DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14563#0223
188
EGYPT, PAST AND PRESENT.
that went to make up his wealth, and this city was included
in the fearful threatenings of later prophets against Egypt.
The ruins of Thebes stand as a comment upon those prophe-
cies no less mournful than the utter desolation that marks
the site of Noph.
It was predicted that No should be " cut off" and " rent
asunder," that Egypt should go into captivity, and that it
should ever after be " the basest of the kingdoms ;" that it
should no more exalt itself above the nations nor rule over
them, and that it should no more have a prince or dynasty
of its own, but should be subject to foreign sway (see Isaiah,
Jeremiah, and Ezekiel). Moreover, this destruction was
foretold as coming from the east and from the north, from
the nations that bordered upon the Euphrates, as well as
from intestine wars. Now the monumental history of
Egypt teaches us that the dynasty of Diospolitans, or
Thebans, which had stood for upwards of seven hundred
years, was superseded first by a king from Lower Egypt,
then by Ethiopian invaders, then again by the Saites from
Lower Egypt, denoting a state of internal commotion, and
this mostly after the time of Isaiah; and also that within
fifty years from the date of Ezekiel's prediction and sev-
enty-five years after the captivity of Jehoiakim in Egypt,
Camhyses conquered Egypt, and established a dynasty of
Persian monarchs that lasted for a hundred years. The
traces of his invasion may still be seen at Thebes in the
partial destruction of some of its proudest monuments. I
have already referred to the overthrow of the statue of
Eameses the Great in front of the Memnonium, — the most
stupendous statue ever reared, felled and broken by his
revengeful arm.
Daniel saw in his vision four great monarchies, which in
succession overspread the earth, and then were destroyed.
Each of these monarchies conquered Egypt, and three of
EGYPT, PAST AND PRESENT.
that went to make up his wealth, and this city was included
in the fearful threatenings of later prophets against Egypt.
The ruins of Thebes stand as a comment upon those prophe-
cies no less mournful than the utter desolation that marks
the site of Noph.
It was predicted that No should be " cut off" and " rent
asunder," that Egypt should go into captivity, and that it
should ever after be " the basest of the kingdoms ;" that it
should no more exalt itself above the nations nor rule over
them, and that it should no more have a prince or dynasty
of its own, but should be subject to foreign sway (see Isaiah,
Jeremiah, and Ezekiel). Moreover, this destruction was
foretold as coming from the east and from the north, from
the nations that bordered upon the Euphrates, as well as
from intestine wars. Now the monumental history of
Egypt teaches us that the dynasty of Diospolitans, or
Thebans, which had stood for upwards of seven hundred
years, was superseded first by a king from Lower Egypt,
then by Ethiopian invaders, then again by the Saites from
Lower Egypt, denoting a state of internal commotion, and
this mostly after the time of Isaiah; and also that within
fifty years from the date of Ezekiel's prediction and sev-
enty-five years after the captivity of Jehoiakim in Egypt,
Camhyses conquered Egypt, and established a dynasty of
Persian monarchs that lasted for a hundred years. The
traces of his invasion may still be seen at Thebes in the
partial destruction of some of its proudest monuments. I
have already referred to the overthrow of the statue of
Eameses the Great in front of the Memnonium, — the most
stupendous statue ever reared, felled and broken by his
revengeful arm.
Daniel saw in his vision four great monarchies, which in
succession overspread the earth, and then were destroyed.
Each of these monarchies conquered Egypt, and three of