The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20

not DC pafoueleu IN tne Lugilen lunkuuke'
Hero we ind condensed in three or four chnp-
ters moro information than the well-known
Psychologist. Il. Stuart Poole. has been able to
exhibit in a series Of articles lately communi-
Gated to the Contemporary Rerie,c. Not only
does the range Of authorities scrutlnized by
the American scholar seem to be wider. but his
analysis Of evidence is more patient and moro
keen. and there is truly no comparison between
the two writer's Ms regards effectiveness and
charm Of exposition. or grace. precision. and
energy Of style. We would direct particular
attention TO Dr. Bartlett's olucdation Of the con-
illusions reached by tho most competent in
duirers into some Of tho most recondite and
interesting problems which can engage the stu
dent Of history. But while we dwell chiefly on
the important service thus rendered 10 the gen.
eral reader. We should not omit to add thnt the
writer's account OF his personal impressions
and experiences is spirited and readable 10 n
degree not equallcd by any recent narrative Of
travel in Egypt since Charles Dudley Warmers
journal OF q winter on the Nile.
DR.. Bartlett sums up in a few pages tho evil
dence which has led most modern scholars 10
identify the Pharaoh OF tho Exodus with Me-
nephta, the son OF Rameses H.. Of the nine
teenth dynasty. This would make the period
Of the fight coincide nearly with the year 1900
u. c.. although. ns tho author points out this
date. partially founded on the eo-caed Sophie
period. is by no means impregnably established
We may note here that Dr.. Bartlett seems to be
mistaken in ascribng % Mr. Poole the theory
that the exodus took place before the eighteenth
dynasty. In the Contemporary Rerieo for
March. 1879 the English archnologist distinctly
identifies Pharaoh the Oppressor with Ramcses
H.. and his successor, under whomitho Israel
ite emigration occurred with Menephta-
Whether the new King which knew not Jo-
seph" corresponds to the founder OF the eight
zenith or the nineteenth dynasty il not clear
but both DR.. Bartlett and SIR. Poole concur in
referring the story Of Joseph and the COM
mencement Of the Hebrew sojourn to the latter
part Of the Shepherd dominion. somewhat be-
fore d. c. 1900. Joseph would thus have been
made Governor Of Egypt under n Pharaoh who
was a foreigner himself. and thus likely to APP
precate foreign merit SO, too. the oppression
at a subsequent period IL reasonably explained
as q near or remote consequence OF the expul-
sion OF the Asiatic intruders known IA the
Shepherd Kings. II is precisely in the later
Shepherd epoch that DR.. Brugsch finds on
Egyptian monuments the record OF a famine Of
many years duration. Now great famines in
Egypt are extremely rare because they require
succession Of very low inundatons. and a So
duencc Of seven is most extraordinary. Indeed.
no other such famine is recorded In Egyptian
annals until that which occurred under tho
Fatimide Caluh El-Mustansir Dillah. remark
able. like that Of Joseph. for having lasted
seven years. No doub, the date hero attributed
to the exodus will be startling to most American
students Of the Bible since Il puts that event
hu, little further back than the Trojan war.
From the Egyptian inscriptions and wall
paintings much curious light Is thrown on the
story Of joseph. For example. the Tale Of tho
Two Brothers," the earliest known Of Egyptian
n'tions was no sooner read than Il was seen 10
relate in lis turning point an incident Identical
with the temptation Of the Young Hebrew by
Potiphar's wife. So too tho installation OF
Joseph has Is parallel IN the case Of an Egyptian
| Governor Of the age OF the eighteenth dynasty
who received precisely the same ofilce. lord
| or regent Of the whole land" Other circum-
stances Of the narrative bring MS very near 10
Egyptian official usages. as when Joseph swears
by the life OF Pharaoh" and when Israel
bows himself upon the head OF his staff" both
the expression and the action being reproduced
in the records Of judicial proceedings at the
time. We may also point out that tho employ.
ment Of foreigners In brick making under task
masters and the requiring OF daily tale OIL
| bricks are represented on mural paintings.
Mr.. Poole and DIR. Bartlett are at variance ~
regards the geography of'the route Of the ex.
odus. The former inclines 20 accept the theory
put forth by Or. Brugsch. who compares Tbs
track Of the Hebrews with that OF an Egyptian
scribe in pursuit OF two fugitive servants. a.
recorded in q most interesting pHpyrus. There
Is certainly curious resemblance in tho sta
tons aud distances noted in the twonarratvos
and DR.. DruGsch drew the Inference that thl
passage by the Israelitcs through the sea o
reeds" named in the Hebrew text refers no
to the Red Sea- but TO Lake Serbonis.
| Plat serhoulan bog