“For Every Shepherd is an Abomination unto the Egyptians”: Re-examining the Hebrew-Hyksos Connection
Moderator
Dr. Demtrius Williams
Location
Room B
Start Date
9-4-2016 11:00 AM
End Date
9-4-2016 12:00 PM
Abstract
Putting into historical perspective the major interactions between the Ancient Hebrews and their proverbial foils the Egyptians in Genesis and Exodus can be tricky. No dates nor names of pharaohs are ever given and what Ancient Egyptian records we have can be rather obscure and mysterious. However, reconsidering Flavius Josephus’s claim that the Ancient Hebrews share a lineal heritage with the Semitic Hyksos kings who occupied Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period gives us a more nuanced perspective on the ancient world. Though it might not answer all questions and put to rest all doubts, it does help the biblical stories starring Abraham, Joseph, and Moses fall into a historical context that more or less aligns with Ancient Egyptian records. Even if it cannot be satisfactorily verified that the Hyksos were the direct ancestors of the Hebrews, as Josephus interprets the Egyptian priest Manetho’s version of history, it might make even more sense to consider that they were at the very least kindred allies of a shared Semitic heritage who interacted with and impacted each other’s histories at key moments in their respective plights. Close attention to small details in the Bible, supplementary Midrash, and what primary sources we have of Ancient Egyptian accounts from the time draws a picture that would only make historical sense set before, during, and after the Hyksos Invasion of the 17th and 16th Centuries BC. This is exactly where traditional biblical dating would more or less place the stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses respectively anyway. To verify, we will piece together the history between these two nations from the very beginning up through the Exodus, see how the legacies of the Ancient Hebrews and the Hyksos Dynasty intertwine, and determine the nature of their relationship.
Included in
“For Every Shepherd is an Abomination unto the Egyptians”: Re-examining the Hebrew-Hyksos Connection
Room B
Putting into historical perspective the major interactions between the Ancient Hebrews and their proverbial foils the Egyptians in Genesis and Exodus can be tricky. No dates nor names of pharaohs are ever given and what Ancient Egyptian records we have can be rather obscure and mysterious. However, reconsidering Flavius Josephus’s claim that the Ancient Hebrews share a lineal heritage with the Semitic Hyksos kings who occupied Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period gives us a more nuanced perspective on the ancient world. Though it might not answer all questions and put to rest all doubts, it does help the biblical stories starring Abraham, Joseph, and Moses fall into a historical context that more or less aligns with Ancient Egyptian records. Even if it cannot be satisfactorily verified that the Hyksos were the direct ancestors of the Hebrews, as Josephus interprets the Egyptian priest Manetho’s version of history, it might make even more sense to consider that they were at the very least kindred allies of a shared Semitic heritage who interacted with and impacted each other’s histories at key moments in their respective plights. Close attention to small details in the Bible, supplementary Midrash, and what primary sources we have of Ancient Egyptian accounts from the time draws a picture that would only make historical sense set before, during, and after the Hyksos Invasion of the 17th and 16th Centuries BC. This is exactly where traditional biblical dating would more or less place the stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses respectively anyway. To verify, we will piece together the history between these two nations from the very beginning up through the Exodus, see how the legacies of the Ancient Hebrews and the Hyksos Dynasty intertwine, and determine the nature of their relationship.
