An Introduction to Fragments of the Real History of Israel: An Essay on the Egyptian Influence on the ‘Proto-Israelites’, and the Implications of Josephus’ and Manetho’s Unequivocal Identification of the Proto-Israelites with the Hyksos (original) (raw)

2024, The Egyptian Renaissance

The question that prompted the following investigation might be phrased as follows: Who or what is the Old Testament supernatural entity often referred to as YHWH? Upon consideration of that problem, it appeared to us that a response would have to begin with uncovering, if possible, the origins of the Old Testament religion, as set forth in books such as Exodus. However, in order to accomplish that, it seemed abundantly clear to the undersigned that it would be necessary to take a closer look at ancient Egypt. Why? In the first place, the one indispensable religious rite in both “Israelism” and modern Judaism (or rather “Judaisms”) is male circumcision. However, as we intend to show, there are actually no reasonable grounds for doubting that male circumcision – even as a religious rite – originated in Egypt. [Moreover, the evidence shows that the ancient Egyptians were circumcising themselves at a time significantly predating the one assigned to the “Old Testament” protagonist Abraham.] In the second place, the name of what is arguably the most important character in the story underlying the foundation of the Nation of Israel – “Moses” or “Moshe” – is, in all likelihood, an Egyptian name, since a similar or identical word forms part of the names of numerous Egyptian pharaohs. But there is more. The excavations carried out at the Egyptian site “Tell el-Dab’a”, the location of the ancient city of Avaris [, which was situated exceedingly close to the later settlement known as Pi-Ramesses, or simply Rameses/Ramesses], would appear to shed new light on the ancient disagreement between the Jewish [or Judeo-Roman] historian Titus Flavius Josephus (37–100 A.D.) and the Egyptian historian Manetho (c. 300 B.C.) regarding the history of Israel. To say that Egypt played a central role in Israelite history is, in one sense, not to say anything new at all, but simply to affirm what every orthodox Christian, Jew and Muslim already believes. However, if taken in the sense here intended, it entails a view of Israelite history which is highly controversial, and which will probably remain so for a long time to come, since it goes against and undercuts the stark dichotomy of an “evil” and “oppressive” Egypt versus a “divinely chosen” and “oppressed” Israel set up in Old Testament books such as Exodus, and repeatedly referred to and made use of in later Israelite and Christian works.