1. THE STORY OF MOSES AND THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT EGYPT
Lesson One:
UNDERSTANDING ANCIENT EGYPT

2. Purpose for this Study
Learn more about the historical context of the story of Moses
Demonstrate the truthfulness and historical accuracy of the Bible
Strengthen our faith and knowledge in God and His word by examining the real time and history in which it occurred

3. Land of Egypt “Egypt” from Gk. Aigyptos Located in NE corner of Africa
390,000 sq. miles
4% inhabitable, mostly in close proximity to Nile River

5. Nile was life of Egypt – annual flooding
Divided Upper Egypt (valley) from Lower Egypt (delta)
Deserts on east and west isolate culture
Important sites: Memphis, Thebes, Giza, Alexandria, etc.

7. Connections between Egypt and Bible
Abraham (Gen. 12:10-20)
Joseph (Gen )
Rise of Israel and Moses (Ex. 1-14)
Josiah (2 Chron. 35:20-22; 2 King 23:29)
Jeremiah (Jer )
Prophecy (Isa. 19; Jer. 46; Ezek )
Jesus (Matt. 2:13-21)

8. Understanding Egyptian Chronology
Necessary to read Egyptian writing – Hieroglyphics
Unknown until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799
Inscribed in three languages: Hieroglyphic, Demotic, Greek
Deciphered by Champollion in 1822

9. Hieroglyphics
Rosetta Stone
Demotic
Greek

13. King of Upper and Lower Egypt
Son of Re
Nebkheperure
Tutankhamun
Given Life Eternally
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebkheperure, son of Re, Tutankhamun, given life eternally

14. Sources for Reign Chronologies
Palermo Stone
Royal List of Karnak
Royal List of Abydos
Abydos King List
Royal List of Saqqara
Royal Canon of Turin

15. Palermo Stone

16. Royal List of Abydos

17. Abydos King List

18. Absolute Dates? Relies on astronomical dating
Sothic cycle of 1460 years
Later regal dates are firm; middle period is relatively firm; early dates can very years
We can be confident with the chronology used in this study
Radical variations in chronology are untenable

19. Egyptian History Manetho
Wrote Egyptian History [Notes about Egypt] in which he provided a basic structure of Egyptian history
Lived during the reign of Ptolemy I
Had access to all sources known and some not preserved

20. Egyptian History No full text of his History survives
Known from extensive quoting by Josephus, Sextus Julius Africanus, and Eusebuis
Divided Egyptian history into 30 dynasties (ruling houses)
32 dynasties now identified

21. Major Periods Early Dynastic Period (3150-2686)
Old Kingdom ( )
First Intermediate Period ( )
Middle Kingdom ( )
Second Intermediate Period ( )
New Kingdom ( )

22. Major Periods Third Intermediate Period (1069-525)
Late Period ( )
Graeco-Roman Period (331–AD 641)

23. “In order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men” (Dan. 4:11, 25)

24. Exploring the Bible Timeline
Our Next Lesson
Exploring the Bible Timeline