DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0183
JOSEPH.
167
to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought
Joseph into Egypt." Gen. xxxvii. 28.
Were Arabian caravans accustomed at that time to go into
Egypt with merchandise 1 There seems to be no doubt that
they were. Among other facts tending to prove it, Sir Gardner
Wilkinson refers to certain wells in the desert over which the
caravans were obliged to pass; and states that, as appears
from the monuments, the king Amun-in gori II. (of the 16th
dynasty), caused a station to be erected at the Wady Jasoos,
to command these wells for the comfort of the caravans pass-
ing from Arabia into Egypt. The same respectable authority
deems it " highly probable that the port of Philoteras or iEn-
num, on the Red Sea, was already founded ;:' and adds, "thus
we have an additional reason for concluding, the commerce
with Arabia to have commenced at a very early period; and
that its gums and spices found a ready market in the opulent
Egypt, is sufficiently proved by the Ishmaelites or Arabs of
those days bringing them for sale into the lower country."
Beeren expresses also a similar opinion as to the very early
commerce between Arabia and Egypt.
2. Joseph " was sold to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces
°f silver."
The expression is usual in Scripture " pieces of silver,"
pieces of money;" but we do nowhere find, in these early
times, mention made of any specific coin having a fixed value.
Had such been the case here, it would have thrown suspicion
0ri the story. History offers no intimation that, any where,
dther in the east or west, coined money existed, until many
hundred years after the date of this transaction. In fact, it
seenis doubtful whether coined or stamped money is of oriental
167
to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought
Joseph into Egypt." Gen. xxxvii. 28.
Were Arabian caravans accustomed at that time to go into
Egypt with merchandise 1 There seems to be no doubt that
they were. Among other facts tending to prove it, Sir Gardner
Wilkinson refers to certain wells in the desert over which the
caravans were obliged to pass; and states that, as appears
from the monuments, the king Amun-in gori II. (of the 16th
dynasty), caused a station to be erected at the Wady Jasoos,
to command these wells for the comfort of the caravans pass-
ing from Arabia into Egypt. The same respectable authority
deems it " highly probable that the port of Philoteras or iEn-
num, on the Red Sea, was already founded ;:' and adds, "thus
we have an additional reason for concluding, the commerce
with Arabia to have commenced at a very early period; and
that its gums and spices found a ready market in the opulent
Egypt, is sufficiently proved by the Ishmaelites or Arabs of
those days bringing them for sale into the lower country."
Beeren expresses also a similar opinion as to the very early
commerce between Arabia and Egypt.
2. Joseph " was sold to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces
°f silver."
The expression is usual in Scripture " pieces of silver,"
pieces of money;" but we do nowhere find, in these early
times, mention made of any specific coin having a fixed value.
Had such been the case here, it would have thrown suspicion
0ri the story. History offers no intimation that, any where,
dther in the east or west, coined money existed, until many
hundred years after the date of this transaction. In fact, it
seenis doubtful whether coined or stamped money is of oriental