" /> -<p class="pcap">From such funerary papyri much valuable information regarding Egyptian -beliefs and customs is derived</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_209">209</div> -<p>Incidentally, the walls of Karnak yielded -from the records of other kings the historic -evidence of an actual Hittite empire. Tuthmosis -the Third immortalized the Hittites -on the walls of Karnak when he gave a list -of towns in the land of the Hittites over which -he was victorious. Unquestionably this list -contains the first and oldest authentic account -of ancient cities, which are frequently afterwards -mentioned in the Assyrian records as -well. This record is found in the splendid -temple which is called the “Hall of Pillars” -and which was erected by this notable pharaoh. -It has been said that in this work the -art of Egypt reached its highest point. Certainly -the walls and pillars are literally covered -with the beautifully engraved pictures -and names of the races and cities which the -pharaoh had conquered.</p> -<p>When the Department of Antiquities was -working upon the wall of a lower section, a -catalog of one hundred nineteen conquered -places came to light. This record showed -that, more than three hundred years before -the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, -the Hittites were established in a powerful -dominion over that lovely land. There are -seven separate records of the contacts of -<span class="pb" id="Page_210">210</span> -this pharaoh with the people who were the -Hittites.</p> -<p>Ramses the First has also left a record of -the treaty of peace that he made with the -Hittite king Seplal at the end of the war that -he unsuccessfully fought to throw off the -yoke of this people. On the north wall of -the temple at Karnak, he gives the route of -his march and tells of the victories that he -won. He did not, however, delineate his -final capitulation. This conflict resulted in -a treaty of peace which is recorded in this -account.</p> -<p>The successor of Ramses the First was Seti -the First, and in his day the treaty was -broken. According to Seti, it was the Hittites -who offended against the covenant, and -he also engraved on the walls at Karnak an -account of the consequent battle with its -result. To bring just a short line from his -voluminous record, he acknowledges his own -greatness in such an inscription as the following:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Seti has struck down the Asiatics; he has -thrown to the ground the Kheta. He has -slain their princes.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Telling them how he concluded a treaty -with the Hittites, to the enhancement of his -own glory, Seti’s record concludes with these -words:</p> -<blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_211">211</div> -<p>“He returns home in triumph. He has annihilated -the people. He has struck to the -ground the Kheta. He has made an end of -his adversaries. The enmity of all people is -turned into friendship.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>With just this brief reference to the voluminous -records to be found in Egyptian archeology, -we would be able to establish the triumph -of the Bible in the realm of historical -accuracy, had we no other sources. The -fact of the matter, however, is that the Assyrian -and Babylonian accounts of the Hittites -are at least as numerous as are the -Egyptian.</p> -<p>It may be noted in passing that, although -filled with consternation at these marvelous -discoveries in Egyptology, the critics were -by no means silenced. It would have been -better for their later reputation had they -graciously accepted their defeat and acknowledged -that they were in error. Instead, they -rushed into vociferous refutation of the newly -discovered Egyptian records. Unfortunately, -their denunciations and renewed -claims were given wide publicity by being -included in the then current edition of the -Encyclopedia Britannica. It is to be regretted -that this great encyclopedia has often -been a tremendous aid to criticism in spreading -its errors and fallacies. This in large -measure is due to the fact that there is a -common reverence for this great work in -<span class="pb" id="Page_212">212</span> -the mind of the average human. There is -a certain class of readers who hold this notable -reference work in such great reverence -that its authority to them is greater than -that of the Word of God. It must be remembered, -however, that the encyclopedia of each -generation represents only the current -thought of that brief period of human experience. -Anything that is written by man is -subject to later revision or repudiation, as -human knowledge increases. So in this great -compendium of human wisdom it is unfortunate -that much space was given to the -famed critic, the Rev. T. K. Cheyne.</p> -<p>This eminent authority was a Fellow of -Balliol College, Oxford. In the above cited -article, he treated the statements of the Bible -as unhistorical and classified them as pure -folklore. Concerning the Biblical references -to the Hittites, he used these exact words, -“They cannot be taken as of equal authority -with the Egyptian and Assyrian inscriptions!” -In dealing with Abraham’s purchase -of the burial plot for Sarah, he had a great -deal to say in refutation of the possibility of -any accuracy in the record. At the conclusion -of his criticism he stated, “How meager -the tradition respecting the Hittites was in -the time of the great Elohistic narrator, is -shown by the picture of Hittite life in this -reference.”</p> -<p>Dr. Cheyne fell into the great error of -<span class="pb" id="Page_213">213</span> -claiming that the Hittites were only warriors. -Because they are thus shown on the walls -of Karnak, he concluded that they were mercenary -troops who never entered into business -transactions. In his article on the Canaanites -in this above cited encyclopedia, he -goes so far as to say, “The Hittites seem to -have been included among the Canaanites by -mistake. Historical evidence proves convincingly -that they dwelt beyond the borders -of Canaan.” These conclusions were also -advocated by his great colleague and collaborator, -Prof. W. H. Newman.</p> -<p>Dr. Newman was also a Fellow of Balliol -College at Oxford and is the author of the -once famous “History of the Hebrew Monarchy.” -In all of this work he maintained -that the Hittite references in the Old Testament -were unqualifiedly unhistorical. They -prove beyond question, according to the -author, that the writers of the Old Testament -were totally unacquainted with the -times of which they wrote. His conclusion -was that the Old Testament was written -many centuries after the events which it -purports to depict. He stated with finality, -along with Dr. Cheyne, that the Hittite people -were limited to Syria and had no place -in Palestine. Thus the story of Abraham -buying territory from them at Hebron is unquestionably -mythological.</p> -<p>These ardent advocates of a collapsing -<span class="pb" id="Page_214">214</span> -theory should have waited! It was not long -after these utterances were printed that Prof. -Sayce deciphered certain of the Assyrian -records of Tiglath-pileser. These showed -that in the reign of this monarch, as late as -1130 B. C., <i>the Hittites were still in command -of all the territory from the Euphrates to Lebanon</i>!</p> -<p>Again the Word of God was vindicated, -when the monuments, as they were deciphered, -yielded the interesting information -that the Hittites were notable colonizers. -They also covered all the ancient world as -merchants, and their caravans and trade-routes -were the earliest to be established. They are -in Assyrian annals depicted as artisans and -artists. Although all of them could fight -when war was inevitable, they had a standing -army for the casual and necessary protection -of the realm. Dr. Newman was unfortunate -also in choosing the time in which he charged -the Bible with error. At a most unfortunate -period for criticism in the history of archeology -he questioned the details of Hittite -prowess in the incidental references of the -Scripture. As though the scientists of that day -were in league with the Lord, they laid bare -in site after site a refutation of all the critics -maintained!</p> -<p>It will be remembered that in connection -with the siege of Samaria, as the story is -given in II Kings, the seventh chapter, there -<span class="pb" id="Page_215">215</span> -is a peculiar but important reference to the -Hittites and their known power. The people -of Israel who were commanded by Jehoram -were distressed by the siege of their capital -when Benhadad of Damascus had pressed -them to the limit of their resistance. Famine -and disease had swept Samaria, so that the -remnant faced the choice of surrendering or -perishing. Elisha had prophesied a deliverance, -and in verses six and seven in the seventh -chapter of II Kings, the fulfillment of -God’s promise is given in this way:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“For the Lord had made the host of the -Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise -of horses, even the noise of a great host: and -they said one to another, Lo, the king of -Israel hath hired against us the kings of the -Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to -come upon us.</p> -<p>“Wherefore, they arose and fled in the twilight, -and left their tents, and their horses, and -their asses, even the camp as it was, and -fled for their life.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Professor Newman found a great deal of -grounds for hilarity in what he called this -“childish narrative.” He says, “The unhistorical -tone is too manifest to allow of our -easy belief in it.” He admits that there may -have been some unusual deliverance of -Samaria, because of collateral records of -dangerous night panics among various hordes -of antiquity. He adds, however, in reference -<span class="pb" id="Page_216">216</span> -to the Bible account, “The particular ground -of alarm attributed to them does not exhibit -the writer’s acquaintance with the times in -a very favorable light. No Hittite kings -can have compared in power with the king -of Judah, the real and near ally, who is not -named at all. Nor is there a single mark -of acquaintance with the facts of contemporaneous -history.”</p> -<p>Two sources of information, however, have -since been derived that flatly refute the -learned Professor and vindicate the accuracy -of the record of God’s Word. The Assyrian -sources show conclusively, upon the examination -of their records, that the Hittites at that -time were the greatest power with which -the monarchs of Chaldea had to deal. In -the records of Assur-Nasir-pal a long and -powerful tribute is paid to the military -might of the Hittites. So in that day they -were still a strong and warlike people. They -were especially dreaded by the armies of -antiquity because of the unique distinction -of their chariots. It is to this fact that the -writer of II Kings refers when he speaks of -“the noise of chariots.”</p> -<p>The walls of Karnak give us a clear and -illuminating description of these ancient -weapons of battle. Each chariot was drawn -by two horses, armored and shod with spikes. -Three warriors rode in each chariot. One -of these handled the reins, while the other -two plied arrow, javelin, sword, and dart, -working untold havoc in the closely packed -ranks of ancient infantry. (See <a href="#pl20">Plate 20</a>.)</p> -<h3 id="pl22">Plate 22</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig36"> -<img src="images/p37.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="908" /> -<p class="pcap">Monuments of Petra, showing extent of the ruins -in one direction</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl23">Plate 23</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig37"> -<img src="images/p38.jpg" alt="" width="723" height="999" /> -<p class="pcap">Looking the opposite way from <a href="#pl22">Plate 22</a></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_217">217</div> -<p>It is also noted that Assur-Nasir-pal has -given a detailed account of the treasures that -he derived from the defeated Hittites. Among -them he lists with great delight “swift -chariots with horses therefor.” Whenever -this monarch won a victory over the Hittites, -he refers again and again to their -chariots. One such reference is seen in this -statement: “The chariots and warlike engines -of the general of Charchemis I laid up in my -magazines.”</p> -<p>We have already noted that Solomon was -engaged in trade with the people called Hittites, -taking chariots and horses in exchange -for his merchandise.</p> -<p>Ramses the Second states that the Hittite -chiefs were distinguished among the nations -“for their swift chariots and horses and their -engines of war.”</p> -<p>It would seem indeed that the writer of -II Kings was better acquainted with the times -of which he wrote than was the later critic -who disdains the authority of the ancient -scribe!</p> -<p>Shalmaneser made five references to the -Hittites, in every one of which he refers to -their chariots. In the monument of Shalmaneser, -which is now found in the British -<span class="pb" id="Page_218">218</span> -Museum, the inscription represents the Hittites -at Charchemish with various of their -allies fighting against Shalmaneser. He -concludes this record by saying, “With them -I fought; their corpses like chaff through the -country I scattered. Multitudes of chariots -and horses trained to the yoke I seized.”</p> -<p>Sargon also tells of his overthrow of the -Hittite kingdom, and mentions the chariots -that were so formidable an aid to their military -campaigns.</p> -<p>It may be noted in passing that Dr. Cheyne, -like the eminent Dr. Sayce, was later converted -to faith in the integrity of the Word -of God. This might be called one of the later -victories of the Hittite empire. Its people -have risen from the dead to fight for the -faith and for the Book which alike were delivered -unto the saints by the Spirit of God. -Some of the later writings of Dr. Cheyne constitute -a frank repudiation of his earlier position. -His lectures and sermons, after his -discovery of the integrity of the Bible, still -linger in the memory of those who were privileged -to hear them.</p> -<p>The summary of the matter presents a complete -victory for the orthodox school. First, -as to the extent of their empire, the Egyptian -and Israelite inscriptions give three hundred -geographical names in connection with the -domain and rule of the Hittites. These cover -almost every section of the ancient civilized -<span class="pb" id="Page_219">219</span> -world. These same inscriptions also present -a long list of the allies and the dependencies -which paid tribute to the Hittite kings. Lists -of the satraps who reigned as vassals to the -Hittites have also been recovered.</p> -<p>Secondly, the Hittite inscriptions themselves -have now yielded their secrets to the -earnest student. The earliest note of Hittite -writings comes from a traveler, who in 1812 -discovered some incised stones and engraved -mounds which were covered with unknown -hieroglyphics. These finds were made at -Hamath, a small city in Syria. In the light -of the archeological interest of our generation -it seems incredible that these inscriptions -were then ignored completely for threescore -years. Then Dr. William Wright, a Protestant -missionary in Damascus, was enabled, by -the authority he wielded through his friendship -with high government officials, to procure -these stones and to remove them. Some -of these relics had been built into the houses -of Hamath and were part of the walls of -occupied domiciles. One at least was so -heavy that it took eight hours for four oxen -to move it one mile. The romance and adventure -of his indomitable pursuit of these -stones is covered in Dr. Wright’s own memoirs -and writings.</p> -<p>At this time, Dr. A. H. Sayce, one of the -greatest archeologists of the nineteenth and -twentieth centuries, began the tedious task -<span class="pb" id="Page_220">220</span> -of deciphering these hieroglyphics. With no -aid, such as the Egyptologists received from -the Rosetta Stone, Dr. Sayce started out on -a cold trail. His ultimate victory constitutes -one of the greatest triumphs of pure reason -in the long record of human endeavor. To -show something of the difficulty that Dr. -Sayce faced, we have portrayed on <a href="#Page_194">page 194</a> -one of these Hittite inscriptions written in the -hieroglyphics of their time. We have also -shown in <a href="#pl21">plate 21</a> the key that was -worked out by Dr. Sayce. Dr. William -Wright, working independently, arrived at -practically the same conclusions.</p> -<p>When these records were publicized as -Hittite inscriptions a storm of protest came -from the critics of the Scripture, who utterly -rejected the findings of both Sayce and -Wright. They attempted to minimize any -historical value that might be derived from -the translation of these inscriptions. Having -built their case against the integrity of the -Bible so strongly upon the error presumed -to be found in the Hittite references, they -could not give up their demonstration without -a struggle.</p> -<p>At this time there came to light a reference -to a silver disk that had previously been -offered to the British Museum. This consisted -of a convex silver plate. It had every -resemblance to the ordinary boss which is -found on the top of the handle of a dagger -<span class="pb" id="Page_221">221</span> -when such instruments are decorated. This -boss, or plate, had in its center a picture of -a warrior standing upright. He was dressed -in the typical garb of a Hittite soldier. Around -this warrior were two rows of hieroglyphics, -one on either side. These hieroglyphics were -enclosed in a circle. Outside the circle was -an inscription in the cuneiform script. When -this boss was offered to the British Museum, -they kept it a while for study and rejected it -on the grounds that it was probably spurious. -Fortunately, however, they had made an electrotype -copy of this article.</p> -<p>When the conclusions of Sayce and Wright -were rejected by the critics, Dr. Sayce heard -of this exhibit. Thinking that it might be -a way to the Hittite inscriptions, he prosecuted -his search for the original. It had disappeared, -but he fortunately recovered the -copy that was in the British Museum. This -copy then became paramount evidence. At -a glance, Dr. Sayce identified the hieroglyphics -as being Hittite in origin. Using -the key that he had worked out for the -translation of the hieroglyphics, he translated -the boss to be the possession of one Tarkondemos. -Having read this in the Hittite hieroglyphics, -he then translated the cuneiform -text and found the two to be identical.</p> -<p>This vindication of the accuracy of this -earlier work won the confidence of the scholarly -world in the Hittite inscriptions. This -<span class="pb" id="Page_222">222</span> -was the deciding voice. The Hittites became -<i>historical</i> to the modern scholar from the records -of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. They -become <i>real</i> to us from their own inscriptions.</p> -<p>Nowhere in all the records of human research -and endeavour is it possible to find -a greater and more complete assembling of -the vindication of the integrity of the Word -of God. Even though the hand of the Almighty -must shake the very foundations of -ancient history, He has sworn that His Word -shall be maintained. Thus He has called -from the limbo of forgotten races an entire -nation in an archeological resurrection, that -they, though dead, may tell their tale of the -credibility of the Word of God.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_225">225</div> -<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER VIII</span> -<br />The Resurrection of Edom</h2> -<p>From the staggering mass of archeological -material and evidence which is at the disposal -of the twentieth century scholar, it is -very difficult to choose the most perfect illustrations -of our theme. If the case of the -Hittites offers a complete refutation of the -critical theories concerning the origin and -veracity of the Old Testament, the resurrection -of Edom is no less dramatic and valuable.</p> -<p>The word “Edom,” together with its various -derivates such as “Edomite,” occurs -more than fourscore times in the text of the -Old Testament. As the history of this region -and its various inhabitants unfolds in the Old -Testament story, there is a complete, remarkable -and stirring record of this land and its -people that covers many centuries of time. -The word Edom first occurs in the twenty-fifth -chapter of Genesis, thirtieth verse:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray -thee, with that same red pottage; for I am -faint: therefore was his name called Edom.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>In this first instance the word appears in -connection with the eldest son of Isaac, whose -<span class="pb" id="Page_226">226</span> -name was changed from Esau to Edom because -of the strange incident of the sale of -his birthright. The pottage that his younger -brother, Jacob, had cooked was made from -a lentil which gave a red hue that was characteristic -of any food in which this particular -lentil was used. So, because Esau exchanged -his priceless rights of inheritance for a pot of -red mush, his name was thereafter called -Edom.</p> -<p>In the thirty-sixth chapter of Genesis, -verses one, eight, and nineteen, this same definite -statement is carried out:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">“Now these are the generations of <i>Esau, who is Edom</i>.”</p> -<p class="t0">“Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: <i>Esau is Edom</i>.”</p> -<p class="t0">“These are the sons of <i>Esau, who is Edom</i>, and these are their dukes.”</p> -</div> -<p>Here we read that the dwelling place of Esau -and his people was in mount Seir, and that -Esau is Edom. Hence the name of Edom -was also applied to the people who descended -from Esau, as well as to the country wherein -they dwelt.</p> -<p>This region of the ancient world was also -known as mount Seir. It was so named because -of the progenitor of the Horites who -originally dwelt in that section. We are told -that this people derived their name from -Hori, who was the son of Seir. This ancient -<span class="pb" id="Page_227">227</span> -people habitually dwelt in caves. Therefore, -by transition, their name came to mean -cave dwellers, as it was descriptive of their -type of habitation.</p> -<p>If one should journey from Jerusalem to -the center of Edom today, the most convenient -route would lie through the modern -city of Amman, which is at the present writing -the seat of government of Iraq. On the -outskirts of this city, and all through this -region, the limestone caves are today occupied -by families of people. They, with their -folks, their horses and cattle, and all of their -possessions, dwell in these ancestral caves -in contentment as their fathers have always -done before them. These caves are furnished -as our modern homes are equipped, with -rugs, tapestries, and all the treasures that -go to make a human habitation into a home!</p> -<p>To summarize the Old Testament record -of Edom and Edomites, we must begin by -noting that although Esau <i>sold</i> his birthright, -his brother Jacob actually <i>stole</i> the blessing. -We are all familiar with this fascinating -drama of the deception wrought by Jacob at -his mother’s insistence, when he impersonated -his brother to deceive his dying father. -This account constitutes one of the implacably -honest records characteristic of the Bible. -No other book known to man is so frank -in the delineation of the weaknesses of its -leading characters, as God can deal honestly -<span class="pb" id="Page_228">228</span> -with sin and failure, since He knows how to -overrule such, and effect a cure! When Esau -learned that the blessing of his father had -been stolen by his younger brother, he took -a solemn oath that as soon as the days of -mourning for his father were ended, he would -slay Jacob, the deceiver. His vengeance was -frustrated, however, as Isaac and Rebekah -sent Jacob to Padan-aram. Here Jacob met -a shrewd bargainer more ruthless than himself; -and dwelt in Padan-aram for twenty -years, during which he prospered enormously.</p> -<p>On his way home from his long sojourn, -the account tells how he met Esau. Two -chapters of Genesis, namely, the thirty-second -and the thirty-third, are occupied with -this dramatic and human document. Still -burdened by the guilt of his dishonest conduct -in the matter of the blessing, and perhaps -feeling also that he had been less than -honorable in buying the birthright, Jacob -prepared an enticing bribe to soften the -wrath of Esau. Word had been brought to -him that Esau was coming to meet him with -four hundred retainers, and Jacob believed -that the hour of reckoning had come. The -score of years, however, had softened the -wrath of Esau, and he greeted his younger -brother with love and affection. Refusing -to accept any bribe or present at his hand, -he made him welcome to his possession. The -<span class="pb" id="Page_229">229</span> -record distinctly states that at that time Esau -was dwelling in Seir.</p> -<p>It is evident that he must have prospered -there, as the genealogical tables in the thirty-sixth -chapter of Genesis list his progeny. -All of his grandsons appear in the record as -dukes. Verses one, eight and nine of this -chapter identify the Edomites as descendants -of Esau. They further identify the land of -their dwelling with the ancient site of Seir. -To clarify this point, we here reproduce these -three verses:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">“Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.”</p> -<p class="t0">“Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.”</p> -<p class="t0">“And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir.”</p> -</div> -<p>Verse twenty begins the list of the previous -inhabitants of Seir, who are called the Horites. -These people are listed in Genesis 14:6 -as among the races that were smitten by -Chedorlaomer in the days of Abraham in the -notable Battle of the Kings. It seems evident, -then, that Esau was powerful enough to overcome -the Horites and to impose his dominion -upon them. The two companies intermarried -and became the Edomites of the later record.</p> -<p>The next important point in their development -is introduced in the twentieth chapter -of Numbers. As the children of Israel were -<span class="pb" id="Page_230">230</span> -making their notable journey from Egypt to -the land of Canaan, Moses sent a courteous -request to the king of Edom asking permission -to make a peaceful passage across that -land. The salutation of Moses was brotherly -and affectionate. He reminded the king of -Edom that Israel and the Edomites were -brethren. He asserted his peaceful purpose, -and gave a pledge not to harm the fields or -the crops with the passage of his flocks.</p> -<p>The king of Edom summarily refused this -courteous request in the most graceless manner. -He threatened the company of Israel -and forbade them to pass over his domain. -The answer of Moses was a renewal of the -request for peaceful passage. This time, -Moses stated that they would stay to the -high and rocky way where no harm could -come to the land from their herds. He even -covenanted to pay for such water as the -flocks might drink. The result was a renewal -of the threat to oppose the passage -with the edge of the sword. Consequently -the people of Israel were forced to make a -circuit of Edom, and they passed around its -border by way of mount Hor.</p> -<p>From this time on, there was implacable -enmity between the two great branches of -these Semitic people. The subsequent history -is a constant record of battle and hatred -on both sides.</p> -<p>Saul fought against them in the days of his -<span class="pb" id="Page_231">231</span> -might, and records with delight his various -successes against them.</p> -<p>When David occupied the throne warfare -was renewed. So great a nuisance did the -Edomites prove to the people of Israel in -David’s day, that this great warrior king -finally directed a complete campaign against -them. In the notable battle that was fought -in the salt valley, he slew eighteen thousand -of the Edomite army and pressed on to capture -their cities. In their conquered strongholds, -he placed capable garrisons. Under -Joab these garrisons patrolled the land for -more than six months. At this time Benhadad, -to whom we shall again refer, escaped -to Egypt to become a later source of distress -to Israel.</p> -<p>In all of their history, the Edomites were -consistently allied against Israel. They -never missed a chance to vex their kinsmen. -No matter who the enemy of Israel might be, -the Edomites hastened to form an alliance -with that foe and gladly accepted the occasion -to battle against Israel. This bad blood -that existed between these races, who should -have been allied by the ties of consanguinity, -resulted in the prophecies that foretold the -final overthrow of Edom and the destruction -of the people. Such a prophecy is written -in Jeremiah 49, verses seventeen and twenty:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one -that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall -<span class="pb" id="Page_232">232</span> -hiss at all the plagues thereof.”</p> -<p>“Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord, that -he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes -that he hath taken against Edom; and his -purposes that he hath purposed against the -inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of -the flock shall draw them out; surely he shall -make their habitations desolate with them.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>When Nebuchadnezzar finally took the -people of Israel away into their great captivity, -the Edomites rejoiced without restraint. -Their happiness was utterly unbounded -and they celebrated with every -means at their disposal. They overran the -southern regions of Judah and took much -of that land for themselves during the days -of the captivity.</p> -<p>Jeremiah, in the Book of Lamentations, -reproves their unnatural jubilation and -warns Edom that the same fate that overtook -Israel will come upon them.</p> -<p>So also the prophet Ezekiel speaks from -his refuge and warns Edom. In the twenty-fifth -chapter of Ezekiel, we read in verses -twelve to fourteen, this following warning:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Edom -hath dealt against the house of Judah by -taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, -and revenged himself upon them;</p> -<p>“Therefore thus saith the Lord God; I will -also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and -will cut off man and beast from it; and I will -<span class="pb" id="Page_233">233</span> -make it desolate from Teman; and they of -Dedan shall fall by the sword.</p> -<p>“And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by -the hand of my people Israel: and they shall -do in Edom according to mine anger and according -to my fury; and they shall know my -vengeance, saith the Lord God.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Joel adds his voice in a characteristic reference -such as we find in the third chapter -and nineteenth verse of his prophecy:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall -be a desolate wilderness, for the violence -against the children of Judah, because they -have shed innocent blood in their land.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>So also Amos, in chapter one and verse -eleven utters this fateful sentence:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Thus saith the Lord: For three transgressions -of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away -the punishment thereof; because he did pursue -his brother with the sword, and did cast -off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, -and he kept his wrath forever.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Thus the prophet is moved of God to list -the continued transgressions of Edom, and -the consequent and subsequent judgment.</p> -<p>So literally were these words of the prophets -fulfilled that Edom was not only overthrown -and its people vanquished, but for a -great deal more than a thousand years the -very name of their city and people dropped -out of the memory of men. Here is one -<span class="pb" id="Page_234">234</span> -more case where a great people catastrophically -disappeared from the stage of history, -leaving no secular record of the part that -they had played in the drama of human life.</p> -<p>Needless to say, this was the critics’ <i>great</i> -occasion! With a vociferous unanimity they -argued and wrote that there had been no -city called Edom, and no people called Edomites. -Since the word “Edom” literally means -“red,” the critics erected a fanciful demonstration -purporting to show that the Edomites -would be any people with a red complexion. -According to their fanciful theory, -any race or group of people whose skin or -hair was red would be poetically called -Edomites.</p> -<p>When the defenders of the text pointed to -the denunciations in the prophets, the critics -laughed them out of the picture. These utterances -were listed as pure, poetic fancy and -figurative diatribes. The critics pointed out -that all such outbursts were found <i>in the -prophecies</i>! As a stated principle of higher -criticism, all prophecies are repudiated. They -are held to be purely fanciful, and any fulfillment -is entirely coincidental. This attitude -is the proper one for criticism to assume. -The supernatural fulfillment of prophecy is -one of the strongest evidences of the Divine -origin of the Scriptures. Such demonstrations -cannot be reconciled with the critical -basis of humanism. Therefore, it is only logical -<span class="pb" id="Page_235">235</span> -that it be ignored or denied in a critical -approach to the text.</p> -<p>The enemies of orthodoxy had one strong -argument that in the early day seemed to -be unanswerable. Their constant cry was -“Where is Edom?” Admittedly, this was a -question that the orthodox believer could not -answer. The city had disappeared, the people -were forgotten, and no relic nor remnant -of this race remained. It was not until the -nineteenth century of the Christian era that -the resurrection of Edom began.</p> -<p>The first and earliest archeological reference -to Edom which was discovered, was a -statement from the record of Ramses the -Third, who proudly boasted that in his great -campaign he smote the people of Seir. The -next discovery came when the record of Tiglath-pileser -was read. In his story he told -of the campaign against Rezin, king of Syria. -He recounted that among other vassals who -yielded to his yoke, he received homage from -Quaus-Malaka of Edom. This Rezin, with -whom we shall later deal in Tiglath-pileser’s -voluminous records, is the king of Syria who -is warned in the seventh chapter of Isaiah as -allied with Israel against Judah.</p> -<p>Following this, we have the monument of -Esar-haddon. He also tells how among his -Assyrian conquests he overthrew the Edomites -and forced their king to render homage -<span class="pb" id="Page_236">236</span> -and allegiance to his power. Again, the records -of Nebuchadnezzar tell us that in his -final battle with Judah, the Edomites were -among his allied forces.</p> -<p>Gradually, as this people began to rise -from the silence and obscurity of forgotten -antiquity, something of their customs and -beliefs began to be recovered. At least three -of their deities are known today. These are -Hadad, Quaus and Kozé. About 300 B. C., -Edom fell into the hands of a people who -were called the Nabataeans. Their inscription -claims that they captured Edom, exterminated -its then numerous population and -occupied its capital, <i>which was Petra</i>.</p> -<p>Here, then, is the final vindication of the -text of Scripture. This city, Petra, is variously -mentioned in the Old Testament text -as the center of Edomite dominion. It is -sometimes called “Sela” in the historical and -prophetical references, and twice is referred -to by the name of “Rock.” Obadiah calls -the city “the rock,” the Greek form of which -would be “<i>he Petra</i>.” It is thus evident that -it was known peculiarly for its structure. -This fact appeared to be of no significance -until archeology had brought it to the prominence -of our present comprehension. The -issue of the National Geographic Magazine -for May, 1907, made Petra so well known -to the English speaking world that there remains -little to be said of an historical nature -<span class="pb" id="Page_237">237</span> -to establish the actuality and certainty of -this great discovery.</p> -<p>With the collapse of the Roman empire, -Petra disappeared from the knowledge of -mankind and became shrouded in mystery -and darkness. It began to emerge into the -light again when a young Swiss traveler first -visited its site in 1812. The record of his -discovery was not published, however, until -ten years later.</p> -<p>The next notice of the site of Petra was -taken when two British naval officers visited -the splendid remains in 1818, and published -their observations seven years later. After -this it became the custom for adventurous -travelers to take a brief look at the stupendous -beauty of this forgotten city and make -some passing mention. The real exploration -of Petra, however, began some thirty years -ago when certain German scholars made a -scientific investigation of the site. The results -of their labors were printed only in -German, and filled a surprising number of -lengthy volumes. A large literature on Petra -is now in the possession of the English speaking -world, but surprisingly little of a definite -nature is known about its earlier inhabitants.</p> -<p>The monuments of Petra, which we here -illustrate in plates numbered <a href="#pl22">Plate 22</a> and <a href="#pl23">Plate 23</a>, -were not built by the later inhabitants, who -were called Nabataeans. These monumental -structures were carved out of the living rock. -<span class="pb" id="Page_238">238</span> -Some of them were temples, and others were -tombs. To illustrate the extent of these -works, we may note that the great open-air -theatre at Petra would comfortably seat a -crowd of three thousand spectators.</p> -<p>Just a word of explanation is necessary -before we proceed to the application of this -discovery. Petra, the capital of Edom and -the principal city of the Edomites, is found -in the most rugged region of that part of -the earth. The land is thrown up into abrupt -ranges, which are deeply incised with canyons -and gorges until they form one of the -wildest and most entrancing geographical -spectacles to be seen in the Eastern world. -In some regions the underlying structure is -limestone. The walls of the canyon, however, -are largely porphyry and sandstone. -The sandstone is brilliantly colored with hues -which run from brown through red, to a -definite purple. Some of the strata, grotesquely -twisted and torn and laid bare by -erosion, are among the loveliest and most -entrancing geological studies in that region.</p> -<p>In approaching the site of Petra, it is necessary -to journey up a narrow canyon called -in the Arabic, a siq. This approach is so -narrow that almost all of the way it is -scarcely possible for two horsemen to ride -abreast. This might have been an important -factor in deciding the site of the city in antiquity. -A dozen men could have successfully -<span class="pb" id="Page_239">239</span> -defended the approaches to Petra -against an entire army of invaders.</p> -<p><a href="#pl24">Plate 24</a> will give some conception -of the ruggedness of the country and -the difficulty of approach. In place of a -truck, such as would have been used in flat -country, we have the familiar donkey carrying -the camera and supplies. This resting -place is in one of the wider sections of the -canyon. <a href="#pl25">Plate 25</a> is the first -glimpse of one of the amazing monuments of -Petra. This great structure bears the Arabic -name of El Khazne. A full view of this -temple is given in <a href="#pl26">plate 26</a>.</p> -<p>Petra was not built after the fashion in -which cities are constructed today. Every -structure was hewn out of the living sandstone. -The city has been called “The Rose -Red City, half as old as time,” and this description -is perfect. When the sunlight -strikes the ruins of Petra, it is as red as blood. -Edom, indeed, and Edomites, might well be -applied by the ancients to the color and -beauty of this old site, as well as to its inhabitants! -In <a href="#pl27">plate 27</a> we have -illustrated this manner of carving a dwelling -from the living stone in the great structure -which the Arabians call El Deir. (See <a href="#pl28">Plate 28</a>.) -Observing this photograph, you will -note that the rock wall has been hewn away -into the shape of columns, pillars, and decorated -facade in the similitude of a building -<span class="pb" id="Page_240">240</span> -that has been put together by the orthodox -style of masonry. Such, however, is not the -case. <a href="#pl29">Plate 29</a> shows some of the -detail of one of these notable monuments. It -will be observed that the workers began from -the top and carved their way down. In the -upper left corner of the picture a series of -holes will be seen. These were chiseled for -the foothold of the workers who started the -process.</p> -<p>Their manner of labor was unique. The -architect laid out the size, shape, and site of -the building, and the workmen began to cut -away the stone about the top of their designated -area until they had a recessed trough -some ten feet deep into the face of the cliff, -on the top and both sides. Then, beginning -with the top of the structure, they carved that -slab in the similitude of a building. As they -worked their way down, they shaped the -pillars, carved these brilliant decorations and -recessed the cliff on both sides to make their -monuments stand forth. <a href="#pl28">Plate 28</a> -shows the result of this type of labor, looking -from the bottom upward. Reaching the bottom -of their carved columns, these artisans -would then chisel away between and behind -the posts that they had formed of the face -of the cliff until they had a great square -entry way. The face of this entry way would -be further beautified by carving the semblance -of a doorway. A short tunnel would -then be run back into the cliff to serve as a -hall, and rooms hollowed out on the inside -into a series of apartments or caves. “Cave-dwellers,” -indeed, is the proper name for -these people!</p> -<h3 id="pl24">Plate 24</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig38"> -<img src="images/p39.jpg" alt="" width="595" height="999" /> -<p class="pcap">The rough approach to Petra (Photo by Matson)</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl25">Plate 25</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig39"> -<img src="images/p40.jpg" alt="" width="599" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Approaching Petra by way of the main siq the -first sight of the ruins</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_241">241</div> -<p>The extent of their operations may be -dimly understood from plates numbered <a href="#pl22">plate 22</a> -and <a href="#pl23">plate 23</a>. Some of these tombs that are -here depicted, were never finished. A few -of them have suffered from the ravages of -time, but the general state of preservation -of these priceless monuments of Petra is -fascinating. In <a href="#pl30">plate 30</a> we have -depicted the approach to the garden tomb. -By the side of this tomb there is the ascent -to the “high place” for the sacrifices of their -idolatrous religion. In <a href="#pl31">plate 31</a> -we have shown the altar and the “high place.”</p> -<p>These high places of antiquity should be -the subject for a volume in themselves. They -are mentioned one hundred two times in the -Old Testament. Being the altars of heathen -sacrifices, they were the subject of constant -denunciation on the part of the Lord God and -were a source of trouble and distress to -Israel during all her periods of apostasy. The -<i>groves</i> to which the prophets refer and which -the godly kings cut down, were the places -where Ashtoreth was worshipped. Very few -systems of degenerate religion in antiquity -were more lecherous and vile than the cult -of this unclean goddess. The high places, -<span class="pb" id="Page_242">242</span> -however, were the altars where sacrifice was -made to the gods of the heathen nations. As -these sacrifices were very often human, and -as it was not uncommon for the ancients to -dedicate their children to the fierce and -abominable worship of their false religion, -the people of Israel were sternly forbidden -to have any contact with such idolatrous -practices. So when godly kings occupied -the throne, they destroyed the “high places.” -In a time of apostasy the high places were -builded and dedicated again. Some of the -most stirring denunciations of the prophetic -sections of the Old Testament are in the -words that God directs against the high places -of Israel and in the announcing of His final -and complete victory over them.</p> -<p>This high place shown in <a href="#pl31">plate 31</a> -is characteristic, then, of the ancient -custom. It shows that the Hittites had forsaken -whatever knowledge they may have -derived from their earlier Hebrew origin and -were wholly dedicated to the practices of -idolatry. Incidentally, the worship of God -is still practiced by Israel, but the “high -places” of Edom and all other heathen centers -are merely curiosities today!</p> -<p>As far as artistry and ability are concerned, -antiquity knew no greater or more -capable people. The monument that they -have left to mark their mysterious disappearance -<span class="pb" id="Page_243">243</span> -is a lasting testimony to their culture -and power.</p> -<p>But more than that, it is a living, resurrected -testimony to the truth and credibility -of the Word of God!</p> -<p>There is no scene of desolation and ruin -that amazes the spirit of man as much as -the desolation of Edom. Forsaken of human -occupants, the wonderful Rose Red City is -today a curiosity to be viewed by the hardy -adventurer who would study the antiquities -of the Eastern world.</p> -<p>Just what hands constructed these noble -temples and tombs it is not at this time possible -to say. The Nabataeans were incapable -of producing this kind of work, nor would -they have invested the time. The bodies -of the departed were spread upon the field -as fertilizer or buried in the most indescribably -filthy pits of their day and time. The -Semitic peoples who preceded them, however, -have left this record in stone as a testimony -to their reverence for the dead. What -the future will yield in the hoped-for excavations -of Petra, no one is able to say. If, -however, a spade is never sunk into soil and -no more appears to the gaze of man than is -seen by the casual traveler today, we have -sufficient to call forth a doxology from the -hearts of those who love and reverence the -Word of God. We cannot refrain from commenting -again and again upon the marvelous -<span class="pb" id="Page_244">244</span> -manner in which the Author of this Great -Book has cared for His own case.</p> -<p>The consternation and defeat of the critics -have been complete in this instance. What -a quaint conceit it is in our generation to -note that God is so firm in His promised defense -of His Book, that He will move to crush -the enemies of the Word even if it is necessary -to smite their fallacious fancy with a -carved mountain of stone!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_247">247</div> -<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER IX</span> -<br />The Brazen Shields of Rehoboam</h2> -<p>In the logical presentation of this subject, -we now come to that period of history in -which the pharaohs, who are named by name -in the Scriptures and are thus identified -beyond question, make their contribution to -the evidence which sustains the record of -the Bible.</p> -<p>Laying aside controversial discussions as -to the identity of the various pharaohs who -preceded, we note that the first of Egypt’s -many monarchs to appear under his personal -name in the Word of God is Shishak the 1st. -His name appears on the monuments of Egypt -as Shashanq the 1st, but his own records -identify him as the “Shishak” of I Kings 14, -and II Chronicles 12. The outstanding accomplishments -of his entire reign seem to -have been the invasion of Palestine and the -capture of Jerusalem. In the account which -this monarch left in the priceless writings -at Karnak, the most noteworthy is the story -told on the second pylon of the main temple, -where the conqueror has given a list of all -the towns and villages which he overthrew -in Palestine. To this he added a record of -<span class="pb" id="Page_248">248</span> -the gold and silver ornaments that he carried -away from Jerusalem. He specifically -noted the bucklers and shields of Solomon -and also the golden quivers which Solomon’s -father had captured from the king of Zobah.</p> -<p>Once again we listen to some collateral -gossip from far antiquity to see the background -of this strange invasion of Jerusalem. -Weaving together records of forgotten campaigns, -homely events of family affairs, the -conduct of pragmatic generations, the history -preserved in the books of the Old Testament, -together with the voices of monuments and -ruins, we gradually achieve a basis of understanding. -The Pharaoh Siamen, whose capital -was at Zoan, appears to have been an -ally of Edom. In the days when secular -historical records begin to coincide with the -record of the text, Edom was ruled by a regent. -King Hadad was a lad of tender years, -and though he nominally was vested with -the crown, his able and powerful mother -ruled in his name. The queen regent, incidentally, -was an aunt of Solomon. Holding -that thought in temporary abeyance, -we will continue to investigate this quaint -family alliance. David and Jonathan made a -successful assault upon Edom, which resulted -in the capture of the city. Such rights and -powers as a conquering monarch has always -abrogated to himself, then devolved upon -David in respect to Edom. When it became -apparent that the city would fall, the queen -regent took her young son and fled to Egypt -for safety. In view of the fact that Edom -and Egypt were at that time allies, the royal -party was well received and, with the prodigal -hospitality of that day, became guests at -the court for the balance of their lives.</p> -<h3 id="pl26">Plate 26</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig40"> -<img src="images/p41.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="737" /> -<p class="pcap">“El Kahzne” (The Temple of the Urn)</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl27">Plate 27</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig41"> -<img src="images/p42.jpg" alt="" width="684" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Showing the manner in which these buildings -are carved from the living stone</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_249">249</div> -<p>In the course of the passing years, Siamen -was gathered to his fathers, and Psabekhanu -the 2nd reigned in his stead. The wise mother -of Hadad, knowing that alliances do not always -outlast the persons who made them -and, desiring to protect Hadad’s interests in -the country that they had lost by force of -arms, entered into a typical and common intrigue. -She brought about the marriage of -her son, Hadad, with a sister of Psabekhanu. -Thus, Hadad became the brother-in-law of -the reigning monarch of Egypt and, presumably, -strengthened the ties that bound the -Egyptian power to the interests of his small -country.</p> -<p>In the meantime, Solomon, who had succeeded -his father, moved to protect his inherited -claim on Edom. This he did by -marrying the daughter of Psabekhanu. It is -presumed that the relationship of a son-in-law -might be a stronger claim for alliance -than that of a brother-in-law. Some short -while later the second daughter of Psabekhanu -married the Prince Shishak. Thus Solomon -and the heir-apparent of the throne -<span class="pb" id="Page_250">250</span> -of Egypt, Shishak, became brothers-in-law. -By marriage, however, the queen of Edom -was their aunt. At a glance the student can -see that affairs were a bit messy, to say the -very least. Hadad maintained his rights to -Edom and conducted at the Egyptian court -an intrigue for his restoration. The desires -of Pharaoh were divided between his natural -wish to keep the peace and his interest in -the importunities of his brother-in-law, as -weighed against the desires of his son-in-law. -Through this tangled scheme of alliances it -came about that Solomon’s son would have -some legal rights of succession in Egypt. But -Shishak’s son would have the same claim -to succession in Palestine. Solomon, being -much older than Shishak, died first. The -story which now follows is recorded in the -Word of God, and on the pillars of antiquity, -for, shortly after the death of Solomon, Shishak -invaded Judah.</p> -<p>The “why” of the matter is easily understood. -The first reason was loot. The brief -account that is given in I Kings 14:25-28 is -here appended to introduce our consideration -of this event:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“And it came to pass in the fifth year of king -Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came -up against Jerusalem: And he took away -the treasures of the house of the Lord, and -the treasures of the king’s house; he even -took away all: and he took away all the shields -of gold which Solomon had made.</p> -</blockquote> -<blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_251">251</div> -<p>“And King Rehoboam made in their stead -brazen shields, and committed them unto the -hands of the chief of the guard, which kept -the door of the king’s house.</p> -<p>“And it was so, when the king went into the -house of the Lord, that the guard bare them, -and brought them back into the guard chamber.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>In that record it is noted that among the -treasures of the house of the Lord which -Shishak carried away, were the shields of -gold which Solomon had made. For a description -of these shields and some conception -of their value, we turn to the tenth chapter -of I Kings, verses fourteen to seventeen:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon -in one year was six hundred threescore -and six talents of gold,</p> -<p>“Besides that he had of the merchantmen, -and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and -of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors -of the country.</p> -<p>“And king Solomon made two hundred targets -of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of -gold went to one target.</p> -<p>“And he made three hundred shields of beaten -gold; three pounds of gold went to one -shield: and the king put them in the house -of the forest of Lebanon.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The wealth of Solomon has never been -adequately computed. It is stated that from -the tomb of Tutanhkamen, in the most -famous excavation of our generation, treasure -<span class="pb" id="Page_252">252</span> -to the value of $14,000,000 was recovered. -The splendor and wealth of that pharaoh -were insignificant compared to that of Solomon, -the Magnificent. We see, for instance, -in this fourteenth verse that Solomon’s income -in gold bullion alone was almost the -exact equivalent of $20,000,000 in our day -and time. We must understand, however, -that there was a vast difference between the -values of the money standards of that time -and of our own. The ratio would be about -15 to 1. For instance, a silver shekel would -buy a cow; a half-shekel would buy an ass. -If we evaluate their currency by purchasing -power, it would take fifteen of our dollars -to equal one of theirs. So the sum of gold, -which is the equivalent of $20,000,000 by -our former gold standard measurement, gives -a conception of the annual income of Solomon, -only if it is transmuted to our present ratio of -purchasing power. This figure does not include -all the tariff and income from taxes, -the profit on his merchandising and the tribute -in gifts of vassal nations. He was in the -fortunate circumstance of paying income tax -to himself so that his income remained undiminished! -The gold of Solomon was -hoarded for a unique and peculiar purpose.</p> -<p>When David desired to build a house for -the worship of God, his offer was rejected -on the ground that he was a man of blood. -However, the Lord said that his son should -<span class="pb" id="Page_253">253</span> -build the house of prayer, and David began -the hoarding of gold for the erection and -beautification of that temple. The estimates -of the amount of gold that went into that -temple go as high as two and one-half billions -of dollars. It is not too much to say -that no building ever erected by the hands -of man could excel the beauty, the artistic -perfection, the splendor, and the intrinsic -value of the temple that Solomon built.</p> -<p>In the Scriptural citation in I Kings, we -have just read of the two hundred targets or -bucklers of beaten gold. Also, there are -catalogued the three hundred shields of -beaten gold; three pounds of gold went into -the construction of each shield. At the present -rate of gold values, that would mean that -each of these shields was worth $1680.00. -There was considerably over a half million -dollars of pure gold hammered into those -shields. This glittering and entrancing -treasure intrigued the greed of every conqueror -of antiquity, but no man was able to -take it from the House of God while His protection -and care were upon it. It is not to -be wondered that Shishak considered the -capture of that treasure as the highest -achievement of his reign.</p> -<p>The second reason for Shishak’s invasion, -however, was mainly political. After the -death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided. -Rehoboam, possessing the Southern kingdom, -<span class="pb" id="Page_254">254</span> -was a weakling who was, moreover, under -the influence of vicious, untrustworthy counselors. -Perhaps his tendency towards idolatry -may be traced to his mother who was -an Ammonite and whose influence, undoubtedly, -turned him away from monotheism. -At any rate, Bel, Ashtoreth, Moloch and Baal -were worshipped throughout the land on -every high hill and under many green trees. -The most unclean practices were indulged -in by the people until the judgment of God -necessarily descended upon them. Shishak’s -chief concern was not over the idolatry of -the people, however, but over the effect of -their dereliction upon the development of -the kingdom. In order to protect his possible -rights of succession in Palestine, he moved to -make Rehoboam a vassal, and brought him -under the yoke of bondage, making him a -governor for Egypt.</p> -<p>A more comprehensive account of this invasion -is given in the twelfth chapter of -II Chronicles. A great many people have -raised the question as to why we have the -duplication of the record in the books of -Kings and Chronicles in the Scripture. It -has been argued that the same stories told -again in Chronicles are a senseless and useless -repetition of the record already written -in Kings. This specific instance is perhaps -as fine an answer to that objection as can be -found. It might be said that the Books of -<span class="pb" id="Page_255">255</span> -Kings recount the <i>deeds</i> of men and the Books -of Chronicles deal largely with their <i>motives</i>. -The Books of the Kings record history as -enacted by man, while the records of Chronicles -give God’s side of the story and tell the -“why” of things that would otherwise be -mysterious.</p> -<p>For instance, the twelfth chapter of II -Chronicles begins, “And it came to pass when -Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and -had strengthened himself, he forsook the law -of the Lord, and all Israel with him.” Here -is a bleak, unvarnished record of apostasy. -The price of a man in his own position and -standing has led him to debauch a nation -spiritually and morally. Therefore, the second -verse follows as a natural consequence: -“And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of -king Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came -up against Jerusalem, <i>because they had transgressed -against the Lord</i>.” Here is an illuminating -comment upon the motives and principles -that underlie this record. It is a foreshadowing -of the first chapter of Romans. -When men give up God and deny Him a place -in their culture and practices, it is inevitable -that God will give them up to the consequences -of their vile conduct. In this case -it was Shishak who brought judgment upon -Jerusalem. His twelve hundred chariots and -sixty thousand cavalrymen were supported -by so many infantry that the number was -<span class="pb" id="Page_256">256</span> -never totaled. They are called “innumerable,” -which is a simple way of saying that -the number was too vast to take time counting -them.</p> -<p>We are then told that when Shishak had -captured all the outlying cities of Judah and -was on his way to Jerusalem, the prophet -Shemaiah frankly told King Rehoboam that -his trouble had come upon him because of -his apostasy. In blunt words he delivered -this graphic warning: “Thus saith the Lord, -Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I -also left you in the hand of Shishak.” When -this message was so courageously delivered, -the princes of Israel and the godless counselors -of the apostate king together prostrated -themselves before the Lord and acknowledged -that His judgment was just and His decision -was righteous. The record continues -with the fact that when the Lord saw that -they had repented, He promised to save the -humbled court and the threatened city. But -with the promise of deliverance from destruction -there came also the grim edict that -in order that they might learn the difference -between serving God and being under the -bondage of a heathen culture, they should -be subject to Shishak and serve him.</p> -<p>Thus in Chronicles we do have the account -repeated that was given to us in the record -of the Kings, but with additional details that -illumine and clarify the record. Shishak -swept the land bare of precious metals and -took away the treasures of the temple as well. -Not only did he leave the king and the court -destitute of their priceless ornaments, but -he carried away also the shields of gold which -Solomon had made.</p> -<h3 id="pl28">Plate 28</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig42"> -<img src="images/p43.jpg" alt="" width="672" height="1000" /> -<p class="pcap">Note how top of building seems to erupt from the hill</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl29">Plate 29</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig43"> -<img src="images/p44.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="894" /> -<p class="pcap">Compare size of men in the doorway of “El Deir”</p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_257">257</div> -<p>We now enter into a consideration of one -of the most tragic and humiliating spectacles -in all antiquity. When the penitent and restored -king saw the effects of his apostasy, -he called the people back to the practice of -their earlier faith and himself came daily to -the house of the Lord for the exercise of -prayer. But as the humbled monarch knelt -in prayer, he could not keep his eyes off the -vacant walls. Where the five hundred golden -objects had once hung, testifying to the -wealth of that house and the greatness of his -father, there was nothing but the bare wall. -It must be remembered that those golden -ornaments had not belonged to him. They -had been hung in their places to praise and -glorify God by his greater ancestor. Therefore, -when an enemy came and stole them -away, it was a constant and mute reproach -to him because of his own failure to live up -to the standards and greatness of a preceding -generation.</p> -<p>The troubled king gave orders that the -targets and shields should be replaced with -copies of what had been lost. There was, -however, neither gold nor silver in the land, -<span class="pb" id="Page_258">258</span> -for Shishak had made a clean sweep of all -that was valuable. Thus, having lost the -reality of their treasure, the best they could -do was to make a cheap similitude in brass.</p> -<p>Needless to say, brass is a pitiful substitute -for the precious metal which we call gold. -If it is kept in a shining condition, at first -glance brass may have some resemblance -to the nobler metal, but it quickly tarnishes -and its glitter fades. For this reason, the -targets and shields of brass were stored in -the house of the guard. At the hour when -the king came to the temple to pray, the -guard polished these ridiculous substitutes -and hung them in their places so that the king -might delude himself by the glitter and shine, -and thus have some balm for his troubled -spirit. There is, of course, an element of -humour in this tragic record!</p> -<p>The moral lessons are almost innumerable -and would provide a minister with sermon -material for days on end. We are faced with -a somewhat similar situation in Christendom -today. Upon the walls of the House of Faith, -our believing fathers hung the golden shields -that constitute the doctrines of Christianity. -The brilliant glory of those foundational -treasures was never threatened as long as -the church was true to God. But we in our -generation, alas, have allowed an enemy to -come in and rob us of many of those golden -shields.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_259">259</div> -<p>We cannot over-emphasize the fact that it -is always an enemy who seeks thus to despoil -the House of our Faith. Though he may come -in the guise of a friend, or even of a relative, -as in the case of Shishak, the man who robs -us of our golden shields is an enemy at heart -and in purpose.</p> -<p>May we illustrate this suggestion by saying, -for instance, that our fathers believed in -the golden fact of the deity of Jesus Christ. -They held as a basic fact of Christianity that -in the person of our Saviour, Almighty God -was incarnated to be the Redeemer of mankind. -Satan, in the person of many of his -charming and well-mannered cohorts, has -stolen that shield from many a temple of -prayer. Men speak now of the “divinity” of -Jesus instead of the “deity.” Having established -this premise, they then continue with -the statement that we are <i>all</i> divine and have -this same spark of divinity within our spirits, -to a greater or lesser extent. When the -golden shield of the deity of Christ disappeared -from the walls of many churches that -had once been Christian, the worshippers -made a beautiful substitute with the brazen -replica of Unitarianism. The tarnished brass -of that un-Christian doctrine is a miserable -substitute indeed for the blessed assurance -that is resident in the fact of the deity of -the Saviour.</p> -<p>Our fathers believed also in the virgin -<span class="pb" id="Page_260">260</span> -birth of the Son of God. They accepted literally -the record that Almighty God himself -had given of the incarnation of His Son. -Our fathers believed that the body of Jesus -was formed in the womb of a virgin woman -because of the direct visitation of the Holy -Ghost. Thus, the birth of Jesus Christ was -a biological miracle, and He owed even His -earth origin to His <i>heavenly</i> Father alone! -This foundational fact of the Christian revelation -has disappeared from the walls and the -worship of many a once-Christian gathering. -In the place of that golden fact there is the -ghastly and brazen substitute of an illegitimate -child, who was probably the fruit of -a woman’s sin! And then men wonder that -the old-time power and greatness of the -Christian faith seem lacking in much of our -land today!</p> -<p>In like manner, the golden shield of redemption -through the shed blood of Calvary -has been exchanged for the brazen substitute -of a “Perfect Example.” The physical resurrection -of Jesus Christ has been bartered for -a misty idea of some sort of a spiritual resurrection -that has no bearing upon the facts -of the record that God has given to man. -Shield by shield, and buckler by buckler, the -things that were given to us for our defense, -gleaming with the intrinsic value of a supernatural -revelation, have been stolen away by -the enemy. The humanistic substitutes that -<span class="pb" id="Page_261">261</span> -have replaced them have left us at the mercy -of the enemy who would destroy our souls.</p> -<p>But great as are the moral lessons involved -in this record, its apologetical value is incalculably -greater. It has been the custom -in our day to question the historical accuracy -of much of the record of the Scripture. So -it is with considerable interest that we turn -back to ancient Egypt to see what can be -learned from the external sources of pure -archeology concerning these sections of the -Old Testament.</p> -<p>The visitor to the British Museum may -come away well acquainted with this man -Shishak. In the fourth Egyptian Room, in -Table Case “O”, there is a pair of gold bracelets, -the exhibits being numbered 134 and -135. These beautiful ornaments are overlaid -with lapis lazuli, and a blue substance -which is similar to faience. The inside of -each is inscribed with a text written in -hieroglyphics stating that the bracelets were -“Made for the Princess,” the daughter of -the chief of all the bowmen, Nemareth, -whose mother was the daughter of the Prince -of the land of Reshnes. This Nemareth was -the descendant in the fifth generation of -Buiu-auau, a Libyan prince who was the father -of Shishak the First.</p> -<p>In this same case, exhibit number 217 is a -heavy gold ring set with a scarab carved -from soapstone, which is inscribed with a -<span class="pb" id="Page_262">262</span> -clearly cut cartouche containing both the -prenomen and nomen of Shishak the First.</p> -<p>Looking further in this case, exhibit number -392 is a silver ring inscribed with the -titles of an official who held many important -positions under two monarchs. He was president -of the granaries, also a prophet of the -fourth order, served as a scribe and at one -time was libationer in the reigns of Psammetichus -and Shishak.</p> -<p>The most important of all the records of -Shishak, of course, is the voluminous account -that he caused to be engraved at the Temple -of Karnak. A detail is added in Shishak’s -record that is not contained in the Scriptures. -According to the conqueror, to strengthen the -ties of vassalage, he gave Jeroboam one of -his daughters in marriage. This complete -record of Shishak’s we photographed, studied -carefully, and found eminently satisfactory, -with the single exception that the king of -Judah is not named by name in Shishak’s -account of this conquest. But he does tell -of the capture of Judah, the rape of Jerusalem, -and gives a categorical list of cities and -villages overthrown. He specifically mentions -the bucklers and shields of gold that he -took from the temple.</p> -<p>In a word, this science of archeology, upon -the authority of men long dead, but who have -since been raised to testify, stamps an emphatic -<span class="pb" id="Page_263">263</span> -O. K. upon this section of the Sacred -Record.<a class="fn" id="fr_1" href="#fn_1">[1]</a></p> -<p>The next king who parades these pages -under the designation of his proper name is -the Pharaoh Zera, who has also been identified -with Osarkon. Shishak’s first-born son, -named both Usarkon and Osarkon the First, -succeeded his father to the throne as the last -of the Tanite kings of the twenty-first dynasty. -This son, in turn, was called Shishak -and became the high priest of Amon. -Osarkon the First was succeeded by Takeloth -the First, who, in turn, was followed by -Osarkon the Second. Since both of these -Osarkons figure in the Scriptural account, -we briefly cover their record as it occurs -in antiquity.</p> -<p>Being emperor of Ethiopia, as well as of -Egypt, the first Osarkon, or Zera, had a vast -horde of Ethiopian allies who fought with -him in his important conquests. This entire -line was of Libyan extraction. A portion of -Africa that is now temporarily possessed by -the crown of Italy seems to have given rise -to this family of conquering rulers. Undoubtedly -the designation “Ethiopian” was -suggested by this African ancestry.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_264">264</div> -<p>The Scriptural account of this man’s ill-starred -military expedition is given in the -fourteenth chapter of II Chronicles. When -King Abijah died, his son Asa succeeded to -the throne. The ascension of Asa was followed -by ten years of such peace and prosperity -as was almost unprecedented in those -troublous times. The reason given is that -Asa was a godly man and found favour in -the sight of the Lord. He shattered the -images erected to unclean idols, cut down -the groves where Ashtoreth was worshipped, -demolished the altars and the high places, -and purged the land of its apostasy. He -compelled the people of Judah to return to -the true faith and to obey the Lord and His -commandments. He strengthened the fortified -centers and in a masterly fashion built -up his reserves.</p> -<p>The ten years of prosperity and industry -found the land of Judah in an enviable condition -that left it well worth robbing! Since -the opportunity to steal and loot was the -only incentive required by the grim pragmatists -of antiquity, Zera, or Osarkon, gathered -together an army of a million foot -soldiers, reinforced with three hundred -chariots, and journeyed toward Palestine to -loot the land. The vicinity of Mareshah was -chosen as the site of the battle and Asa came -out with his pitiful little company to defend -his possessions. The drama of this record -begins in the eleventh verse of the fourteenth -chapter of II Chronicles in the great prayer -of Asa:</p> -<h3 id="pl30">Plate 30</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig44"> -<img src="images/p45.jpg" alt="" width="674" height="1001" /> -<p class="pcap">Enroute to the “High Place”</p> -</div> -<h3 id="pl31">Plate 31</h3> -<div class="img" id="fig45"> -<img src="images/p46.jpg" alt="" width="671" height="999" /> -<p class="pcap">The Altar of Sacrifice</p> -</div> -<blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_265">265</div> -<p>“And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and -said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, -whether with many, or with them that have -no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we -rest on thee, and in thy name we go against -this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; -let not man prevail against thee.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The high-hearted courage and simple faith -of Asa is sufficient introduction to the very -natural result, which follows in simple words:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, -and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>We then read a condensed account of the -pursuit that Asa and his people indulged in, -chasing the horde of Egyptians all the way -across their own border. They were in such -confusion that they could not recover and -make a stand, so that not even a rear-guard -action was fought. The children of Israel -recaptured all of the cities that Rehoboam -had lost, and with a typical Hebraism the -account concludes with the statement that -“they carried away exceeding much spoil.” -Although they never recovered the golden -shields, it is to be hoped they got their equivalent -in the value of this recounted spoil.</p> -<p>It was the universal custom of conquerors -to record their victories and say nothing of -<span class="pb" id="Page_266">266</span> -their defeats. Therefore, it is a bit startling -to find this record of II Chronicles borne out -by the account the Egyptian monarch has left -of his own campaigns. This simple paragraph -is illuminating:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Seventeen campaigns I waged. In sixteen -of them I was victorious. In the seventeenth -campaign I was defeated. Not by man, -Heaven fought against me.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>So even in the record of a defeat this man -can brag that his strength and greatness were -so phenomenal that only the Lord could overthrow -him. Once again, a dead man tells a -tale. He also, in the illuminating account -that he has left, rises from the dead to write -“o. k.” across the pages of Holy Writ, attesting -its historical fidelity and the accuracy -of its records.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_269">269</div> -<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER X</span> -<br />Mingled Voices</h2> -<p>The next definite contact between Israel -and Egypt is found in the graphic and terse -statement of II Kings 17:4,</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“And the king of Assyria found conspiracy -in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So -king of Egypt, and brought no present to the -king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: -therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and -bound him in prison.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>From this point on, the records of Egypt -and Palestine are so enmeshed and tangled -with the records of Babylon and Assyria that -we cannot separate them in their presentation. -This king So is identified as the Egyptian -monarch Shabaka, who is also known -by the names Sebichos, Sabakon, Sabacoa, -and Seve. He seems to have been a man -of implacable cruelty, if we may judge from -the Greek record of his manner of succession. -He was preceded on the throne by Bakenrenef, -who was one of the wise and kindly -lawgivers of Egypt. This noble ruler was -one of the first of all the Egyptian kings to -come in direct contact with the classical -Greeks. The Dorian invasion had now come -<span class="pb" id="Page_270">270</span> -to an end and the Greeks were free to trade -and colonize in the Mediterranean, and in the -vigour of their advance they had pressed on -to the mouth of the Nile. They had established -a close connection with Sais, and by -700 B. C. had entrenched themselves strongly -in the culture of that section of Egypt.</p> -<p>The Pharaoh of our present interest, So, -invaded that section of Egypt and captured -Bakenrenef in a swift and short campaign. -The Greek records relate that after treating -his defeated enemy with brutality, So then -burned him alive. He then established himself -as king and ruled not only all of Egypt -but Ethiopia as well. He was thus a contemporary -of Shalmaneser, Sargon, and Sennacherib, -all of whom have a direct bearing -upon the records of the Old Testament. One -of the interesting discoveries made at the -royal library at Nineveh was a seal bearing -the name of Shabaka, or So. The visitor to -the British Museum, upon entering the Assyrian -Room, may pause before Table Case -“E” and see this fascinating exhibit of the -actualities of these events.</p> -<p>In about the year 700 B. C., according to -the record of Holy Writ, when Shalmaneser -had dealt kindly with Hoshea, who had accepted -his yoke and agreed to pay tribute, -the faithless king of Judah entered into conspiracy -with Sebakah. Since the common -name, So, is the one that is used in the Scripture, -<span class="pb" id="Page_271">271</span> -we shall refer to this pharaoh by that -name from this point on. The tribute that -Hoshea should have paid to the king of Assyria -he diverted, and paid it into the hand -of So for the help that was promised him in -throwing off the yoke of Assyria. There is -abundant reason to believe, from all the collateral -records, that this conspiracy was promoted -by So and Hoshea.</p> -<p>This action on the part of the Hebrew king -was entirely unwarranted and consisted of a -breach of faith on his part. Indeed, the -prophet Hosea utters a stern and unmistakable -reproof against this action in the strong -words of the first verse of his twelfth chapter:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Ephraim feedeth on wind and followeth -after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies -and desolation; and they do make a covenant -with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into -Egypt. The Lord hath also a controversy -with Judah, and will punish Jacob according -to his ways; according to his doings will he -recompense him.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>As a result of this conspiracy, Hoshea was -captured by the king of Assyria and carried -away into an imprisonment. The plan did -not work out as the faithless allies had intended. -Shalmaneser invaded Palestine to -punish this rebellion. This wise and able -general divided his forces, so that a major -portion of his military strength lay between -Egypt and Palestine at a part of the border -<span class="pb" id="Page_272">272</span> -that was easily defended. When So found -that the cost of reaching Hoshea with aid -was to be a major battle which would endanger -his entire dominion, he simply defaulted -and left Hoshea to bear alone the -brunt of the battle. The prophecy of Hosea -was thus literally fulfilled. With the faithlessness -that Hoshea had manifested toward -Shalmaneser, he had been rewarded by the -defection of So from his covenant.</p> -<p>It is interesting to note that So seemed to -have been a little ashamed of his conduct, -for he offers a rather flimsy excuse for his -failure to stand by his contract. His statement -is that Hoshea had paid only half of -the price agreed upon and for that reason -he came not to his aid.</p> -<p>In this invasion of Shalmaneser’s, many -of the Hebrew people were taken captive. -Hoshea, after being for some time incarcerated -in disgrace and punishment, was forgiven -by Shalmaneser and restored to his -throne and dominion. Shalmaneser seems to -have reasoned that having once failed and -having tasted of punishment, Hoshea was -now to be trusted. Thus, the first conspiracy -ended with the common people of Samaria -paying the price. Two years later the faithless -and foolish Hoshea again listened to the -siren song of rebellion as it was sung by -the deceitful So and again rebelled against -his over-lord and benefactor. Shalmaneser, -<span class="pb" id="Page_273">273</span> -in great wrath, again moved against Samaria, -which resisted in a bitter struggle that lasted -three years.</p> -<p>Although the following details are not all -mentioned in the text of II Kings, seventeenth -chapter, they are emphasized by the -change of person in the record. In this bitter -conflict of three years, no help came from -Egypt. The seventh verse of the text says -that the children of Israel had sinned against -the Lord, their God. They had gone again -into idolatry and had put themselves back -under the yoke of Egypt, from which God had -repeatedly redeemed them. The miserable -and faithless So turned out to be a bruised -reed indeed! But while this campaign was -being fought, Shalmaneser disappeared. A -revolution took place in the homeland and -the common oriental disease which may be -described as six inches of steel between the -ribs, quietly removed Shalmaneser from the -scene. A usurper named Sargon, who writes -his own genealogy and calls himself “the son -of Nobody,” succeeded to the throne.</p> -<p>Thus in the seventeenth chapter of II Kings -we have many royal persons, and in order -to keep the records straight, we set them -forth this way:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>Hoshea was the king of Samaria; and he -reigned over Israel nine years.</p> -<p>Shalmaneser the Fifth was the king of Assyria, -<span class="pb" id="Page_274">274</span> -who is mentioned in the third verse by -name.</p> -<p>The fourth verse continues a record of Shalmaneser, -in carrying away Hoshea and punishing -him.</p> -<p>So is the pharaoh with whom we have been -dealing.</p> -<p>The king of Assyria who is not named in the -sixth verse, is Sargon, who succeeded to the -throne after the probable murder of Shalmaneser.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>This Sargon is the second man of that name -to have reigned in Assyria. The time of his -reign may be given as from 722-705 B. C. The -first Sargon reigned sometime in the twentieth -century, B. C.</p> -<p>Sargon the Second thus reigned for almost -eighteen years. He was a war-loving -monarch, and that eighteen year reign was -one continuous, unbroken series of foreign -campaigns. Combining his forces with the -small host of the Philistines, he joined battle -with the Egyptians at Raphia. Going directly -to this campaign, after the termination -of his campaign against Samaria, he administered -a crushing defeat to the forces of So -and had no further difficulty with this -pharaoh during the balance of his reign.</p> -<p>In the British Museum, Table Case “B,” -which occupies a section of the second Northern -gallery of the Assyrian Room, contains -<span class="pb" id="Page_275">275</span> -some magnificent baked clay cylinders which -are the original annals of Sargon. These -priceless records came from the ruins of a -tremendous building excavated by M. Botta -at the ancient site of Khorsabad, which was -later proved to have been the palace of Sargon. -Most of the sculptured objects from -this discovery are in the Museum at Paris. -These written records, however, which are -of infinitely more value to the student, are -fortunately on deposit in the British Museum.</p> -<p>In the Assyrian Saloon of the British -Museum the interested student will also behold -an inscription bearing the identification -number 12, whereupon are recorded the -names and titles of Sargon the Second, together -with a brief and epitomized account -of his conquests in various sections along -the coast lands of the Mediterranean, including -his famous victory in Judah.</p> -<p>A more complete record is found in the -Assyrian Room. In Table Case “E,” exhibits -11 and 12, are two nine-sided prisms containing -a graphic account of the expeditions of -Sargon. All of his campaigns in Palestine -are covered and include his conquest of -Israel, which he calls “Omri land.” (These -exhibits are identified by the Museum numbers -22,505 and 108,775.)</p> -<p>A further record of Sargon’s bearing upon -the text of the Old Testament will be found -in the Assyrian Room in wall case No. 9. Exhibits -<span class="pb" id="Page_276">276</span> -1-11 are fragments of an eight-sided -cylinder containing part of the records of -Sargon, particularly recording the campaign -against Ashdod, which is also preserved for -us by Isaiah in the twentieth chapter, verse -one. The people of Ashdod had made a -league with Judah and this outburst of -Isaiah’s was a stern reproof against this procedure. -The prophet objected chiefly because -the league depended upon the strength -of Egypt. To the end of his life, Isaiah never -gave up his justified distrust of that country. -This, in a brief summary, presents the records -of Shalmaneser and Sargon as they authenticate -the Biblical account of the conduct -of the wretched So. Sargon recounts -that Azuri, who was king of Ashdod, had refused -to pay the tribute that was due to -the Assyrians. Consequently he was deposed -by Sargon, who elevated his brother Akhimiti -to the place of dominion. Whereupon the -people of Ashdod rebelled and raised Yamini -to the throne. They then entered into a -conspiracy with Philistea, Edom, Moab, -Egypt, and Judah. Sargon recounts their defeat -and the bringing back under the sway -of his yoke the cities and peoples who joined -the conspiracy.</p> -<p>A graphic and significant story is contained -in the brief and short words of Sargon’s own -record—“Samaria, I looked at. I captured. -27,280 families who remained therein I carried -<span class="pb" id="Page_277">277</span> -away.” The tragic end of Hoshea and -all of his noble counselors and advisers is -thus summed up in a brief and terrible sentence.</p> -<p>Sargon the Second was followed in turn -by Sennacherib, of whom a great deal is -known from his monuments. Their testimony -coincides with the story of the Southern -Kingdom during the reign of Hezekiah. -Three years after the ascension of Hoshea -to the throne of Israel, Hezekiah began to -reign over Judah at Jerusalem. He had a -long and interesting reign, occupying the -throne for twenty-five years. In the course -of his reign, Sargon the Second died, and -Sennacherib inherited the throne.</p> -<p>Encouraged by the success of his predecessor -Sargon in foreign campaigns, Sennacherib -invaded Judah to round out his empire. -Hezekiah accepted his yoke without -offering resistance, and paid him a vast tribute.</p> -<p>We are now in the eighteenth chapter of -II Kings which repeats part of the events of -the tragedy in Israel as they were observed -by the scribe in Judah. The invasions of -Shalmaneser and Sargon are recapitulated -and the carrying away of the people of Samaria -by Sargon is again authenticated. But -the scribe is more interested in recording -the events that make so stirring a chapter -in the closing days of the kingdom of Judah. -<span class="pb" id="Page_278">278</span> -In verses thirteen to seventeen, the story of -this first invasion and the surrender of Sennacherib, -is told in these words:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah -did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up -against all the fenced cities of Judah, and -took them.</p> -<p>“And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the -king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have -offended; return from me: that which thou -puttest on me will I bear. And the king of -Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of -Judah three hundred talents of silver and -thirty talents of gold.</p> -<p>“And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that -was found in the house of the Lord, and in -the treasures of the king’s house.</p> -<p>“At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold -from the doors of the temple of the Lord, -and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of -Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king -of Assyria.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Between the sixteenth and seventeenth -verses of the eighteenth chapter of II Kings, -ten silent years roll by. They are voiceless -as far as our text is concerned, but they are -vocal when we listen to the monuments.</p> -<p>It may have been about 705 B. C. when -Hezekiah accepted the yoke of Sennacherib. -In the meantime Sennacherib had strengthened -his alliances and was prepared to essay -a conflict with Egypt. The nephew of So, -who is called Tirhakah in the Bible, murdered -the successor of So, which was his son, Shabataka. -<span class="pb" id="Page_279">279</span> -Having gained an empire by this -ruthless spilling of the blood of the rightful -heir, Tirhakah began an ill-fated reign. He -rashly matched strength with Sennacherib, -who was more than willing to add Egypt to -the nations who bore his yoke. The armies -of Assyria and Egypt joined battle at the -border at the site of Libnah and a mighty -conflict resulted. Realizing the strategic importance -of an enemy who would threaten -the rear of the Assyrian host, Tirhakah made -overtures to Hezekiah and invited him to -join in a rebellion to throw off the yoke of -Assyria. Hezekiah being willing to save the -enormous tribute that beggared his country -annually, listened to the voice of Isaiah who -advised him to join the rebellion. So Hezekiah -pronounced defiance against Sennacherib -and all of the Assyrian hordes and announced -the independence of Judah. The -battle of Libnah was then fought, and Tirhakah -was disgracefully defeated. The pitiful -remnant of his army fled and left Sennacherib -the unchallenged conqueror of his -day.</p> -<p>The position of Hezekiah can well be imagined. -The strength and might of Egypt had -been brushed aside by the armed power of -Assyria, and tiny Judah was put in the position -of defying the greatest military power -of that era. While Sennacherib was busy in -a mopping-up campaign at Libnah, he sent -<span class="pb" id="Page_280">280</span> -three trusted generals to lay siege to Jerusalem -and to demand the surrender of Hezekiah. -The blasphemous oration of one of these -generals, Rab-shakeh, is given voluminously -in the eighteenth chapter of II Kings. -There was a good deal of truth in some of -Rab-shakeh’s arguments. He described Pharaoh -as “a bruised reed upon which if a -man leaned, it would pierce his hand and -wound him to the death.” He rightly said -that no other countries had been delivered -from Sennacherib by the power of their gods. -His error was in assuming that therefore the -God of Israel would also be defeated by the -power of Sennacherib. He gave the king -some short while to think over the policy -of surrender, and sat down to invest the city. -Hezekiah, in his bitter dilemma, sought out -Isaiah, whose advice he had followed with -such disastrous results.</p> -<p>The thirty-seventh chapter of Isaiah contains -the answer that Isaiah made, and the -exact words of his prophecy are also found -in the nineteenth chapter of II Kings, verses -six and seven. To comfort Hezekiah, Isaiah -said to the king’s messenger: “Thus shall ye -say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, -Be not afraid of the words that thou hast -heard wherewith the servants of the king of -Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will -send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a -rumour, and return to his own land; and I -<span class="pb" id="Page_281">281</span> -will cause him to fall by the sword in his -own land.”</p> -<p>It is well to keep this prophecy of Isaiah’s -in mind until we see how perfectly it was -fulfilled in complete detail. In the thirty-fifth -verse of II Kings, the nineteenth chapter, -the “blast” occurred. The statement is -made that the angel of the Lord went out and -slew 185,000 of the flower of the Assyrian -army.</p> -<p>The next verse says in graphic words, “So -Sennacherib king of Assyria departed.”</p> -<p>The literal translation in English of that -graphic word would be, “So Sennacherib -king of Assyria ‘beat it’.” We cannot blame -him for the haste of his departure. Arising -after a night of slumber to find 185,000 of -his best warriors mysteriously slain, terror -must have smitten his heart. At that exact -moment word reached him of a rebellion in -his own land. This was the “rumour” of -which Isaiah had prophesied. He returned -to put down this rebellion and never again -invaded Judah.</p> -<p>Twenty years later he was murdered. Between -verses thirty-six and thirty-seven of -the nineteenth chapter of II Kings, a full -score of years passed by. After his murder, -his son, Esar-haddon, came to the throne and -continued the story of conquest and intrigue.</p> -<p>In the meantime, the defeated Tirhakah -<span class="pb" id="Page_282">282</span> -was unquestionably chagrined to learn that -little Judah had been delivered from the -power that had defeated him. To apologize -for his own failure to support Judah, Tirhakah -claimed credit for the defeat of the -Assyrian horde by claiming that his god, -Amon, had caused the camp of the Assyrians -to be invaded by millions of field mice. He -claimed that these tiny rodents in one night -ate up all the bowstrings of the army and thus -they were unable to fight. His interpretation -of the event is a bit sketchy, to say the -least!</p> -<p>In the Assyrian Room at the British Museum, -a very important exhibit will be seen -in Table Case “E”. This is a six-sided clay -prism containing an unabridged record of -Sennacherib’s own account of these stirring -events. Here he has given us his story of -the invasion of Palestine and the siege of -Jerusalem in the days of Hezekiah. So important -is this record that we produce here, -in its entirety, the fifth oblique (or plane) -of this great prism:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“In my third campaign I went to the land of -the Hittites. I marched against the City of -Ekron and put to death the priests and chief -men who had committed the sin of rebellion -and I hung up their bodies on stakes all -around the City ... but as for Hezekiah of -Judah, who had not submitted to my yoke -46 of his strong cities, together with innumerable -fortresses and small towns that depended -<span class="pb" id="Page_283">283</span> -upon them by overthrowing the walls -and open attack, by battle, engines and battering -rams I besieged I captured; I brought -out of the midst of them and counted as a -spoil 200,000 persons great and small, male -and female, besides mules, camels, sheep, -asses and oxen without number:</p> -<p>“Hezekiah himself I shut up like a bird in a -cage in Jerusalem his strong city. I built -a line of forts against him and kept back -himself from going forth out of the great -gate of his city. I cut off his cities which I -had spoiled out of the midst of his land and -I gave them to Metinti, king of Ashdod, and -Padi King of Ekron and Til-Baal, King of -Gaza and made his country small. In addition -to their former yearly tribute and gifts -I added other tribute and homage due to my -majesty, and I laid it upon them. The fear -of the greatness of my majesty overwhelmed -him, even Hezekiah, and he sent after me to -Nineveh my royal city, the Arabs and his -bodyguards, whom he had brought for the -defense of his royal city Jerusalem, and had -furnished with pay along with thirty talents.... -Eight hundred talents of pure silver, carbuncles -and other precious stones, a couch -of ivory, thrones of ivory, and elephants hide -and elephant tusks, rare woods of all kinds -a vast treasure, as well as Unachs from his -palace, and dancing men and dancing women. -And he sent his Ambassador to offer homage.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>This fascinating document is one of the -greatest treasures that archeology has produced -for the careful student of Christian -apologetics. It is notable not only for what -it tells but also for much that is left unsaid. -<span class="pb" id="Page_284">284</span> -In the grim, brutal days of these ancient -conquerors, a defeated enemy could expect -little mercy at the hands of the victorious. -The kings of Assyria ruled by fear and by -the implacable, swift certainty of punishment -for rebellion. Sennacherib here refers to a -common practice of his day, that of impaling -rebellious enemies as a lesson to other vassals. -In this particular document he recounts -how they hung the bodies of the rebel leaders -on stakes around their captured cities.</p> -<p>The technique of this execution was simple. -A heavy post was driven into the ground -until it was about as high as a tall man’s -shoulder. The top of the post was sharpened -to as fine a point as the tools of that day -would permit. In some cases, the rebel was -picked up by a pair of burly executioners -who swung him through the air and jammed -him down with great force upon the pointed -stake. There they whirled him as a sort of -a human pinwheel until life quickly fled his -shattered form. This was a comparatively -merciful way of impaling. In other cases -the victim was set upon the sharpened stick -until gravity bore down his suffering body -to the point where death relieved him after -hours, and even days of misery and torment.</p> -<p>But while Sennacherib recounted the successful -punishment of the rebels of the many -cities who had joined in this uprising, it is -<span class="pb" id="Page_285">285</span> -to be carefully noted that he changed the -tone of the record in the case of Hezekiah. -He could not say that he impaled him or -otherwise punished him for the rebellion! -All he could say was, “As for Hezekiah himself, -I shut him up like a bird in Jerusalem, -his capital city.” Sennacherib can tell of -the fenced cities and small villages in the -outskirts of Judah which he despoiled from -the hand of Hezekiah, but he never laid hand -on the person of the king himself, nor did -he enter the sacred city. The “blast” of -Isaiah’s prophecy can alone account for the -failure of Sennacherib to crucify Hezekiah -along with his other rebellious enemies.</p> -<p>Also it is to be noted that by a violation -of chronological accuracy, Sennacherib “saves -face,” after the ancient custom of the Eastern -lands. A conqueror of his standing and authority -cannot admit that he was defeated -before the walls of Jerusalem. Therefore, -at the end of this record he gives a list of -the treasure <i>that Hezekiah had paid before in -his original subjection</i>! This listing of tribute -is falsely made to appear as though it were -<i>after</i> the siege of Jerusalem. By the simple -expedient of introducing at the end of a defeat -the record of a previous payment, Sennacherib -seeks to delude posterity and wipe -out the memory of his one outstanding defeat. -This great prism of this Assyrian conqueror -is unquestionably one of the strongest bricks -<span class="pb" id="Page_286">286</span> -in the wall of defense that archeology is erecting -around the Sacred Word of God.</p> -<p>There are many other records left by Sennacherib -that are also of tremendous importance. -The British Museum has a magnificent -section which is devoted very largely to -those Babylonian and Assyrian chronicles, -many of which coincide with this period of -history. The murder of Sennacherib that -was prophesied by Isaiah and recorded in the -nineteenth chapter of II Kings, is accredited -and substantiated by archeological sources.</p> -<p>We learn from the records of Babylon that -the years between the debacle at Jerusalem -and the death of Sennacherib were occupied -with wars much nearer home. We read in -those chronicles that the Elamites of Suziana, -together with certain allied peoples, again -rose in rebellion. It took a number of campaigns, -which ultimately ravished the whole -of Suziana, to put down this uprising. In -fact, the campaigns of subjection were not -entirely successful until Babylon was destroyed -in 689 B. C. In the interim, when -not busy subduing his Elamite subjects, Sennacherib -campaigned in Cilicia, where he -overcame the armed force of the Greeks, -penetrating as far as Tarsus in his victorious -marches. The Babylonian records conclude -by saying that he was assassinated by his -sons in the year which by our reckoning -would be known as B. C. 681.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_287">287</div> -<p>In the Babylonian Room of the British -Museum, Table Case “E” contains an exhibit -which bears the Museum number 92,502. This -consists of a clay tablet which is an extensive -chronicle written in the Babylonian characters. -It delineates a list of the principal -events which occurred in both Babylon and -Assyria over an extensive period of time.</p> -<p>The history begins with the third year of -the reign of Nabu-Nasir, who ascended his -throne in Babylon in 744. The record continues -to the first year of Shamash-shum-ukim, -with whom we shall deal in a future -reference. In the third column of this chronicle, -lines thirty-four and thirty-five state that -Sennacherib was killed by his son on the -twentieth day of the month Tebet in the -twenty-third year of his reign. This murder -is rather graphically described in terse, but -satisfactory terms in the record of the nineteenth -chapter of II Kings.</p> -<p>There is no more definite and positive example -of the coincidence of archeological discovery -with the text of the Scripture than -is provided by the records of Sennacherib. -Though dead for more than two and one-half -millenniums, he indeed has a tale to tell! -We can condense his record into one graphic, -simple sentence which we can sign with the -name of this great king, “The historicity of -the Sacred Page is unquestionable in the -light of archeology!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_288">288</div> -<p>The next pharaoh of antiquity who challenges -our interest with his confirmation of -the Scripture, is variously known by the -name of Necho, which is his prenomen as -used in the Scripture text, and by the Egyptian -forms of Nekau and Uohemibra. He -was, perhaps, the greatest of the later conquerors -who sought to extend the power of -Egypt, and he was certainly the last of that -remarkable group. He expended a good deal -of the revenues of the crown in rebuilding -the canal of Seti the First, which had formed -a waterway between the Nile and the Red -Sea. It is difficult at times to place absolute -credence upon the numerical estimates of -the ancient chronicles of Egypt, but it is -highly probable that Necho employed more -than a hundred thousand men in this work. -Herodotus gives great honour to Necho, telling -us that he sent out certain ships of -Phoenicia which circumnavigated Africa. He -maintained a mercenary army of Greeks, and -had one fleet in the Mediterranean, and the -other in the Red Sea. His record in the Scripture -is tangled inextricably with that of -Assyria and Babylonia, and for that reason -we must sketch-in the background of this -coincidence and appearance.</p> -<p>Shalmaneser the Fifth began the phenomenal -rise to ascendency of the great power -of Assyria. Babylon was the chief adversary -and the strongest foe that Assyria faced in -<span class="pb" id="Page_289">289</span> -the development of her world empire, which -ultimately climaxed in Sennacherib. Finding -it impossible to preserve the loyalty of -the Babylonians, who were a proud and -haughty people, Sennacherib finally destroyed -Babylon and carried away its people -into captivity. When Sennacherib died, according -to the record of the nineteenth chapter -of II Kings, his son, Esar-haddon came -to the throne. Esar-haddon, more of a statesman -than a conqueror, rebuilt Babylon. He -united Assyria and Babylon into one great -domain, naming the combined kingdom -Babylonia. For the sake of administration -and as a gesture of amity, he made Babylon -his capital. Thus the rebuilt city became the -seat of government and the center of the culture -of Babylonia.</p> -<p>The name Esar-haddon means “victorious,” -or “conqueror.” One of the greatest of all -the mighty kings of Assyria, he was a worthy -successor of Sargon, Shalmaneser, and Sennacherib. -His name occurs but three times -in Holy Writ. The first occurrence is II Kings -19:37, where it speaks of his ascent to the -throne. The next occurrence is in Isaiah -37:28 where this record of II Kings 19:37 is -confirmed by the hand of the prophet, who -was an active participant in those stirring -events. Later, Ezra refers to him in the -second verse of his fourth chapter. In this -latter reference, the remnant who returned -<span class="pb" id="Page_290">290</span> -from the Babylonian captivity name him as -the cause of their captivity and acknowledged -that he gave them the freedom to worship -their own God in their own way.</p> -<p>In the reign of Menasseh, Esar-haddon died -and was succeeded by two sons. The elder -of these was the famous Assur-bani-pal, who -was made over-lord of the entire kingdom, -with the section that was once called Assyria -as his particular domain. His younger -brother, Shamis-shum-ukim was given dominion -over Babylon, where he reigned as -vassal to his wealthy brother. The British -Museum is replete with the records and materials -from the reign of Assur-bani-pal and -from the brief and tragic rule of Shamis-shum-ukim -as well.</p> -<p>The fine hand of Egyptian intrigue enters -into the record at this point, again tangling -up the Assyrian records in a triangular bout -between Judah, Egypt, and Babylonia. The -Pharaoh Necho, alarmed by the growing -power of Babylonia, gathered together a -mighty host and invaded the territory of the -great Assyrian king. As a preliminary to -this invasion, the Pharaoh Necho persuaded -Shamis-shum-ukim to rebel against his older -brother and to declare his independence. Into -this conspiracy Necho succeeded in drawing -Syria and Judah. The blow was struck at -the dominion of Assur-bani-pal while he was -battling certain tribes near his Eastern border. -<span class="pb" id="Page_291">291</span> -When the couriers brought him word -of the revolt of his brother, and of the coalition -formed against him at the instigation -of Necho, Assur-bani-pal made a swift and -remarkable march, returning to his threatened -territory. Necho hastily assembled his -army, and the major battles were fought on -the terrain of Syria. Syria was quickly reduced, -Babylon pacified, and Assur-bani-pal -emerged completely victorious.</p> -<p>Necho, not having had time to prepare his -defenses, was overthrown, defeated, and -forced to bow in subjection to Assur-bani-pal. -From the record of the victorious king, we -offer the following paragraph as a condensed -but detailed account of these tremendous -events:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“After removing the corpses of the rebels -from the midst of Babylon, Cuthra, and Sippara, -and piling them in heaps, in accordance -with the prophecies I cleaned the mercy seats -of their temples. I purified their chief places -of prayer I appeased their angry gods and -goddesses with supplications and penitential -psalms. Their daily sacrifices which they had -discontinued, I restored and established as -they had been of old. As for the rest of them -who had flown at the stroke of slaughter, I had -mercy on them. I proclaimed an amnesty -upon them. I brought them to live in Babylon. -The men of the nations whom Sam -... had led away and united in one conspiracy, -I trod down to the uttermost parts -of their borders. By the command of Assur, -<span class="pb" id="Page_292">292</span> -Beltis, and the great gods my helpers, the -yoke of Assur which they had shaken off I -laid upon them. I appointed over them governors -and satraps, the work of my own -hands.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>From this account it will be seen that -Assur-bani-pal slew his rebellious brother -and destroyed the principal leaders of the revolt, -with the exception of those who had -pleaded for mercy. As a result of this defeat -at Charchemish, Necho was dethroned and -led in chains to Babylon. This Chaldean conqueror -had a policy that was unique for his -day. It was his consistent practice to deal -mercifully with the repentant. When the -Pharaoh Necho professed sorrow for his conduct, -Assur-bani-pal, following his established -custom, restored him to Sais where he was -to rule Egypt as a province of Babylonia.</p> -<p>At this time, Josiah of Judah also accepted -the yoke of Assyria and became a vassal of -Assur-bani-pal. From what we learn of the -character of King Josiah, we would expect -that he would be faithful to his pledges and -promises and, indeed, this very faithfulness -was the cause of his death. The Pharaoh -Necho, smarting under his defeat and -wounded deeply in his pride, quietly gathered -together a tremendous army and rebelled -against Assur-bani-pal the second time.</p> -<p>In this second conflict, Charchemish was -the chosen battle ground. Although many -<span class="pb" id="Page_293">293</span> -strategic battles had been waged back and -forth about this important center, this is -generally referred to as the First Battle of -Charchemish. This reference is undoubtedly -predicated upon the fact that the ultimate -struggle between Assyria and Egypt, which -gave the latter power a world dominion, centered -about this field.</p> -<p>In order to reach the battle ground, the -Pharaoh Necho marched his horde across -the terrain of Palestine. The story of what -followed is familiar to every student of the -Old Testament. In the thirty-fifth chapter -of II Chronicles, beginning with the twentieth -verse and ending with the twenty-seventh, -this incidental tragedy is told. Josiah, who -had taken the pledge of fidelity to Assur-bani-pal, -gathered together his small army -and sought to prevent this passage of the -Egyptian army across his domain. It is -recorded that Pharaoh sent his heralds to -Josiah offering to leave the land of Palestine -unmolested on condition that they gave him -no opposition in his plans for battle. The -pharaoh went so far as to claim that he was -on the business of God. Although King -Josiah had disguised himself in the common -dress of a humble man-at-arms, he seems -to have been recognized. The sharpshooters -among the archers picked him as their target -and he fell sorely wounded. He died after -being taken to Jerusalem, and all of the people -<span class="pb" id="Page_294">294</span> -of Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.</p> -<p>Jeremiah the prophet deeply loved the -godly king because of his fidelity to the law, -and the fourth chapter of the Book of Lamentations -contains part of the dirge of Jeremiah -concerning the death of the king.</p> -<p>In the meantime, hindered by the abortive -attempt of the faithful Josiah to delay his -passage, Necho swept on to the banks of the -Euphrates where a notable battle was fought. -The assault of Necho found the Assyrian -monarch unprepared. The force that he had -gathered at Charchemish was inadequate to -defend his borders, and Assur-bani-pal was -defeated. In the meantime, Jehoahaz had -succeeded his father Josiah and was reigning -at Jerusalem. The sway of the young king -was short and ended tragically after ninety -days. On his way home from his victory at -Charchemish, the Pharaoh Necho deposed -Jehoahaz because of his father’s conduct and -put Eliakim on the throne. Thus the younger -brother of Jehoahaz became king over Judah -in his place.</p> -<p>The Pharaoh changed the name of Eliakim -to Jehoiakim and once more Judah became a -vassal to the might and power of Egypt. The -unfortunate Jehoahaz, laden with chains, was -carried away to Sais. There he dragged out -a miserable existence until death brought -him a happy release from captivity and degradation. -The Pharaoh Necho imposed upon -<span class="pb" id="Page_295">295</span> -Palestine a fine for their opposition which -would be about the equivalent in our modern -currency of $200,000. In considering the difference -in purchasing power, however, that -would be about $3,000,000 in our money.</p> -<p>These incidents are either expressly stated -or are referred to in many portions of Holy -Writ. We first find them in the twenty-third -chapter of II Kings.</p> -<p>The twenty-sixth chapter of Jeremiah, -verses twenty-one to twenty-three, contains -a bleak record of the hardship and oppression -that resulted when men of God were slain -for speaking God’s Word concerning the -events of this grim and dismal affair.</p> -<p>In the nineteenth chapter of Ezekiel, the -third and fourth verses of this record, the -prophet sings a lamentation over the “lion’s -whelp” and sorrows that “he shall be bound -in chains in the land of Egypt.” Then from -the fifth verse on, the prophet caustically -berates the land because that another of the -lion’s whelps, suddenly raised to maturity, -devoured the men who had raised him and -laid waste their land and cities.</p> -<p>Our present interest, however, is to be -found in the records that deal with these -events in the sources of archeology. It would -be inconceivable that the mighty Necho -should fail to boast of his power and victory -when he had won so notable an ascendancy -over all of his enemies. In the voluminous -<span class="pb" id="Page_296">296</span> -records of the Pharaoh Necho, the vainglorious -boasting of this long-dead monarch -comes to us today as a welcome, added voice -to the rapidly swelling chorus that testifies -to the historical accuracy of the Old Testament.</p> -<p>Leaving the record of Necho, however, for -the present moment (as he enters the story -again in the reign of the succeeding Babylonian -monarch), we turn to the sources of -Babylonian and Assyrian antiquity for the -authentication of these affairs by the mighty -Assur-bani-pal. Now, indeed, it becomes difficult -to choose the most effective and pointed -evidences, as we are embarrassed with so -vast a wealth of material. It would take -many days indeed for a careful student to -exhaust the possibilities in that collection of -the material of Assur-bani-pal that is found -in the British Museum alone. In this notable -and incomparable deposit of priceless fact -and information, there is no more striking -section than that which is derived from the -works and records of this stormy ruler.</p> -<p>In about the year 666 B. C. this conqueror -finished the third of his campaigns against -Egypt, and with the sack of the City of -Thebes, again established the dominion of -Assyria over Egypt. The mighty king then -turned his military attentions to the northern -regions of his empire and thrust his borders -out to an unprecedented extent. At the same -<span class="pb" id="Page_297">297</span> -time, with a part of his forces he waged a -long war with the Elamites on his southeastern -border and subjected that country to the -yoke of Assyria. Putting down the Elamite -uprising with a stern and bloody hand, he -left a lesson in implacable cruelty that the -Elamites never forgot.</p> -<p>In the Nineveh Gallery of the Assyrian -section of the British Museum may be seen -great sculptured slabs from the walls of Assur-bani-pal’s -palace, which are numbered -45 to 50. At our last visit they were to be -seen on the Eastern side of the gallery. These -relics completely illustrate his conquest of -Elam. Exhibits 45 to 47 further show the -crushing of the Elamite forces, and the action -is so dramatically depicted that the careful -student may sense the excitement which -seems to prevail. A voluminous text accompanies -the pictured action so that there is -no possibility of mistaking the meaning of -the illustrations.</p> -<p>At this time Shamis-shum-ukim joined in -the great revolt to which we have referred -in a foregoing paragraph of this chapter. -There are two accounts in the archeological -records as to the end of Shamis-shum-ukim. -Although a twin brother of Assur-bani-pal, -he was some hours the younger, and thus was -nominally subject to him under Assyrian law. -One account says that he was taken prisoner -<span class="pb" id="Page_298">298</span> -and that Assur-bani-pal had him burned at -the stake. The other account says that Shamis-shum-ukim, -seeing he was about to be defeated, -locked himself in a small section of -the palace, which he set afire and burned -himself rather than surrender. There was -at this time a revolt in the Egyptian section -of the empire which resulted in some long -conflicts, which are also given in these records. -It was also at this period that Assur-bani-pal -left the record above cited, of the -pacification of Babylon and the submission -of Josiah.</p> -<p>The British Museum has a very large collection -of letters from the library of Assur-bani-pal -at Nineveh, many of which are of -high significance in the study of these historical -episodes. These letters cover a broad -scope as they include the reports, requisitions, -and communications of dignitaries. -Some of these came from the crown prince, -others from local governors and still more -from various military captains. They deal -in specific detail with military operations, -uprisings, rebellions, and their suppression. -They tell of the dispatch of troops to the -provinces, with lists of expenses and expenditures. -Such intimate details of Assyrian science -as the reports of astronomers for regulating -the calendar of the year are found -there, and illuminating comments upon the -political trend of the days. There are many -<span class="pb" id="Page_299">299</span> -references to these episodes, as would naturally -be expected.</p> -<p>One of the great monuments to be found -in the Babylonian Room of the British -Museum, and numbered 90,864, is a stone -stele with a rounded top, that is a treasure -indeed. The upright full-length figure of -Assur-bani-pal is shown in his capacity of -high priest. This stele contains a lengthy -chronicle recording the names, honors, and -genealogy of the monarch and tells of his -godly conduct and fidelity to his religion. -There is a note of sadness and an index to -the character of this great Assyrian in the -line where Assur-bani-pal declares that he -himself had appointed his twin brother -Shamis-shum-ukim “to the sovereignty over -Babylon so that the strong may not oppress -the weak.”</p> -<p>Passing over a great many of these sources, -we come now to the Assyrian Room where, -in Table Case “E,” we find two ten-sided -prisms of Assur-bani-pal which bear the -Museum numbers 91,026, and 91,086. These -lengthy records are inscribed with the outstanding -incidents in the earlier years of his -busy life. Beginning with an epitomized -statement concerning his birth and education, -as all good biographies should begin, he took -occasion to recognize the great prosperity of -Assyria that immediately followed his elevation -to the throne. Then quickly the warrior -<span class="pb" id="Page_300">300</span> -king launched into some graphic descriptions -of his principal military expeditions. Here -he tells of the two expeditions against Tirhakah -in Egypt, to which we have referred -above. Among the allies who accompanied -him to fight under his banner, who were already -subject to him, he mentions levies -from Cypress, Asia Minor, Syria, and <i>Palestine</i>. -After citing the events and victories -of five campaigns, the record then introduces -the sad tragedy of Shamis-shum-ukim, a portion -of which we have cited in a preceding -paragraph. In all, there are nine campaigns -covered in these prisms, and the student of -historical accuracy may find great substantiation -for his confidence in the truth and -fidelity of the Word of God from these fascinating -records.</p> -<p>In the same case is an eight-sided clay -prism of Assur-bani-pal, numbered 93,008. -This also contains a shorter reference to -these same events. To convey an adequate -and detailed account of the materials available -from the time of Assur-bani-pal and his -unfortunate brother would require a large -volume by itself. We have come to that -point, however, where Assur-bani-pal’s record -concludes as it touches the Scripture. So -we satisfy ourselves temporarily with this -brief introduction of an epitomized section -of those evidences.</p> -<p>Three years after the battle of Charchemish, -<span class="pb" id="Page_301">301</span> -where Assur-bani-pal was temporarily -defeated, a new and forceful conqueror appeared -in the person of Nebuchadnezzar the -Second. Assur-bani-pal was succeeded by -Nabopolassar, who will be ignored in this -record because of the fact that he is not -named by name in the text of the Bible. -Nabopolassar, however, had a gifted son -who succeeded him as Nebuchadnezzar the -Second, and who began his training for the -crown by assuming command of the army as -the chief general under his father and with -his parent’s consent.</p> -<p>The first great campaign that Nebuchadnezzar -fought, brought Egypt back under the -dominion of Babylon. To see the background -of this event, it must be noted that after the -death of Assur-bani-pal, the Medes invaded -Nineveh and captured that stronghold. -Whereupon Nabopolassar reasserted the independence -of Babylon and conducted a number -of brilliant campaigns to secure the -ascendency of his kingdom and to establish -his supremacy over the entire ancient world.</p> -<p>When Nineveh fell, the Pharaoh Necho, -with whom we are now dealing, entered the -story again. Necho invaded Syria and Palestine -and successfully campaigned up to the -banks of the Euphrates. At Charchemish he -met the host of Nebuchadnezzar for what is -known as the Second Battle of Charchemish. -Necho entered this conflict with considerable -<span class="pb" id="Page_302">302</span> -confidence, due to his previous victory on -this same field. This time, however, a different -experience awaited him. Nebuchadnezzar -crushed the Egyptians with an overwhelming -defeat and drove them back to -their own border. As a result of this battle, -all Palestine, with the exception of Judah, -acknowledged the authority of Nebuchadnezzar. -The Babylonian general took Jehoiakim -captive and slew the Pharaoh Necho.</p> -<p>All of these events are recorded by the -Pharaoh Necho, by Assur-bani-pal, and by -certain humbler captains and leaders. The -Pharaoh’s record is complete up to the time -of the second battle. But as Necho did not -survive this campaign, there is a dramatic -break in his record. However, what is wanting -from the Egyptian sources, is happily -supplied from those of Babylon.</p> -<p>It is not to be expected that the young -conqueror would remain silent concerning -his early victories. His father, Nabopolassar, -also recounts with some satisfaction -the military ability of his son. Through -all of his reign, however, Nebuchadnezzar -was more of a builder and architect than -conqueror, although he frequently took the -field in notable military action. Most of the -relics from his reign have to do with the -building of great temples and edifices. There -are, however, a number of fragmentary -chronicles such as that which, in the Babylonian -<span class="pb" id="Page_303">303</span> -Room of the British Museum in Table -Case “E,” bears the number of 33,041. This -recounts a later expedition undertaken by -Nebuchadnezzar in the thirty-seventh year -of his reign. This was to put down an uprising -in Egypt.</p> -<p>There are innumerable tablets and records -in the British Museum that attest the order -and genius of the government in the forty-two -years of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. We -will refer to this later when we come to the -closing period of his great career. We have -introduced the historicity of Nebuchadnezzar -now, and the coincidence of his account which -climaxes the reign of Necho, to establish at -one more point the historical accuracy of -the Old Testament text.</p> -<p>The last Pharaoh who comes into the account -of the Sacred Book is positively identified -as Hophra. He is called Apris by the -Greeks, and is frequently found in the hieroglyphics -under the name of Psammetichus, -the Second. His name, Hophra, occurs in -the Scripture only once, which is the forty-fourth -chapter of Jeremiah and the thirtieth -verse. Here the three great characters of -this last drama are found conjoined in these -simple words:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Thus saith the Lord; Behold I will give -Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand -of his enemies, and into the hand of them -that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king -<span class="pb" id="Page_304">304</span> -of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar -king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought -his life.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Hophra was a rash, inexperienced, over-confident -ruler who wasted what small -strength and wealth his kingdom possessed -in useless warfare against mighty powers -which were manifestly beyond his ability to -cope with. The background of his contact -with the Sacred Record begins with his conspiracy -that enmeshed Zedekiah. This entire -rebellion was a faithless and degraded -example of lack of honour and responsibility -to a plighted and pledged word. This is primarily -so because after the defeat of Necho -and his subsequent death, Nebuchadnezzar -raised Hophra, the son of Necho, to the throne -of Egypt where he governed as a satrap. He -was to reign for Babylon, and had taken the -oath of fidelity to his over-lord and master.</p> -<p>To make matters worse the conduct of -Zedekiah added insult <i>to</i> injury! When Nebuchadnezzar -dethroned Jehoiakim and carried -him bound in chains to his subsequent death in -Babylon, he was followed on the throne by Jehoiakin -who reigned for a very brief period. -Then Nebuchadnezzar raised Zedekiah to a -position of power and on his twenty-first -birthday elevated him to the governorship of -Jerusalem. For the better part of eleven -years, he reigned more or less successfully. -He seems to have been a graceless scoundrel -<span class="pb" id="Page_305">305</span> -and utterly without honour. Completely violating -their treaties and their oaths of fidelity, -Pharaoh and Zedekiah joined in a conspiracy -and rebelled against the power of -Nebuchadnezzar. It is a matter of wonder -to the modern student that these kings of -Judah never learned their lesson.</p> -<p>The Chaldeans besieged Jerusalem to put -down this revolt, and Hophra marched to -its aid. Because the company of Chaldeans -was small, as Nebuchadnezzar had not anticipated -a strong resistance, the wise captains -of this advance-guard did not join battle with -Hophra, but retired in good order rather than -fight a hopeless conflict when they were so -strongly outnumbered.</p> -<p>The city of Jerusalem went wild with delight -and rejoicing over its deliverance. The -gloomy Jeremiah warned the leaders in vain -that the Chaldeans would return, and in overwhelming -force. Refusing to listen to the -prophecies of Jeremiah, the people treated -him harshly and cast him out. While the -city was rejoicing at this early victory, Jeremiah -himself gave a manifestation of confidence -in the ultimate fulfillment of his own -prophecies, when he fled from the city and -delivered himself voluntarily into the hands -of the Chaldeans. In the meantime, Hophra, -overcome with pride at his easy victory, -boasted with blasphemy that not even could -<span class="pb" id="Page_306">306</span> -God defeat him! The sycophantic Zedekiah -acquiesced in this boasting and blasphemy -and showered the foolish Hophra with unlimited -compliments.</p> -<p>With Jeremiah gone and all of Judah turning -to the ways of idolatry, God did not lack -champions. Messengers and prophets were -sent rapidly to Zedekiah and to the princes -of the kingdom, but they mocked the messengers -of God and despised His words. They -misused His prophets, until the wrath of the -Lord rose against His people beyond remedy. -Therefore, says the thirty-sixth chapter of -II Chronicles,</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“He brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, -who slew their young men with the -sword in the house of their sanctuary, and -had no compassion upon young man or maiden, -old man, or him that stooped for age; he -gave them all into his hand.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>The strongest voice that was raised for -God in this dark hour was that of Ezekiel. At -this time, the prophet was in Babylon and -from there he spoke the words that are found -in the first sixteen verses of his twenty-ninth -chapter. This is undoubtedly one of the most -comprehensive and remarkable prophecies -concerning any nation that the student of this -fascinating subject may deal with. For the -sake of refreshing the mind of the reader, we -publish here this prophecy in full:</p> -<blockquote> -<div class="pb" id="Page_307">307</div> -<p>“In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in -the twelfth day of the month, the word of the -Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set -thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and -prophesy against him, and against all Egypt: -Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; -Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of -Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst -of his rivers, which hath said, My river is -mine own, and I have made it for myself.</p> -<p>“But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will -cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy -scales, and I will bring thee up out of the -midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy -rivers shall stick unto thy scales.</p> -<p>“And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, -thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou -shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not -be brought together, nor gathered: I have -given thee for meat to the beast of the field -and to the fowls of the heaven.</p> -<p>“And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know -that I am the Lord, because they have been -a staff of reed to the house of Israel.</p> -<p>“When they took hold of thee by thy hand, -thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: -and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, -and madest all their loins to be at a stand. -Therefore thus said the Lord God; Behold I -will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off -man and beast out of thee.</p> -<p>“And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and -waste; and they shall know that I am the -Lord: because he hath said, The river is mine, -and I have made it.</p> -<p>“Behold, therefore I am against thee, and -against thy rivers, and I will make the land -of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from -<span class="pb" id="Page_308">308</span> -the tower of Syene even unto the border of -Ethiopia.</p> -<p>“No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot -of beast shall pass through it, neither shall -it be inhabited forty years.</p> -<p>“And I will make the land of Egypt desolate -in the midst of the countries that are desolate, -and her cities among the cities that are laid -waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will -scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and -will disperse them through the countries.</p> -<p>“Yet thus saith the Lord God; At the end of -forty years will I gather the Egyptians from -the people whither they were scattered;</p> -<p>“And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, -and will cause them to return into the land -of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; -and they shall be there a base kingdom.</p> -<p>“It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither -shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: -for I will diminish them, that they -shall no more rule over the nations.</p> -<p>“And it shall be no more the confidence of -the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity -to remembrance, when they shall look -after them: but they shall know that I am -the Lord God.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>Analyzing this prophecy, we note the personal -element that is introduced when God -arrayed himself against Hophra and all of -the land of Egypt. This people who, as we -have seen, worshipped the Nile and counted -it a deified object, had also acquiesced in the -claims of Hophra who went so far as to state -that he was the one who had made the river -and caused it to continue to flow. Adopting -<span class="pb" id="Page_309">309</span> -this figure, the prophet speaking for God, -says that Hophra shall be caught like the -fish and cast into the fields by the side of -the banks.</p> -<p>The sixth verse states that all the population -of Egypt is to be taught a bitter lesson. -They shall know forever that God is Lord, -in the punishment they shall reap for their -defections against Israel.</p> -<p>Verse eight contains the information that -this punishment is to take the form of an -invasion that shall leave the land desolate and -waste. This punishment was to come upon -the land and the people because of their -idolatry and their sins against Israel.</p> -<p>From verses ten to twelve, a bleak picture -is drawn of utter desolation which shall prevail -in their land for forty years. The -prophecy then turns upon the pivot of the -thirteenth verse to a time of a partial restoration. -This restoration, however, is limited in -the Divine Word to the effect that Egypt -shall be the basest of the kingdoms of the -earth. It shall never be permitted to exalt -itself again in the council of the nations. It -is to be eternally diminished and debased.</p> -<p>The consequent history of Egypt has been -a complete vindication and fulfillment of this -prophecy. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah -and carried away the last remnant of that -graceless people into captivity in Babylon. -All those who had joined in the defection of -<span class="pb" id="Page_310">310</span> -Zedekiah, great and small, old and young, -they slew with the sword. Then the -angry Nebuchadnezzar swept on into Egypt -and devastated that land, until, it is recorded, -“not a living thing, man or beast,” was left -in that once populous country.</p> -<p>For forty years it lay, wasted and idle. -Then the counselors of Nebuchadnezzar advised -that the land be colonized in order that -it might produce revenue for the crown. The -first attempt failed because of the climate and -the unique conditions of agriculture in a -country that required constant irrigation and -whose crops depended upon the sole source -of moisture the river Nile. Therefore, the -counselors gathered together such remnant -of the Egyptians as remained from the captivity -and sent them back to repopulate the -land.</p> -<p>Every student of history will recall that -Egypt <i>has been</i> the basest of kingdoms from -that hour to this. It has been dominated in -turn by the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, -the Arabs, the Turks, the French, and the -British.</p> -<p>One notable effort was made in historic -time to raise Egypt to its former grandeur -and power. The reader will recall the great -campaign of Napoleon by which he thought -to revive this Mistress of Antiquity and make -Egypt an adjunct of his own imperial greatness. -If Napoleon had read and believed the -<span class="pb" id="Page_311">311</span> -twenty-ninth chapter of Ezekiel, he could -have spared himself this useless and expensive -campaign. We all recall that when victory -seemed to be in sight, Napoleon’s power -and greatness shattered itself upon an immovable -rock. This was composed of the -small remnant of indomitable British who -refused to recognize the fact of their defeat -when it stared them in the face. And that -courageous and noble refusal to give up, when -they were quite evidently hopelessly overthrown, -was again vindicated in the final -result. The army of Napoleon was broken, -discomfited, decimated, and defeated. Finally, -it was deserted by its discouraged leader, -who probably never knew why he had -failed. He was not fighting against the allies -only, nor was he defeated entirely by British -valour. Napoleon was fighting against the -Word of God and the will of Him whose hand -is able to raise to power and to cast down -again. From that hour to this, and even in -our present moment of historic time, Egypt -remains the basest of the kingdoms of the -earth.</p> -<p>To come back to the miserable Hophra, his -final end came when he was assassinated by -his own general, whose name is given by the -Greeks as Amasis and who appears on the -monuments under the name of Iahmose. -Amasis occupied the throne until the final -conquest by Nebuchadnezzar.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_312">312</div> -<p>We note again the coincidence of ancient -records with the accounts that portray these -events in the books of II Chronicles, Jeremiah, -and Ezekiel. Voluminous sections of -the Word of God are extended a strong and -friendly hand of historical authentication by -the secular records which have survived -from that time.</p> -<p>In the British Museum will be found tablets, -stelae, portraits, and sculptured remnants -from Egypt which have been derived -from those unsettled times. In the Egyptian -collection of the British Museum, the exhibit -numbered 1358 contains a portrait of Hophra. -There are also a number of scarabs in Table -Case “B” in the Fourth Egyptian Room, and -a fragmentary sistrum in the Fifth Egyptian -Room, all of which bear the name of Hophra -and authenticate his record.</p> -<p>Thus we have seen in a brief but accurate -recapitulation of generations and centuries -of history that dead men do tell tales! We -have Hophra’s record together with the annalistic -tablet of Amasis to aid us in our -understanding of these stirring days. Added -to that, the record of Nebuchadnezzar brings -additional confirmation of the thesis that is -maintained in this brief work.</p> -<p><i>The evidence of archeology as it bears upon -the text of God’s Word is final and complete -wherever men have delved into the records of -those days.</i></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_313">313</div> -<p>It may not be exactly what was in the mind -of the Lord Jesus Christ when He uttered -the words, but we can certainly apply to the -generation in which we live, His striking -statement:</p> -<p>“If men should hold their tongues, the very -stones would cry out!”</p> -<p>And if <i>living</i> men will not speak the truth -concerning the finality of the Bible—<i>dead -men must!</i></p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_317">317</div> -<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER XI</span> -<br />Vindication of Daniel</h2> -<p>Nowhere in all this long and profitable -study has archeology more perfectly and -thoroughly vindicated the accuracy of the -Scripture than in those portions of the disputed -record that are found in the Book of -Daniel.</p> -<p>A great deal remains to be discovered at -Nineveh and Babylon, and it is highly probable -that the excavations to the present hour -have but scraped the surface of the marvelous -treasure that remains to be uncovered. -It is a happy circumstance, however, that in -our present incomplete but numerous sources, -a great deal of information has been brought -to light in vindication of the prophet Daniel.</p> -<p>In the heyday of its brief popularity, the -school of higher criticism pounced with great -glee on the alleged inaccuracies and historical -errors in the Book of Daniel. The general -argument against the integrity of this writing -may be summed up in a simple resumé. -In the Book of Daniel, there are supposed to -be a number of outstanding philological anachronisms. -The school of higher criticism, -in its weird procedure, made great capital of -<span class="pb" id="Page_318">318</span> -the presumed cultural development of the -people with whom the record dealt.</p> -<p>Daniel is pictured in the Bible as having -lived and written in the last days of the -Babylonian dynasties. He was carried away -from his native land as a lad when the wrath -of Nebuchadnezzar was poured out on Jerusalem -in the days of Zedekiah. He lived -throughout the reign of each of the last -Babylonian kings, and was alive when Cyrus -signed the decree that enabled the remnant -to return to Jerusalem. No leader of Hebrew -life and thought lived in a more stirring span -of history than did Daniel.</p> -<p>The bright minds of the higher critics, -which were never limited in their flights of -fancy by historical fact, concluded that the -Greek language could not have reached the -courts of Babylon until after the conquest of -Alexander. In examining the Hebrew text -of this book, the self-styled scholars claimed -to have found eleven Greek words in Daniel’s -manuscript. The occurrence of these words -was sufficient evidence that the Book of -Daniel was not written in the days of the -Babylonian dynasty, but must have originated -after the exile and in the days of Alexander. -This was the first great argument -directed against the credibility and authenticity -of this prophecy.</p> -<p>The second alleged fallacy in the Book of -Daniel is to be found in the predication of -<span class="pb" id="Page_319">319</span> -the entire book. The sweep and movement -of Daniel’s account begins with the adventure -of certain young lads of the royal seed -who were carried away as hostages to Babylon. -Daniel’s own records state that by -orders of Nebuchadnezzar these young Hebrew -boys were put in the schools of learning -where they might be instructed in the wisdom -of Babylon, and taught patriotism, and affection -for the conquering power of Chaldea. -To this basis of the entire narrative criticism -objected vociferously and strenuously. The -argument advanced by this now discredited -school was that the brutal conquerors of that -day did not treat their hostages with such -kindness and courtesy, and so the entire -record was declared to be incompatible with -the known facts of history.</p> -<p>The third and more serious objection of -the critics was directed against the appearance -in Daniel’s manuscript of certain stories -which were alleged to consist of pure myths. -Among these is the story of the three Hebrew -children in the fiery furnace. The demands -of intelligence were supposed to find this utterly -unreasonable and the doubters declared -that such a miracle could not have occurred.</p> -<p>Another weakness in the structure of the -narrative was presumed to be found in the -preservation of Daniel in the den of lions. -In fact, this whole record was relegated to -the realm of improbability, as this method -<span class="pb" id="Page_320">320</span> -of execution was never practiced by the -Babylonians. These objections constituted -the case in the dogmatic assertions of the -advocates of higher criticism.</p> -<p>The strange experience of Nebuchadnezzar -for the year of his madness, when he supposed -himself a beast of the field and lived -without the benefits of his civilization, added -strength to this objection against the historicity -of a book that incorporates in its structure -such palpable fables.</p> -<p>The final and most crushing argument, -however, was the discovery of certain alleged -historical inaccuracies that permeate the text -of Daniel.</p> -<p>When Nebuchadnezzar died, the kingdom -seems to have fallen into a condition that -was little short of anarchy. Nebuchadnezzar -the Second reigned from 604 B. C. to 561 B. C. -Upon his death, he was succeeded by Evil-merodach -who reigned for two years. This -unhappy monarch passed off the scene by -violence, and his murderer, Neriglissar, succeeded -him to the throne.</p> -<p>After a short reign he, in turn, was removed -by Labshi-marduk who reigned but -the portion of a year. He also met a sudden -and unfortunate end and the succession was -in a condition of anarchy.</p> -<p>Being backed by the army, Nabonidus, who -according to most accounts was the son-in-law -of Nebuchadnezzar, saved the throne and -<span class="pb" id="Page_321">321</span> -established himself in power. Having the -complete confidence and trust of the military, -he established his dominion and reigned from -555 B. C. to 538.</p> -<p>But in the year 538, Cyrus the Great captured -Babylon and overran the entire kingdom. -Cyrus reigned until 529 and was followed -by Cambyses. In 521, Cambyses was -succeeded by Darius who, in turn, gave place -to Xerxes.</p> -<p>Thus we have a complete and fairly accurate -record of those stirring days that followed -Nebuchadnezzar. But in all profane -history there was no record of a king by the -name of Belshazzar. Yet a surprising portion -of the Book of Daniel is given over to -the events and incidents in the life and reign -of this “mythical” king. According to the -critics, such historical inaccuracy was sufficient -to condemn the manuscript. Upon -these and lesser grounds, therefore, criticism -tore Daniel out of the Old Testament and -denied him any place in the records of -credible historians.</p> -<p>Had the hopeful enemies of faith waited -but a few short years, they might have saved -themselves all this work and trouble. So -thoroughly has the voice of archeology accredited -the accuracy of Daniel’s writings, -that those who foolishly surrendered their -faith in the historicity of this Book, have -been forced to replace the disputed record, -<span class="pb" id="Page_322">322</span> -and Daniel has been vindicated as has no -other questioned writer of antiquity.</p> -<p>To bring a brief and simple refutation of -this critical argument concerning alleged -discrepancies, we shall go back to the primary -argument.</p> -<p>The reign of Nebuchadnezzar was characterized -by a recrudescence of architecture -and busy years of building. The great king -spent his enormous revenues in the construction -of public buildings, and the land blossomed -under his influence and sway. It was -inevitable that the delvings at the site of -Babylon should have brought to light some -of the palaces and works of this great kingdom. -It was the custom among the Babylonian -builders to mark their public buildings, -even as we do in our present culture. -Upon the cornerstone of our city hall or court -house, we engrave the name and purpose of -the building, with the date of its erection. -Over the doorways of our libraries and public -buildings we chisel deeply into the building -stones the name of the building and a -brief dedication. It seemed to be almost -providential that one of the first great marble -palaces discovered in the ruins of Babylon -was designated by the builders themselves -as “The Place of Learning.” There captive -princes were taught the learning of Chaldea.</p> -<p>This one discovery reopened the whole -case of the credibility of Daniel. His historicity -<span class="pb" id="Page_323">323</span> -was questioned primarily upon the -grounds that <i>such schools did not exist</i>, and -captives were not so treated. The foundational -vindication of Daniel that emerged -from the dust of countless centuries, caused -a re-examination of the entire structure that -criticism had reared against his integrity. -The result was a complete vindication of -Daniel and his record.</p> -<p>The argument of philology also turned -against its producers and showed that their -case against Daniel was baseless. It has -been shown that eight of the eleven alleged -Greek words in Daniel’s manuscript are -Sumerian and not Hellenistic. At one time -the Sumerian language was the universal -language of ancient diplomacy. As French -was the language of international correspondence -until recent times, when it has been -largely displaced by English, so most of the -courts of antiquity conducted much of their -business in the Sumerian tongue. This custom, -however, was discontinued by the time -of the Persian conquest. If there is any -value in the argument of philology for the -dating of a manuscript, the evidence is conclusive -that Daniel could not have written -after the time of Nebuchadnezzar, for the -Sumerian language was no longer in use -from that time on.</p> -<p>The three bona fide Greek words that do -occur in Daniel’s writings are an evidence -<span class="pb" id="Page_324">324</span> -for his accuracy and historical fidelity, rather -than a source of criticism, as has been implied. -These three words are the names of -musical instruments that were Greek in -origin. The language of music was and is -universal and it did not take generations -for such words to penetrate to the courts of -other nations. As an instance, the reader -may remember that the seven-stringed harp -was invented by the Greek poet Terpander. -Assur-bani-pal died twenty-five years after -the invention of this harp. He shows it, -however, upon his monuments, and the statement -is made that one was buried with the -king. The Babylonian records depict this -harp under its Greek name. Thus we see -that instead of taking centuries for a Greek -word to reach Babylon, this word had become -a household word in a few short years. -So the argument of philology turns out to be -a boomerang which returns to smite the critic -who hurled it.</p> -<p>The tales that are told by dead men who -have no purpose in deceiving the living, not -only enhance our understanding of this disputed -text, but bring to us irrefutable evidence -of its scrupulous accuracy. The case -for Daniel’s vindication is even more graphically -presented when we come to the realm -of these sections of alleged folklore and fable.</p> -<p>It is of course necessary that the careful -scholar walk warily so as not to over-emphasize -<span class="pb" id="Page_325">325</span> -the facts at his disposal. There is a -tendency among those who have a justified -confidence in the Book of God to allow their -natural elation over the illuminating vindication -wrought for the Scripture by archeology -to result in an unfortunate over-emphasis. -Here is where we face an illustration -of such a tendency.</p> -<p>In one of the earlier excavations at Babylon -a peculiar building was uncovered which -at first sight appeared to be a firing kiln in -which bricks or pottery might be baked. It -was rounded in the typical shape common to -the ancient beehive, which is preserved even -among some of our kilns of the present generation. -When the inscription was deciphered -that designated the purpose of the building, -however, it was startling to read, “This -is the place of burning where men who blasphemed -the gods of Chaldea died by fire.” -The tremendous significance of this discovery -becomes at once apparent. The tendency -would be to explain with delight, “We have -discovered the fiery furnace where Shadrach, -Meshach, and Abed-nego walked with the -Son of God.” Such an application of this -fact, however, would not quite be warranted. -This may or may not have been the Scriptural -site of that great miracle. We can say, -however, that the three Hebrew children in -the fiery furnace can no longer be consigned -to the columns of mythology and dismissed -<span class="pb" id="Page_326">326</span> -as simple folklore. This discovery has showed -us without doubt that there <i>was</i> such a -furnace as Daniel depicts. It was customary -to punish blasphemy in this fashion, and the -Chaldean monuments and annals are replete -with instances of men being burned alive, -who had angered the king or rebelled against -his sovereignty.</p> -<p>So, then, the implacable, unrelenting voice -of archeology penetrates the innermost retreats -of higher criticism to destroy, in this -instance, their familiar and favorite argument -of folklore and mythology.</p> -<p>No less dramatic and interesting was the -accidental experience of the famed excavator -Dieulafoy, who fell into what at first -sight would have been called an ancient well. -Being rescued by his companions from his -uncomfortable, but in nowise dangerous, situation, -they proceeded with their work to -the point of identification. The well turned -out to be a pit which was used as an open -cage for wild animals, and upon the curb -was found the inscription, “The place of execution -where men who angered the king died -torn by wild animals.”</p> -<p>Once again we must tread cautiously, for -we cannot say with dogmatic finality, “This -is the place of Daniel’s experience.” We -<i>can</i> say, however, with positive assurance -that <i>there was such a pit of execution</i>, and the -only unusual feature in Daniel’s experience -<span class="pb" id="Page_327">327</span> -was that he came out alive under the defense -and protection of the God whom he served.</p> -<p>In the excavation of the palace at Shushan, -an ancient record was uncovered giving a -list of four hundred eighty-four men of high -degree who thus died in a den of lions. The -name of Daniel was not found among them. -This might be accepted as collateral evidence -that Daniel escaped alive from that place of -execution.</p> -<p>Even the strange experience of Nebuchadnezzar, -who dreamed that he would be turned -into a wild beast and roam the fields like an -ox, has also been accredited. It will be remembered -that the mighty monarch dreamed -of a tree that stood in the center of the earth -and grew to an unprecedented height. Its -towering branches swept the heavens and -from all the ends of the earth its foliage was -visible. Fruit hung upon this tree that satisfied -the needs of men, and the very beasts -of the field shadowed themselves under its -spreading branches. Even the fowls of the -air dwelt safely therein, and all living things -drew strength and protection from this -mighty growth.</p> -<p>The dream continued to the point where -a Holy One came down from heaven and -ordered the destruction of the tree. The -trunk, the branches, the leaves, and the fruit -were all to be swept away, but the stump -and roots were to be undisturbed. The heart -<span class="pb" id="Page_328">328</span> -was to be changed from a man’s heart, and -the heart of an animal was to be given it -until seven times should pass over that stump. -This drastic action was explained by the -Holy One as being intended to teach the high -and lordly king that only the Most High rules -in the kingdom of man, and that He gives -dominion to whomsoever He will. He has -the right and authority to make the basest -of men to sit in the places of highest power -and to humble the most lordly.</p> -<p>Upon coming to Daniel with his troubled -spirit, the king sought an interpretation of -the dream. Daniel recounts that for the -passing of an hour he was so astonished and -troubled in heart he could not find the -strength to speak. The king, whose kindly -affection for Daniel is one of the wonders -of that day, besought him to speak frankly -and not to allow his affection and regard for -Nebuchadnezzar to hinder him from telling -the complete truth to the troubled king. -Daniel’s interpretation was given in simple -but graphic words: The tree which grew and -reached the heavens, whose leaves, branches, -and fruits sheltered and nurtured all flesh, -was a symbol of the mighty Nebuchadnezzar. -(It is true that in the day of Nebuchadnezzar -he builded a world empire, as far as the cultured -races of mankind extended.) But because -of the high pride which was natural -to the human heart over such great accomplishments, -<span class="pb" id="Page_329">329</span> -the Most High God had decreed -that the king should be humbled. He should -forsake the councils and fellowship of men -and sleep in the open fields, wet with the -dew of heaven; imagining himself to be one -with the beasts of the earth, Nebuchadnezzar -was to learn humility.</p> -<p>Daniel then pleaded with the king that by -repentance and restitution he should forsake -his sins and dedicate himself to the pursuit -of righteousness. Thus by showing mercy, -he might receive grace and his iniquities be -blotted out.</p> -<p>Twelve months later the prophetic dream -was fulfilled. As the king strolled on the -roof of his great palace, he surveyed the -might of Babylon and boasted in his heart -saying, “This great Babylon have I not myself -built it; have I not erected this kingdom -and this house by the might of my own power -and for the honour of my majesty.” While -this exalted boast was still echoing upon the -king’s lips, there fell a voice from heaven -which said that the hour of the fulfillment -of the prophecy had come.</p> -<p>Madness fell upon Nebuchadnezzar, and -he fled from the presence of men. Sleeping -in the open fields and dwelling with the -beasts of the earth, his hair grew as long as -an eagle’s feathers and his nails became like -the claws of a bird. During those seven years -of the madness of Nebuchadnezzar, his faithful -<span class="pb" id="Page_330">330</span> -counselors administered his kingdom, apparently -in the earnest hope that the reason -of the king would be restored. Their confidence -was justified, for at the end of seven -years the king recounts that he lifted up his -eyes to heaven and understanding returned -to him. Thereupon he blessed the Most High -God and swore that he would bless and -honour Him that liveth forever. He confessed -that the dominion of God is an everlasting -dominion and His kingdom is eternal. -His psalm of praise exalted Almighty God -above the reach of men.</p> -<p>When his reason had thus been restored, -the king again occupied the throne of -Babylon and profited by this experience. -The glory and honour of his kingdom he -henceforth attributed unto the majesty and -kindness of God. The king testified personally -that the words of God are true and His -judgments righteous. He turned to monotheism, -and became the greatest convert, perhaps, -that Daniel had made in all of his ministry.</p> -<p>This brief account of those amazing seven -years is given by Daniel in the fourth chapter -of his great prophecy. The literal words of -the king are preserved for us in that historical -record. This is perhaps the most outstanding -instance of critical repudiation of the -text that we have in the Old Testament. The -whole record was uncompromisingly declared -<span class="pb" id="Page_331">331</span> -to be a fabrication of a vivid imagination.</p> -<p><i>It fell to the lot of the great Sir Henry Rawlinson -to find the original document wherein -Nebuchadnezzar tells this episode exactly as -Daniel had given it.</i></p> -<p>The most dramatic and astonishing vindication -of the integrity of the text that the -Book of Daniel has sustained, providentially -occurred in that field of criticism which -was supposed to be the strongest evidence -that criticism possessed. This was in the -realm of the historical accuracy of the Book -of Daniel. The basis of the critical contention -was right to a certain extent. Profane -history possessed no record of a king in Babylon -by the name of Belshazzar. When the -period of anarchy in Babylon ended by -means of the military coup that placed Nabonidus -upon the throne, it took a short -while to quiet the realm and reëstablish the -authority of the crown. Nabonidus then gave -himself to a period of construction and rehabilitation. -In the course of his work on -the fortifications of his capital city, Nabonidus -was strengthening the walls at certain -neglected points. Delving deeply, to buttress -the foundations, he came upon the ruins of -an ancient palace which had been built centuries -before by Narum-sin.</p> -<p>The discovery so delighted king Nabonidus -that he became a confirmed archeologist. He -reconstructed this palace of Narum-sin and -<span class="pb" id="Page_332">332</span> -turned it into a museum of antiquity. The -delight of discovery drove the energetic -Nabonidus into expeditions far and wide. -The administration of the kingdom became -of secondary importance to him. He had a -son whose name appears in the ancient records -as “Belt-sar-utzar,” which is given in -the record of Daniel as Bel-shazzar. Upon -the thirtieth birthday of his son, Nabonidus -made him regent, and the throne of Babylon -was thenceforth occupied jointly by Nabonidus -and Bel-shazzar. Because the more common -form is familiar to our readers, we -will from this point on designate him by -the Biblical name of Belshazzar.</p> -<p>The decrees and laws were signed, of -course, by the seal of Nabonidus, the senior -monarch, but the practical administration -was left in the hands of the regent. This will -explain why Belshazzar, wishing to honour -Daniel for the interpretation of the writing -upon the wall, with which we shall deal later, -offered to make him the <i>third</i> ruler of the -kingdom. This, of course, is eminently unorthodox! -It was always the custom in antiquity, -if records can be trusted, to honour -a man by giving him the hand of the king’s -daughter in marriage and making him ruler -over <i>half</i> the kingdom. Belshazzar could not -go so far as this. Nabonidus, his father, was -the number one ruler as long as he lived. -Belshazzar, the regent, was the second ruler -<span class="pb" id="Page_333">333</span> -of the realm. Therefore, if Daniel became -prime minister and had an office second in -authority to Belshazzar, <i>he would be the third -ruler in the kingdom</i>.</p> -<p>How amazing indeed is the historical accuracy -of this ancient Book! These writers -were faultless in their efforts to keep the -Scripture in line with the historical facts. -In this case they have been inspired even in -their choice of numerical descriptions in the -honours conferred upon their heroic characters.</p> -<p>So now we peer into ancient Babylon -through the telescope of archeology and we -see a quaint situation. Nabonidus, the kind -and able monarch, fascinated with the study -of antiquities, has left the active control of -the kingdom to his son and heir, Belshazzar. -The prince regent, however, was not able -to stand prosperity. He seems to have degenerated -into a drunken profligate who -spent all of his time in the dubious pleasures -of sin. The administration of the kingdom -fell on evil days during the brief span of time -that Belshazzar was in authority. As nearly -as we can build an accurate and credible -chronology from the now available records -of Babylon, Belshazzar became regent in 541 -B. C., and in the year 538 B. C. the Babylonian -dynasty disappeared.</p> -<p>In those three years great and marvelous -events were being shaped in the womb of -<span class="pb" id="Page_334">334</span> -time. Cyrus, thereafter called the Great, had -previously begun his phenomenal rise to -power. Apparently he had been born a minor -prince in an obscure tribe of the Medes, but -was endowed with genius and brilliancy from -his early youth. The picture that is now -painted of Cyrus, as we see him in the treasured -records, depicts this fascinating personality -engaged first of all in welding the -scattered families of the Medes into a close, -binding organization that made them a power. -So rapid was his climb to dominion, there -is no other explanation to account for the -phenomenon than that of Isaiah, who in his -forty-fifth chapter, states that the Lord God -Almighty Himself had raised Cyrus to the -position of world dominion. This prophecy -we shall refer to later; but our present purpose -is to show the conjunction of Cyrus -with Belshazzar.</p> -<p>We come to a period of time when the -records are fragmentary, but it is evident -now that Cyrus the Mede became naturalized -as a Persian that he might occupy that throne -and combine it with his own kingdom. When -the youthful Cyrus had combined Media and -Persia into one great dominion, a new world -empire was born, although it was not immediately -apparent. After a number of successful -forays and campaigns that enlarged -his possessions and strengthened his position -until he felt himself to be well nigh invincible, -<span class="pb" id="Page_335">335</span> -the ambitious Cyrus turned his eyes -toward Babylon. He realized that if he possessed -Babylon, he would indeed be the master -of the earth.</p> -<p>Cyrus is reported to have sent an ambassador -to Nabonidus saying, “Come thou under -my yoke and I will be thy protection and -defense.” The modern system of ‘muscling -in’ is supposed to be a development of the -racketeers of our generation. These modern -pragmatists, however, are merely amateur -performers at an old game, at which the -ancients were masters. This invitation of -Cyrus, of course, could be interpreted only -one way. In the vernacular of the modern -day, it was a case of surrender, “or else.” -When the Persian ambassador arrived at the -court of Babylon, Nabonidus was absent on -one of his many expeditions. Belshazzar, as -usual, was in the midst of a drunken orgy and -was more concerned with the hilarity of the -hour than with the future safety of the kingdom. -With that ill-guided and perverse humour -which is characteristic of the insanity -of drunkenness, the Regent conceived a brilliant -jest. He caused the ambassador to be -hewed into pieces and packed into a basket -which was returned to Cyrus with a note saying, -“This we will do to you and your army -if you invade our empire.”</p> -<p>When this insult was delivered to Cyrus, -the outraged king was so wild with indignation -<span class="pb" id="Page_336">336</span> -that he could not contain himself long -enough to assemble his army. He ordered -Darius the chief of his bodyguard, who was -one of his Median counselors and companions, -to assemble an advance force and lay siege -to the city. While Darius invested the city, -Cyrus was to follow with the balance of his -cohort. Thus the scene was set for the most -singular episode of those stirring days.</p> -<p>It occurred on the birthday of Belshazzar, -which marked the beginning of the third year -of his regency. The ignoble king had gathered -to himself all the lords and ladies of his -court, the thousand dissolute companions who -were the fellows-in-drunkenness of this king. -Belshazzar again conceived a drunken jest, -which struck him as highly humourous. In -the midst of their debauch, he ordered that -the sacred vessels, which his grandfather, -Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the temple -of God in Jerusalem, should be brought to -the table to be used as flagons for their drinking -bout. This was done, and as this godless -and idolatrous crew drank from the holy -implements dedicated to the God of Israel, -they toasted the idols of Babylon and sang -their praise.</p> -<p>Even while they were thus engaged, according -to the fifth chapter of Daniel, a hand -appeared which wrote on the wall and pronounced -the doom of the kingdom. Almost -at this exact hour, Darius, the counselor, -<span class="pb" id="Page_337">337</span> -friend and commander of the vanguard of -Cyrus’ army, appeared before the walls of -Babylon!</p> -<p>To the surprise of the great Median general, -the gates of the city were open. This -is according to his own record. It being the -birthday of Belshazzar, the entire city was -celebrating in a fashion made popular and -characteristic by the debauched ruler. Wine -had been provided for the guards that they -also might share in the happy celebration -of the king’s natal day. The drunken soldiers -had failed to close the city gates with the -coming of nightfall, and by the time Darius -appeared before the city, they were in a -stupor of drunkenness. The able Mede, -skilled in all the arts of ancient warfare, -moved swiftly, well knowing the value of a -surprise attack. His company, although few -in number when compared to the complete -might of the armed forces of Cyrus, was sufficient -to hold the city, if it could be gained.</p> -<p>Daring men fell upon the drunken guards -and slew them. Leaving a small company -to guard the gate and keep it open, Darius’ -troops swept through the city to the very -palace of Belshazzar. Slaying all whom they -met upon the way, they fell upon the royal -company with a shock of complete surprise. -Scarcely had the voice of Daniel finished -interpreting the words that the hand of God -had written upon the wall, when the sword -<span class="pb" id="Page_338">338</span> -of Darius fulfilled the prophecy by slaying -Belshazzar. Darius caused the head of Belshazzar -to be sent to Cyrus with a grim and -brief note, saying “The kingdom is thine. -Do thou enter.” When Cyrus, therefore, -came with his mighty company, the city -already had been captured by Darius and -Cyrus had only to make a triumphal entry.</p> -<p>In the meantime, Nabonidus heard that his -kingdom was invaded, so he gathered a force -and marched to the relief of Babylon. When -he arrived, however, he found that the city -was already in the possession of Cyrus. Acting -with characteristic wisdom, he laid down -his arms, surrendered to Cyrus and cast himself -upon the mercy of the great king. He -was well received, and lived as an honoured -guest in the court of Cyrus until he died a -natural death several years later.</p> -<p>Cyrus ruled Babylon through Darius, his -counselor and friend, whose courage and -strategy were rewarded when the king made -him satrap of Babylon. Herein is found a -reconciliation of the apparent contradiction -between the two statements made by Darius -and Cyrus concerning the fate of the king of -Babylon. Although the critics never bothered -to notice such, archeology has its difficulties -as well as has Scripture.</p> -<p>Darius tersely recounts, “In the night that -I captured Babylon, I slew the king.”</p> -<p>The annalistic tablet of Cyrus, however, -<span class="pb" id="Page_339">339</span> -contains this note, “In the day that I entered -Babylon, I made the king my captive.”</p> -<p>The contradiction is more fancied than -real. The two generals are speaking about -two different kings! Darius killed King -Belshazzar; Cyrus made King Nabonidus his -captive and friend.</p> -<p>Because of the insult that Belshazzar had -offered to his majesty, Cyrus caused the Regent’s -name to be stricken from all the available -records and thus Belshazzar’s name -passed out of history and faded from the -memory of men. <i>For twenty-five hundred years -the only record of the name of Belshazzar that -was preserved for posterity was found in the -writings of Daniel. This very historic accuracy -of Daniel was the source of a great deal of the -critical rejection of his notable writing!</i></p> -<p>The first discovery in archeology that shed -light upon these events was the prayer cylinder -of Nabonidus. Upon the ascension of -Belshazzar to the regency of the kingdom, -Nabonidus caused to be engraved in all the -temples of Bel a prayer for the protection, -praise, and prosperity of his son, Belt-sar-utsar. -In the excavations at Mukkayyar, one -of the great buildings uncovered was the -temple of the moon god. In each of the four -corners of the building, Nabonidus, who had -rebuilt the temple, had caused a clay cylinder -to be buried containing the record of the -work. On this cylinder, which dedicated the -<span class="pb" id="Page_340">340</span> -rebuilding of an ancient temple which was -originally constructed about seventeen centuries -before the day of Nabonidus, the -kindly king engraved the prayer for his son -and heir, to which we have previously referred.</p> -<p>The name of the moon god was Sin, and -he was one of the chief deities of the land of -Babylon. The wording on the cylinder that -particularly interests the student of historical -accuracy is found in these words: “Oh, -Sin, thou lord of the gods, thou king of the -gods of heaven and of earth, and of the gods -of the gods, who dwellest in heaven, when -thou enterest with joy into this temple, may -the good fortune of the temples E-sagil, E-zida -and E-gish-shirgal, the temples of thine exalted -godhead be established at thy word. -And set thou the fear of thine exalted godhead -in the hearts of my people, that they -sin not against thine exalted godhead, and -let them stand fast like the heavens. <i>And -as for me, Nabonidus, the king of Babylon, -protect thou me from sinning against thine -exalted godhead and grant thou me graciously -a long life and in the heart of Belshazzar, my -first born son, the offspring of my loins, set the -fear of thine exalted godhead so he may commit -no sin and that he may be satisfied with the fullness -of life.</i>”</p> -<p>In the British Museum, Table Case “G” -in the magnificent Babylonian Room contains -<span class="pb" id="Page_341">341</span> -these cylinders, which are numbered 91,125 -to 91,128; the cylinders of Nabonidus are -many. Some of them recount his building -operations, while others give the record of -his discoveries of some of the great monuments -of antiquity in the search for which -he spent so much of his time and treasure. -Perhaps no single event in the long records -of archeology so startled and delighted the -careful students whose interest was in the -authority of the Word of God, as did this -discovery of the name of Belshazzar. In one -magnificent demonstration archeology thus -accredited the <i>history</i> included in the prophecies -of Daniel, and shattered the conclusions -of criticism beyond the possibility of recovery.</p> -<p>Also in this same section and case of the -British Museum, there is a portion of a baked -clay cylinder inscribed by Cyrus. This bears -the Museum number of 90,920 and is a priceless -record. We are tempted to believe in -the providential preservation of this fragment, -since the balance of the tablet has -been destroyed and is missing. In this particular -record, Cyrus describes his conquest -of Babylon, following a recital of some of -the chief preliminary events in the early -part of his reign. He ascribes his good success -to the god Marduk. He tells how he -had forced all nations to accept his standard -until finally, under divine command, Marduk -<span class="pb" id="Page_342">342</span> -caused him to go to Babylon. Because -of the significance of this statement and its -bearing upon our foregoing paragraphs, we -reproduce this much of the words of Cyrus, -“Marduk the great lord, the protector of his -people beheld his good deeds and his righteous -heart with joy. He commanded him to -go to Babylon and he caused him to set out -on the road to the city and like a friend and -ally, he marched by his side; and his troops -with our weapons girt about them, marched -with him in countless numbers like the waters -of a flood. Without battle and without -fighting, Marduk made him enter into his -city of Babylon; he spared Babylon tribulation -and Nabonidus the king who feared him -not, he delivered into his hands.”</p> -<p>The Babylonian sources of the British Museum -also contain an amazing number of highly -important documents which cover every -year of the reign of Cyrus in Babylon, namely, -B. C. 538 to 529. These records are concerned -with commercial transactions, legal business -and documents that deal with the personal -and public life of the people. Such homely -affairs as a deed recording a loan of three -thousand bundles of onions from one man to -another is legally dated by the year of the -ascendency of Cyrus. The apprenticeship -of slaves to various masters in the arts and -sciences, the worship of the people, the blossoming -of prosperity under the firm but -<span class="pb" id="Page_343">343</span> -kind rule of Cyrus, all make up a wonderful -picture of those days and times. Therein -are included apparently unconscious references -to the historic events that are of such -tremendous interest to those who today read -the Word of God in the light of this historical -illumination.</p> -<p>There are, of course, also many private -and public letters preserved from this period -which are found in Table Case “H” of the -Babylonian Room, where they are available -to the student who cares to delve into the -minute evidences of those days and times.</p> -<p>We shall have to condense a great deal of -this material, however, into the one simple -statement that <i>the Book of Daniel is historically -accredited by these voluminous records</i>! -Thus there is only one possible basis whereupon -criticism of Daniel may be continued -today. In all kindness, but in absolute assurance, -we must say that the rejection of -the historicity of Daniel by our generation -can be predicated only upon complete ignorance -of an amazing body of historical -knowledge that is available to the student. -Either that, or there is a sad desire in the -heart of the critic to frustrate the purpose -of the Word of God even at the expense of -the surrender of personal integrity. The -original construction of the case against -Daniel did appear formidable at first. It -has turned out, however, to be a tissue of -<span class="pb" id="Page_344">344</span> -falsehood, and Daniel has emerged from -the den of liars unharmed and under the -continuing protection of God, even as he came -forth in safety from the den of lions.</p> -<p>With the coming of Cyrus, the Assyrian -and Babylonian dynasties ended and Persian -history began. Much of this period of the -Persian sway was contemporaneous with the -times of the Maccabees, and is of tremendous -importance and interest to the student of the -history of Israel. But since that same period -parallels the four hundred silent years, during -which the voice of God was not heard -through the prophets, and sacred revelation -is awaiting the appearance of Jesus Christ, -there is very little of archeological value -from those years that can be useful to the -establishment of our present thesis.</p> -<p>The exception to this would be seen in the -case of the return of the people to rebuild -Jerusalem, and to establish a Jewish culture, -so that Jesus could be born in the land of -Israel, and minister to the people of Israel, -as the prophecies had foretold. The events -of this return are told in the prophecies of -Ezra and Nehemiah, which are abundantly -substantiated by secular evidence, and have -thus not been questioned or disputed by -criticism to any major extent. Cyrus has left -an account of this return, and the great king -seemed to be vastly elated over the opportunity -<span class="pb" id="Page_345">345</span> -thus to show kindness to the people of -Israel.</p> -<p>According to the record that is generally -received, Cyrus the Great signed the decree -authorizing the return of the children of -Israel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and -the temple of God, primarily because of one -of those fascinating anticipations of coming -events which is the peculiar field of prophecy.</p> -<p>It is recorded that the scribe Zerubbabel -entered the presence of Cyrus and with the -grandiloquent salutation of that day bowed -himself and said, “Oh king live forever! Be -it known unto my lord the king that our God -hath named him by name in the prophecy of -His sacred writings generations before the -king was born.” When Cyrus expressed a -desire to inquire into this wonder, there was -brought into his presence the scroll of the -prophet Isaiah and to him was read the forty-fifth -chapter. The opening verses of this -chapter contained this statement:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, -whose right hand I have holden, to subdue -nations before him; and I will loose the loins -of kings, to open before him the two leaved -gates; and the gates shall not be shut.</p> -<p>“I will go before thee, and make the crooked -places straight: I will break in pieces the gates -of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:</p> -<p>“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, -and hidden riches of secret places, that -thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which -<span class="pb" id="Page_346">346</span> -call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. -For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine -elect, I have even called thee by thy name: -I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not -known me.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>This is a significant prophecy indeed! -Isaiah wrote these words about the year 712 -B. C. Cyrus took over the dominion of Babylon -538 B. C. So in this ancient prophecy the -conqueror is named by name some century -and a half before he was born. His conquest -of all nations was clearly delineated and the -explanation was given that God had pre-named -him for the sake of the thing that he -should later do for Israel. Astounded and -deeply moved by this evidence of divine -favour, Cyrus wrote a notable decree which -is preserved for us in these exact words:</p> -<blockquote> -<p>“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, the Lord -God of Heaven hath given me all the kingdoms -of the earth; and he hath charged me -to build him an house at Jerusalem which -is in Judah. Who is there among you of all -His people? his God be with him and let him -go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and -build the house of the Lord God of Israel, -(he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem, and -whosoever remaineth in any place where he -sojourneth, let the men of his place help him -with silver, and with gold, and with goods, -and with beasts, besides the free-will offering -for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>With this authority, the remnant returned -<span class="pb" id="Page_347">347</span> -to start that magnificent epic of the history -of Israel that climaxed with the coming of -the Redeemer of whom also Isaiah had written.</p> -<p>There is a sense of frustration that is inevitable -to any writer who attempts to cover -so vast a subject as this present work in the -limits of one small volume. The difficulty -has not been in finding evidence to support -the thesis that “dead men tell tales” which -vindicate the historical infallibility of the -Bible. We have been embarrassed by too -much evidence! So we have sought to present -only the most striking cases, such as -can be confirmed by any reader, without the -background of years of archeological education. -Unlimited tons of material have been -passed over with scarcely a mention, due to -the limitation of time and space.</p> -<p>The author has hoped to achieve one purpose -in this volume, namely, the arousing of -a definite interest in the average reader -which will cause that person to study the -sacred page with understanding and appreciation -of its force and authority. “These -Scriptures,” said the Apostle Paul, “are able -to make thee wise unto salvation.” It is imperative -in the light of this purpose, that they -be able to sustain their claim to divine origin -as well. With the prayer that God will bless -His Word to the salvation of the many in -these closing days, we have thus offered you -<span class="pb" id="Page_348">348</span> -the testimony of men long dead, whose words -nevertheless live on in the records of tablets -and tombs. And with those evidences, we -have also an increased assurance in the infallible -character of the Bible, and are historically -justified in receiving it “as it is in -truth, the Word of God.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_349">349</div> -<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">BIBLIOGRAPHY</span></h2> -<table class="center"> -<tr><td class="l">Baikie, James </td><td class="l">The Amarna Age</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Baikie, James </td><td class="l">Lands and People of the Bible</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Baikie, James </td><td class="l">A History of Egypt (Two Volumes)</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Bennett, Charles W. </td><td class="l">Christian Archeology</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Blackman, A. M. </td><td class="l">Luxor and Its Temple</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Boscawen, W. St. Chad </td><td class="l">The Bible and the Monuments</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Boulton, W. H. </td><td class="l">Egypt</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Budge, E. A. Wallis </td><td class="l">From Fetish to God in Ancient Egypt</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Budge, E. A. Wallis </td><td class="l">Books on Egypt and Chaldaea</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Budge, E. A. Wallis </td><td class="l">The Literature of the Egyptian</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Chiera </td><td class="l">They Wrote on Clay</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Clay, Albert T. </td><td class="l">A Hebrew Deluge Story in Cuneiform</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Clay, Albert T. </td><td class="l">Amurru, the Home of the Northern Semites</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Cobern, Camden M. </td><td class="l">The New Archeological Discoveries</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Deissman, Dr. Adolf </td><td class="l">Light from the Ancient East</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Delitzsch, Friedrich </td><td class="l">Babel and Bible</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Gadd, C. J. </td><td class="l">A Sumerian Reading Book</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Gadd, C. J. </td><td class="l">History and Monuments of Ur</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Gardiner, Alan H. </td><td class="l">Egyptian Grammar</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Garstang, J. </td><td class="l">Burial Customs of the Ancient Egyptians</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Garstang, J. </td><td class="l">The Land of the Hittites</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Goodspeed, George Stephen </td><td class="l">A History of the Babylonians and Assyrians</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Grenfell, B. P. </td><td class="l">Tebtunis Papyri</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l"><span class="hst">A. S. Hunt</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class="l"><span class="hst">J. G. Smyly</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Grenfell, B. P. </td><td class="l">Greek Papyri</td></tr> -<tr class="pbtr"><td colspan="2"> -<span class="pb" id="Page_350">350</span> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Habershon, Ada R. </td><td class="l">The Bible and the British Museum</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Hilprecht, Herman V. </td><td class="l">Recent Research in Bible Lands</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Hilprecht, Herman V. </td><td class="l">Explorations in Bible Lands During the 19th Century</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Hogarth, D. G. </td><td class="l">Authority and Archeology, Sacred and Profane</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Huffman, Prof. J. A. </td><td class="l">Voices from Rocks and Dust Heaps of Bible Lands</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Kennedy, Sir Alexander B. W. </td><td class="l">Petra, Its History and Monuments</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Kenyon, Frederic G. </td><td class="l">Our Bible and the Ancient Manuscripts</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">King, L. W. </td><td class="l">Assyrian Language (Vol. 5)</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Koldewey, Robert </td><td class="l">The Excavations at Babylon</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Kyle, Melvin Grove </td><td class="l">The Deciding Voice of the Monuments in Biblical Criticism</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Kyle, Melvin Grove </td><td class="l">Excavating Kirjathsepher’s Ten Cities</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Laurie, Rev. Thomas </td><td class="l">Assyrian Echoes of the Word</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Layard, Austen Henry </td><td class="l">Layard’s Discoveries at Nineveh</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Lynch, W. F. </td><td class="l">Expedition to the Dead Sea and The Jordan</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Marston, Sir Charles </td><td class="l">The Bible is True</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Marston, Sir Charles </td><td class="l">New Bible Evidence</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Martin, Percy F. </td><td class="l">Egypt—Old and New</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Maspero, Gaston </td><td class="l">New Light on Ancient Egypt</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Maspero, Gaston </td><td class="l">Egypt—Ancient Sites and Modern Scenes</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Milligan, George </td><td class="l">Greek Papyri</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Miller, H. S. </td><td class="l">General Biblical Introduction</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Moulton, James Hope </td><td class="l">From Egyptian Rubbish Heaps</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Murray, Margaret A. </td><td class="l">Egyptian Temples</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Nelson, Byron C. </td><td class="l">The Deluge Story in Stone</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Orr, James </td><td class="l">The Bible of the Old Testament</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Orr, James </td><td class="l">The Bible Under Trial</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Petrie, Flinders </td><td class="l">Measures and Weights</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Petrie, Flinders </td><td class="l">Royal Tombs</td></tr> -<tr class="pbtr"><td colspan="2"> -<span class="pb" id="Page_351">351</span> -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Petrie, Flinders </td><td class="l">Researches in Sinai</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Pilter, W. T. </td><td class="l">The Pentateuch. A Historical Record.</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Politeyan, J. </td><td class="l">Discoveries from the Nile to the Tiber</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Ramsay, Sir William </td><td class="l">St. Paul, the Traveller and the Roman Citizen</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l"> </td><td class="l">Luke the Historian</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l"> </td><td class="l">The Trustworthiness of the New Testament in the Light of Recent Discovery</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Rawlinson, Canon </td><td class="l">Egypt and Babylonia</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">St. Clair, George </td><td class="l">Creation Records</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Smith, George </td><td class="l">The Chaldean Account of Genesis</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Smith, G. Elliott and Warren R. Dawson </td><td class="l">Egyptian Mummies</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Stadelmann, H. </td><td class="l">Cleopatra</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Tischendorf, Dr. C. </td><td class="l">Codex Sinaiticus</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Todd, J. A. </td><td class="l">The Banks of the Nile</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Weigall, Arthur </td><td class="l">The Life and Times of Akhnaton</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Weigall, Arthur E. P. </td><td class="l">A Guide to the Antiquities of Upper Egypt</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Wiseman, P. J. </td><td class="l">New Discoveries in Babylonia About Genesis</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Woolley, Sir Leonard </td><td class="l">Abraham. (Recent Discoveries and Hebrew Origins)</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Woolley, Sir Leonard </td><td class="l">Ur of the Chaldees</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Woolley, Sir Leonard </td><td class="l">The Sumerians</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Worrell, William H. </td><td class="l">A Study of Races in the Ancient Near East</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Wright, G. F. </td><td class="l">Scientific Confirmations of Old Testament History</td></tr> -<tr><td class="l">Wright, William </td><td class="l">The Empire of the Hittites</td></tr> -</table> -<p class="tb"><i>Publications of the British Museum</i>:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">A Guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian Antiquities</p> -<p class="t0">The Babylonian Story of the Deluge and the Epic of Gilgamesh</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_352">352</div> -<p class="t0">The Babylonian Legends of the Creation and the Fight Between Bel and the Dragon</p> -<p class="t0">The Book of the Dead</p> -<p class="t0">The Mount Sinai Manuscript of the Bible</p> -<p class="t0">The New Gospel Fragments</p> -<p class="t0">The Rosetta Stone</p> -</div> -<p class="tb"><i>Pamphlets</i>:</p> -<div class="verse"> -<p class="t0">The Bearing of Archeological and Historical Research Upon the New Testament. By the Rev. Parke P. Flournoy.</p> -<p class="t0">The Witness of Archeology to the Bible. By A. M. Hodgkin.</p> -<p class="t0">Biblical History in the Light of Archeological Discovery Since A. D. 1900. By the Rev. D. E. Hart-Davies.</p> -<p class="t0">The Value of the Spade. By the Rev. M. G. Kyle.</p> -<p class="t0">The Syriac Forms of New Testament Proper Names. By F. C. Burkitt.</p> -</div> -<h2><span class="small">FOOTNOTES</span></h2> -<div class="fnblock"><div class="fndef"><a class="fn" id="fn_1" href="#fr_1">[1]</a>As this book goes to press, the grave of this Shishak has just -been discovered in the famous Valley of the Kings. The -first word is that the grave is intact, unspoiled by robbers. -If this proves to be so, much material of value to the Biblical -student will probably be recovered. -</div> -</div> -<h2 id="trnotes">Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<ul> -<li>Silently corrected a few typos.</li> -<li>Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>Canonically replaced “plate number” with “plate” in plate references.</li> -<li>In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.</li> -</ul> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DEAD MEN TELL TALES ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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