Part 6

The simple tastes of the Israelite tribes in the period before the monarchy may be contrasted with the ostentation of Solomon's harem with its thousand wives and concubines (I Kings 11:3) along with the wealth and luxury of an oriental court. The rulers of the larger states of the Amarna Age, and particularly Tushratta of Mitanni, sent their daughters to grace the harems of Amenhotep III and Akhenaton. A scarab of Amenhotep III commemorates the arrival of Giluhepa, a Mitannian princess with a retinue of three hundred seventeen maidens.[71] That Amenhotep III was actively building his harem is shown in a letter which he addressed to Milk-ili of Gezer which says, in part:

I have sent Hania, the commander of the archers, to you with all sorts of things, to bring the beautiful women.... There are in all forty women; forty pieces of silver is the price of the women. Send me therefore very beautiful women among whom are no slanderers, so that the king, your lord, may say to you, "This is fine."[72]

The building of a harem had political implications for it involved an alliance of friendship. Early in Solomon's reign he "made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the City of David...." (I Kings 3:1). A large harem, moreover, was a symbol of power, wealth and prestige. Solomon was but adapting the customs of the great rulers of the ancient East when he built an enormous harem for himself.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Archaeology

Budge, E. A. W., _By Nile and Tigris_, I (London: 1920), pp. 133-144

Pendelbury, J. D. S., _Tell el-Amarna_ (London; 1935)

Peet, Thomas Eric; Woolley Leonard; Frankfort, Henri; Pendelbury, J. D. S., _et al._ _The City of Akhenaten_ (Parts I-III), 4 volumes (London; 1923-51)

History

Aldred, C., "The End of the El 'Amarna Period," _Journal of Egyptian Archaeology_ XLIII (1957), pp. 30-41

Baikie, James, _The Amarna Age_ (New York: 1926)

Bratton, Fred Gladstone, _The First Heretic: The Life and Times of Ikhnaton the King_ (Boston: 1961)

Gardiner, A. H., "The So-called Tomb of Queen Tiye," _Journal of Egyptian Archaeology_, XLIII (1957), pp. 10-25

Meyer, Eduard, _Geschichte des Altertums_, II (Stuttgart: 1955), pp. 303-426

Seele, K. C., "King Ay and the Close of the Amarna Age," _Journal of Near Eastern Studies_, XIV (1955), pp. 168-180

Weigall, Arthur, _The Life and Times of Akhnaton_ (London: 1923)

Art and Tomb Inscriptions

Davies, N. deGaris, _The Rock Tombs of El Amarna_ (Archaeological Survey of Egypt), 6 volumes (London: 1903-08)

Frankfort, Henri, ed. _The Mural Paintings of El 'Amarneh_ (London: 1929)

Sandman, M. _Texts from the Time of Akhenaton_ (Brussels: 1938)

Religion

Anthes, H., "Die Maat des Echnaton von Amarna," _Journal of the American Oriental Society_, Supplement 14 (1952)

The Amarna Tablets

Texts

Betzold, C., and Budge, E. A. W., _The Tell El Amarna Tablets in the British Museum_ (London: 1892)

Winckler, H. and Abel, L., _Der Thontafelfund von El Amarna_ (Berlin: 1889-90)

Transcription and Translation

Albright, W. F., and Mendenhall, George, "Akkadian Letters," in Pritchard, J. B., ed., _Ancient Near Eastern Texts_ (2nd edition) (Princeton: 1955), pp. 482-490

Gordon, C. H., "The New Amarna Tablets," _Orientalia_ XVI (1947), pp. 1-21

Knudtzon, J. A., _Die El-Amarna Tafeln_ (with commentary by O. Webber and glossary by E. Ebeling (Leipzig: 1907-15)

Mercer, S. A. B., _The Tell el-Amarna Tablets_ (Toronto: 1939)

Schroeder, O., _Die Tontafeln von El-Amarna_ (Berlin texts only), (Leipzig: 1915)

Thureau-Dangin, F., "Nouvilles lettres d'el-Amarna," _Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archeologie orientale_, XIX (1922), pp. 91-108

Studies

Albright, W. F., "Cuneiform Material for Egyptian Prosopography, 1500-1200 B.C." _Journal of Near Eastern Studies_, V (1946), pp. 9-25

"The Egyptian Correspondence of Abimilki, Prince of Tyre," _Journal of Egyptian Archaeology_, XXIII (1937) pp. 190-203

"The Letters of 'Abdu-Kheba, Prince of Jerusalem," _Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research_, Supplementary Studies, 1950

Campbell, Jr., Edward F., "The Amarna Letters and the Amarna Period," _Biblical Archaeologist_, XXIII (1960), pp. 2-22

Van der Meer, P. "The Chronological Determination of the Mesopotamian Letters in the El Amarna Archives," _Ex Oriente Lux_, Jaarbericht No. 15, pp. 75-84

FOOTNOTES

[1]Alan Gardiner, _Egypt of the Pharaohs_ (Oxford: 1961), p. 207

[2]James Breasted, _A History of Egypt_ (New York: 1909), p. 356

[3]_Ibid._

[4]James H. Breasted, _Ancient Records of Egypt_, II (Chicago: 1906), p. 935

[5]Texts in N. deG. Davies, _The Rock Tombs of El Amarna_, V (London: 1908)

[6]Vol. I (London: 1903), p. 19

[7]The originality of Akhenaton's contribution to Egyptian life is challenged by L. A. White, "Ikhanton; the Great vs. the Culture Process," _Journal of the American Oriental Society_, LXVIII (1948), pp. 91-114. He is answered by W. F. Edgerton, "The Great Man: A note on methods." _Ibid._ pp. 192-193

[8]A. W. Shorter, "Historical Scarabs of Tuthmosis IV and Amenophis III," _Journal of Egyptian Archaeology_, XVII (1931), pp. 23-25. See also XVIII (1932), pp. 110-111; XXII (1936) pp. 3-7

[9]M. Sandman, _Texts for the Time of Akhenaton_ 92.8-9, 60.6; 1.7-9, 80.17-81.1

[10]M. Sandman, _Texts from the Time of Akhenaton_ pp. 93-96

[11]_The Dawn of Conscience_ (New York: 1933) pp. 286-87

[12]The words "Re" (meaning "the sun") and "end" are similar in Egyptian. The principal shrine of Re was at Heliopolis.

[13]The Pharaoh was regarded as the son of Aton, hence divine in his own right.

[14]Cf. Psalm 104:20, "Thou makest darkness and it is night when all the beasts of the forest creep forth."

[15]Cf. Psalm 104:21, "The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God."

[16]The Two Lands are: Upper Egypt, the Nile Valley from the First Cataract to the head of the Delta; and Lower Egypt, the Delta region. The two Egypts were united _ca._ 3000 B.C. to form the united Egypt of subsequent history. Pharaohs continued to bear the title, "King of Upper and Lower Egypt" throughout ancient Egyptian history.

[17]Cf. Psalm 104:22-23, "When the sun arises, they get them away and lie down in their dens. Man goes forth to his work, and to his labor until the evening."

[18]The spirit (Egyptian _ka_) was regarded as the vital principle or fundamental nature of a person. "In praise to thy _ka_," is, essentially, "In praise to thee."

[19]Psalm 104:10-14, "Thou makest springs to gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst. By them the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From thy lofty abode thou waterest the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy work. Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate."

[20]The "great green sea" is the Mediterranean. Cf. Psalm 104:25-26, "Yonder is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan which thou didst form to sport in it."

[21]Cf. Psalm 104:24, "O Lord, how manifold are thy works, in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy creatures."

[22]Cf. Psalm 104:27, "These all look to thee to give them their food in due season."

[23]The Nile which watered Egypt was thought to have its source in a subterranean river which provided water for Egypt's Nile.

[24]Egypt, essentially rainless, received its water from the Nile. Foreign lands, however, received water from rains, hence the reference to a "Nile in the sky."

[25]Cf. Psalm 104:6, 10, "Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains: ... Thou makest springs gush forth in the valleys, they flow between the hills."

[26]Names of Akhenaton

[27]The Egyptian Pharaohs were both gods, and intermediaries between the gods and the people of Egypt.

[28]Text 19, lines 59-67. The classification follows J. A. Knudtzon, _Die El-Amarna Tafeln_ (Leipzig: 1907-15)

[29]Text 23, lines 13-29

[30]Text 15

[31]Text 16. The quotation is from lines 32 and 33

[32]Text 9

[33]Text 74, lines 30-65

[34]Text 158. The terms "father" and "son" are used to show respect. Aziru was the son of Abdi-Ashirta.

[35]Text 126, lines 34-61

[36]Text 137, lines 75-76; 97-99

[37]Text 169, lines 12-15; 24-34

[38]Text 254, lines 10-19

[39]Text 244

[40]Text 245

[41]Text 246

[42]Text 288, lines 33-40. Nahrim is the land of Mitanni; Kapasi may be Cush.

[43]Text 287, lines 53-57

[44]Text 280, lines 21-35

[45]F. Thureau-Dangin, "Nouvelles lettres d'el-Amarna," _Revue d'Assyriologie et d'Archeologie orientale_, XIX, pp. 91-108. Text 290a in S. A. B. Mercer, _The Tell el-Amarna Tablets_ (Toronto: 1939)

[46]F. Thureau-Dangin, _op. cit._, pp. 91-108: Mercer text 248a

[47]This view was popularized by Sir Charles Marston in, _The Bible Comes Alive_ (New York: n.d.), pp. 89-108. Marston felt that he could identify Joshua in the Amarna texts.

[48]"The Ha-BI-ru--Kin or Foe of Israel?" _The Westminster Theological Journal_ XIX-X), pp. 1-24; 170-184; 46-70

[49]So, for example, John Bright, _A History of Israel_ (Philadelphia: 1959), p. 113; G. Ernest Wright, _Biblical Archaeology_, 2nd edition (Philadelphia: 1962), p. 60; Cyrus H. Gordon, _The World of the Old Testament_ (Garden City: 1958), p. 144.

[50]Text 8, lines 25-34

[51]Text 34, lines 16-21; 35, lines 10-20

[52]Text 22, column 1, line 38; column 2 lines 1, 3, 16

[53]N. deG. Davies, _The Tomb of Rekh-mi-Re' at Thebes_ (New York: 1943).

[54]_The Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt_ (Baltimore: 1958), p. 175

[55]_Op. cit._, p. 18

[56]_Life and Times of Akhenaton_ (London: 1922), p. 63

[57]_The Burden of Egypt_ (Chicago: 1954), p. 193

[58]J. D. S. Pendlebury, _Tell el-Amarna_ (London: 1935), p. 19

[59]J. Bennett, "The Restoration Inscription of Tut'Ankhamun," _Journal of Egyptian Archaeology_, XXV (1939), pp. 8-15

[60]Albrecht Goetze, "Hittite Historical Texts," in _Ancient Near Eastern Texts_, James Pritchard, ed. (Princeton: 1955), p. 319

[61]_Ibid._

[62]Albrecht Goetze, "Hittite Prayers," in _Ancient Near Eastern Texts_, James Pritchard, ed. (Princeton: 1955), p. 395

[63]_Archaeology of the Old Testament: Was the Old Testament Written in Hebrew?_ (London: 1913), p. 4

[64]Text 103, lines 39-43

[65]Text 93, lines 10-12

[66]Text 149, lines 17-19

[67]Text 148, lines 13-17

[68]Text 238, lines 9-12

[69]Text 118, lines 55-56

[70]Problems of chronology are acute. H. H. Rowley, _From Joseph to Joshua_ (London: 1950) argues that Joseph was actually Akhenaton's Prime Minister. Cf. pp. 119-120. Most contemporary scholars place Joseph's entry into Egypt in Hyksos times (_ca._ 1720-1550 B.C.). Cf. G. Ernest Wright, _Biblical Archaeology_ (Philadelphia: 1962), pp. 53-58

[71]The Scarab is reproduced in A. deBuck, _Egyptian Reading Book I_ (Leiden: 1948), p. 67

[72]Musees Royaux (Bruxelles) tablet E6753, edited by Georges Dossin in _Revue d'Assyriologie et d'Archaeologie orientale_, XXXI, pp. 125-136. Mercer Number 31a

INDEX

A Abdi-Ashirta, 47-49, 69 Abdi-Khepa, 50, 51, 53 Abi-milki, 47, 69 Achsaph, 51 Ahmose, 16 Ajalon, 51 Akhetaton, 23, 26-29 Akizzi, 47 Akko, 50 Alashia, 13, 44, 55 Aleppo, 47 Amarna Tablets, 10-13, 44-54 Amenemhet I, 31 Amenhotep III, 13, 17, 19, 33, 56, 57 Amon, 33 Amon-Re, 17, 33 Amorites, 47 Amunira, 47 Ankhsenpaton, 24, 63, 64 'Apiru, 50, 52-54 Art, 58-61 Artatama, 45 Asenath, 32 Ashkelon, 47 Ashmolean Museum, 12, 13 Ashuruballit I, 44, 46 Assyria, 45 Aton, 20, 31-37 Aziru, 47-49

B Baktaton, 28 Beirut, 47 Bek, 27 Beth-shemesh, 32 Biridya, 50, 52 Bliss, F. J., 12 Borchard, L., 61 Budge, E. A. Wallis, 12 Burnaburiash II, 44, 46, 55 Byblos, 47-49

C Cairo Museum, 28 Carchemish, 17 Champollion, J. F., 10 Colossi of Memnon, 19 Crete, 56

D Dudu, 48, 49

E East Road, 30 Eye, 19, 30, 38, 65

F Frankfort, Henri, 14 Freud, Sigmond, 36

G Gebal (Byblos), 47 Giluhepa, 70 Graf, Theodore, 12 Great Temple, 14, 15, 28 Grebaut, G. M. E., 11 Griffith, F. Llewellyn, 14

H Hatshepsut, 60 Hebron, 51 Heliopolis, 20, 22, 31, 35 High Priest Street, 28 Hittites, 47, 62 Horemhab, 23, 65 Hurrians (Horites), 44 Hyksos, 16, 51 Hymn to the Aton, 34, 38-43

I Indurata, 51 Ishtar, 45

J Jethro, 36

K Kadashman-Enlil I, 44 Karnak, 17, 20 King's Way, 27, 28 Knossus, 56, 60

L Lab'ayu, 50, 69 Lachish, 47 Lepsius, Karl R., 10, 14 Louvre, 12 Luxor, 11, 19

M Mattiwaza, 45 Megiddo, 17 Meketaton, 23, 30 Memphis, 35 Meritaton, 20, 23, 24, 28, 62 Meru Aton, 14, 27, 28 Metropolitan Museum, 12 Milk-ili, 70 Mitanni, 44 Monotheism, 43 Moses, 36, 37 Murch, Chauncey, 12 Mycenae, 56 Mycerinus, 47

N Nakht, 29, 30 Napoleon, 9 Newton, F. G., 14, 61 Nofretete, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 28, 60, 61, 62 Norden, F. L., 9 North Palace, 14, 28

O On (Heliopolis), 32 Oppert, Jules, 11

P Palestine, 69 Parennufe, 30 Peet, T. Eric, 14 Pendelbury, John D. S., 14 Pepi, 47 Petrie, W. Flinders, 13, 28, 61 Phoenicians, 56-57 Potiphera, 32

Q Qatna, 47

R Ramose, 61 Re, 31 Re-Harakhti, 20, 21, 32 Rekhmire, 56 Rib-Addi, 47-49, 69 River Temple, 14

S Sellin, E., 12 Shutarna, 45 Sidon, 47 Silsila, 20 Simon, W., 12 Sinuhe, 31 Smenkhkare, 23, 62 Suppiluliumas, 19, 44, 45, 46, 49, 64 Suwardata, 51

T Taanach, 12 Telepinus, 47 Tell el-Hesi, 12 Thebes, 17, 20, 23, 33 Thutmose I, 16 Thutmose III, 16, 17, 56, 60 Thutmose IV, 17, 33 Thutmose (Sculptor), 61 Tiy, 19, 20, 22, 28, 33, 45, 56 Tombs, 30 Tushratta, 44, 45, 55, 70 Tutankhamon (Tutankhaton) 24, 36, 63

U Unis, 47

W Whittemore, Thomas, 14 Wilkinson, John Gardner, 9, 10, 14 Woolley, Leonard, 14

Y Yanhamu, 70 Yarimuta, 70

Z Zimrida, 47 Zurata, 50, 51

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--Silently corrected a few palpable typos.

--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.