Devotional Short Note on Genesis 12

 

On the basis of Genesis 11:10-12, Cush as a son of Ham will be post-Flood born thus after 2592 BCE. If Shem was born as the oldest of Noah’s sons in 2690 BCE, then approximately 10 years later Ham was born? 2680 BCE. It is not known when Ham got married and when Cush was born but the approximation is this: Shem had his first child after the trauma of the Flood at the age of 100, so one can assume that also 100 should be given to Ham to settle properly? Thus the year of the birth of Cush could have been three or four years after the Flood? The date could have been 2588 BCE as the date for the birth of Cush. It is all speculation by analogy of similarities and the known fact that they were brothers or sons of Noah who’s dates are fixed. Also the data that Cush must have been born after the Flood which date is absolutely known. The reason I discuss this is to get to the approximate date of Nimrod who was the son of Cush and who ruled in Shinar which is Babylon area in Mesopotamia. They would migrate to Egypt and Africa with their descendants later. If the son of Shem, Arpachsad was born 35 years later than his father, thus in 2555 BCE, one has to look for the birth of Nimrod probably around 2545 BCE? (approximation by analogy reasoning). Nimrod could not have played a public figure until he was 30 thus one could see him as a “great warrior” probably in 2515 BCE? This would be the time of the origin of the First Dynasty of Egypt and interestingly enough, the name Narmer pops-up by the latest science and thus the connection: Nimrod and Narmer is not that farfetched a possibility. The historical sources used in the wikipaedia link is worth looking at and see their special technique to build ships with the fixed mortise and tenant joint style, thinking of Noah’s style as well. He was still alive (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Dynasty_of_Egypt). Radiocarbon dating are hundreds of years out no doubt and they admit the “elusiveness” of their “absolute dates” by Radiocarbon techniques. Creationists articles on Radiocarbon after the flood should be considered to increase the skeptic analysis of precise dating for radiocarbon science after the Flood due to many factors and conditions. The drop in age after the Flood is very obvious in the biblical text. Physicists who analyze the universe are still sitting in New York in their puffed-up swivel chairs when they speak of the origin of the stars out their millions of km from the earth. They did not go there to measure there. They do not have 100% absolute proof that what they see there is analogia entis to what they see in New York lab. They “believe” it is the same. Unless you are there it is mere speculation and so are their theories of the origin of everything.

If Narmer is then circa 2515 BCE associating him with Nimrod of Genesis 11 as calculated supra, then one can adjust the Oxford info at Wikipaedia as follows:

Narmer 2515 BCE or later. Followed by Hor Aha who reigned long. If 50 years are given for him then 2465 BCE. Succeeded by Neithhotep (female given one year) thus 2464 BCE. Succeeded by Djer their [Hor Aha and Neithhotep] son who ruled 40-41 years 2425/2424 BCE. He is followed by Djet who is given 10 years thus 2414 BCE. He is succeeded by his wife or probable sister: Mermeith who is the father of later Den. If one gives her 10 years then 2404 BCE would be an approximate. Den reigned 42 years and that may bring it to 2362 BCE for Den. There is then a possible gap in the listing of the pharaohs. Give 4 years for this gap? 2358 BCE for Anedjib to start and he is the grandson of Djet and Merneith and possible son of Den. He reigned 8-10 years thus until 2348 BCE. There is again a possible gap and allocate another 4 years? for this gap. Semerkhet started after the gap 2344 until 8 and a half years later in circa 2336 BCE. He was an usurper to the throne. Power hungry and power disease as a pathology of the brain. He was a possible and legitimate son of Den. He is succeeded after 2336 BCE by Qa’a. Qa’a reigned 26-33 years thus until 2303 BCE or 2310 BCE. He was the last pharaoh of Dynasty I. A few years later Noah died in 2292 BCE which is 300 years after the Flood.

When the Second Dynasty of Egypt kicked in, Hotepsekhemwy reigned 38 years until 2254 BCE. This dynasty had economic prosperity. He was followed by Nebra or Weneg who reigned 10-14 years until 2240 BCE. Nynetjer followed and reigned 40 years until 2200 BCE. It is the time of Abraham since Abraham was born in 2240 BCE according to strict biblical chronology. No approximations in the calculations of biblical chronology. It is solidly clear. Nynetjer was followed by Senedj or Horus Sa and ruled 20 years until 2180 BCE.

 The next two or three rulers are uncertain by scholars. Sources may give the Horus name or Nebty name and birth names of these pharaohs. Uncertainty prevails. Seth-Peribsen was ruler after 2180 BCE and the corresponding pharaoh in Manetho’s [Greek] list is Kaires. Then Nepherkheres are mentioned and the scholars felt that after Seth-Peribsen is Sekhemib-Perenmaat who is in Manetho’s list Sesokhris (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Dynasty_of_Egypt). After this gap of uncertainty a certainty came in with the name of the next ruler Khasekhemwy who ruled 17-18 years and whose name means “the Two Powers arise”. Scholars think it may be to do with unification. With these pharaohs we are in the court with Abraham and his wife in Genesis 12. With these three pharaohs the capital has moved from Thinis to Saqqara and then to Memphis.

Abraham left Haran at 75 years old in 2185 BCE (Genesis 12:4). If the drought in Egypt was after he left Haran and he left in 2185 BCE and the approximate date of Senedj or Horus Sa is 2180 BCE, then one can see him as the pharaoh that Abraham met in Egypt. The capital was still at Thinis.

When Abraham arrived at Shechem after 2185 BCE the Canaanites were in the land (Genesis 12:6).

The Lord appeared to Abraham then and he built Him an altar (Genesis 12:7).

Also at Bethel and Ai he built an altar to the Lord (Genesis 12:8). He went to the South (Genesis 12:9).

Then the drought was there and we are not given dates for this drought and how long it took to move since 2185 BCE to Egypt. The above pharaohs discussed were involved, at least one of them.

Then of course Abraham lied with Sarah and they were evicted out of Egypt. For this lie, he was going to receive hardship in Canaan later.

William Shea did his Phd in 1976 under G. Mendenhall with an emphasis on “Famines in the Early History of Egypt and Syro-Palestine. That year he went to Andrews University. Of special importance is a stela known as “The Famine Stela” of which a translation is by M. Lichtheim. Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book of Readings. Vol. 3, pp. 94-100. It is also discussed by other scholars like Joachim Friedrich Quack, (1992-1993). P. Wien D 6319: Eine demotische Ubersetzung aus dem Mittelagyptischen, Enchoria 19 (1994), 125-129; also E. Reymond, From Ancient Egyptian Hermetic Texts, Wien 1977, pp. 45-105, index pp. 161-180, pls I-III. Especially page 45 mentioned P. Vienna D 6319. See http://docplayer.org/11008445-Joachim-friedrich-quack-ein-aegyptisches-handbuch-des-tempels-und-seine-griechische-uebersetzung.html. Aso Joachim Friedrich Quack,(2005). Die Uberlieferungsstruktur des Buches vom Tempel. In Tebtynis und Soknopaiu Nesos. Leben im romerzeitlichen.

This demotic priestly document dating to the time of Ptolemies of Egypt, really had elements in it coming from the 2nd Dynasty of Egypt with the name of the very king who was pharaoh during Abraham’s sojourn to Palestine and Egypt: pharaoh Neterkhet

“Year 18 of Horns: Neterkhet; the King of Upper and Lower Egypt: Neterkhet; Two Ladies: Neterkhet; Gold-Horus: Djoser; under the Count, Prince, Governor of the domains of the South, Chief of the Nubians in Yebu, Mesir. There was brought to him this royal decree. To let you know:” (citing from Lichtheim). See the translation downloaded from the internet on the 25th of October 2018 at https://web.archive.org/web/20111123033346/https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/prec/www/course/egypt/274RH/Texts/The%20Famine%20Stela.htm.

 

What the Famine Stela (Papyrus Vienna D 6319 is saying is that in the 18th year of this pharaoh Neterkhet, some famine was reported:

I was in mourning on my throne,

Those of the palace were in grief,

My heart was in great affliction,

Because Hapy had failed to come in time

In a period of seven years.

Grain was scant,

Kernels were dried up,

Scarce was every kind of food.

Every man robbed his twin,

Those who entered did not go.

Children cried,

Youngsters fell,

The hearts of the old were grieving;

Legs drawn up, they hugged the ground,

Their arms clasped about them.

Courtiers were needy,

Temples were shut,

Shrines covered with dust,

Everyone was in distress.”

Thus, sometime before 2161 BCE but after 2185 BCE when Abraham entered Canaan, pharaoh Neterkhet ruled and a Ptolemaic Xerox copy of his decree or narrative survived speaking about a famine in the same terms as Genesis 12:10 “And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.” Genesis 12:17 reads: “And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife”. What the plagues were we do not know but famine in Palestine will affect also Egypt. The secret in those days were that Egypt prepared for this event better than Palestine did and that is why migrants went to Egypt during a famine

 

Dear God

We love Your history since they are not fables or myths or fabrication or propaganda. They are the truth of the Word of God and we rest assure that God has also us in mind for His plan of salvation and the same principle apply to us. In Jesus Name Amen.