The early history of the HebrewsSayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry)
History
The early history of the Hebrews
Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry)
Bible. Old Testament -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Jews -- History -- To 953 B.C.
We learn from the inscriptions that Khu-n-Aten was not contented with
making himself the high-priest of the new faith. Daily in the morning he
gave instruction in it, expounding its mysteries to those who would
listen to him. Acceptance of its doctrines was naturally a passport to
the offices of State. Many of these had long been held by Asiatics, more
especially by Syrians and Canaanites, and under Khu-n-Aten these foreign
immigrants more and more usurped the highest functions of the
Government. The native Egyptians saw themselves excluded from the posts
which had brought them not only dignity, but wealth. Naturally,
therefore, the bitter feelings engendered by the war waged against the
old religion of Egypt were increased by this promotion of the stranger
to the offices of State which they had regarded as their own. The Canaan
they had conquered had revenged itself by conquering their king. Not
only religion, but self-interest also, urged the native Egyptian to put
an end to the reforming schemes of the Pharaoh, and to religious
animosity was added race hatred as well.
The storm broke shortly before Khu-n-Aten’s death. His mummy indeed was
laid in the magnificent grave he had excavated in the recesses of a
desolate mountain-valley, but the granite sarcophagus in which it was
deposited was never placed in the niche prepared for it, but was hacked
to pieces by his enemies as it lay in the columned hall of the tomb,
while the body within it was torn to shreds. Nor was his mother Teie
ever laid by his side. Even the bodies of his dead daughters were
maltreated and despoiled.
Khu-n-Aten was followed by one or two short-lived Pharaohs in the city
he had built. Then the end came. The city was destroyed, the stones of
its temple were transported elsewhere to furnish materials for the
sanctuaries of the victorious Amon, and such of the adherents of the new
faith as could not escape from the country either apostatised or were
slain. A new king arose who represented the national party and the
worship of the national god, and the Semitic strangers who had governed
Egypt as European strangers govern it to-day disappeared for a time from
the land. Their kinsfolk who remained, like the Israelites in Goshen,
were reduced to the condition of public slaves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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