DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0309
MONUMENTAL CONFIRMATIONS.
291
Hebrews; they never, as we have stated, perpetuated their
own shame in sculpture. Accident preserved a part of that
history in the tomb of Roschere, as we have seen: it is, there-
fore, the more to be regretted that this picture has been defaced.
The remaining direct testimony is but scanty. Pharaoh
Necho and Pharaoh Hophra, both mentioned in Scripture, are
proved to be real personages, as their cartouches are found on
the monuments. The same may be said of Tirhakah, king
of Ethiopia, mentioned in 2 Kings, xix. 9.
Indeed, so far as mere names are evidence, there is no want
of them, both of places and persons. Osborn, in his Onomas-
ticon, furnishes a long list. Thus no less than eighty-four
Canaanitish names, mentioned in Scripture, occur at Aboo-sim-
bal, Thebes, &c, written in the hieroglyphics. The mere re-
petition of these would, of course, afford to the general reader,
little of interest or satisfaction.
And now, in conclusion, we would repeat a thought that
was suggested in the commencement of our work. It is this:
that the truth of the Bible is not dependent, in any degree, on
our being able to produce evidence for its support from the
monuments of Egypt. If that country had not a monument
within it, it would not affect the genuineness and authenticity
of the Old Testament. That it has such monuments, and
that in modern times God in his providence has permitted us
to see, that in many particulars they do illustrate and confirm
our sacred writings, is cause for thankfulness; but such confir-
mation, it must be remembered, when found is purely inci-
dental, and cannot, therefore, be expected to present to us a con-
tinued story of events, which would constitute in fact but ano-
ther complete history of what is already written in the Bible.
It lias been too much the fashion of a certain class of men,
291
Hebrews; they never, as we have stated, perpetuated their
own shame in sculpture. Accident preserved a part of that
history in the tomb of Roschere, as we have seen: it is, there-
fore, the more to be regretted that this picture has been defaced.
The remaining direct testimony is but scanty. Pharaoh
Necho and Pharaoh Hophra, both mentioned in Scripture, are
proved to be real personages, as their cartouches are found on
the monuments. The same may be said of Tirhakah, king
of Ethiopia, mentioned in 2 Kings, xix. 9.
Indeed, so far as mere names are evidence, there is no want
of them, both of places and persons. Osborn, in his Onomas-
ticon, furnishes a long list. Thus no less than eighty-four
Canaanitish names, mentioned in Scripture, occur at Aboo-sim-
bal, Thebes, &c, written in the hieroglyphics. The mere re-
petition of these would, of course, afford to the general reader,
little of interest or satisfaction.
And now, in conclusion, we would repeat a thought that
was suggested in the commencement of our work. It is this:
that the truth of the Bible is not dependent, in any degree, on
our being able to produce evidence for its support from the
monuments of Egypt. If that country had not a monument
within it, it would not affect the genuineness and authenticity
of the Old Testament. That it has such monuments, and
that in modern times God in his providence has permitted us
to see, that in many particulars they do illustrate and confirm
our sacred writings, is cause for thankfulness; but such confir-
mation, it must be remembered, when found is purely inci-
dental, and cannot, therefore, be expected to present to us a con-
tinued story of events, which would constitute in fact but ano-
ther complete history of what is already written in the Bible.
It lias been too much the fashion of a certain class of men,