NEW LIGHT ON ABRAHAM

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1925, Page 1

NEW LIGHT ON ABRAHAM

WHEN HE YVAS EXPELLED FROM EGYPT. LONDON, June. 11. ”A History of the Pharaohs,” by Arthur YYeigall is a great history of the dynasties of the Pharaohs of Egypt, the fullest and most absorbing hook on the subject ever attempted, is destined to fill 4 volumes. The present volume covers the first II dynasties, from 3107 u.c. to 2111 n.c. Mr YYeigall, who was formerly In-spector-General of Antiquities to the Government of Egypt and whose, previous hooks on Egyptology have procured him a wide recognition, has cleared up some of the obscurest problems to do with the first dynasties. He lias so reconstructed, in a diagram, tho Palermo stone tablet, with Us annals of the first live dynasties—one of the 5 groat sources of our knowledge of early Egyptian history—that he has evolved a solid chronology that upsets previous theories and will stand close examination. “Aly reconstruction of the Palermo Stone Annals has now given a definite length to every reign and every dynasty for the first 750 years or so of Egyptian history, in place of the vague guessing we were obliged to indulge in in the past.” AIIRAHAM’S DEPORTATION. But, after all. these points, valuable and revolutionary as they are, arc questions for Egyptologists and scholars. YY’hat will particularly interest the ordinary reader are Afr YVcigall’s new and startling discoveries with regard to the Patriarch Abralmm. “The Bible story states that Abraham entered Egypt because there was a grievous famine in the land in which In' was living; and it will be remembered that the Egyptian document which I have just quoted, (a contemporary document in tlie previous pages) states that at the time of the fall of the Elcvontli Dynasty, 2112 n.c.. Asiatic tribesmen infested the Delta, having entered these fertile regions because they wore in need of food in their own territory, and having been allowed to do so by the Egyptians. The Bible then states at this time “tile Lord plagued Pharoiih and his house with, great plagues;” and wo have just seen how plagued indeed was Egypt at this period. At last, says the Biblical slory, “ Pharaoh commanded his men concerning Abraham, and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had in other words, Abraham was deported. But in this Egyptian document we have iust read that the founder of the Twelfth Dynasty turned the Asiatics out of Egypt.” Air YY’eignll’s theory fits in with the Egyptian document, and he is able to continue ; “Thus the Biblical story and the Egyptian records are parallel, and the established dates of each agree; ami therefore 1 think it highly probable that Abraham was deported in 2111 n.c.. at iho foundation of the Twelfth Dvnnstv.” BIBLE CORROBORATED. He gives many more figures in support of his contention. “All these figures show that the events recorded in the Bible and their chronological sequence are perfectly probable, and if is clear that wo are dealing with facts. This dating, then, points to Joseph's appointment (to high office under Plurnoh. as related in the Bible) having been made in 1959 8.C.. which was about Iho year of the accession Amenemes TIT of the Twelfth Dynasty, a likely date for new appointments to bo made.”