زاهي حواس يرد على الملحدين ويكشف السر: لماذا لم تَرد أسماء الأنبياء وقصة الخروج في الآثار الفرعونية؟

د. هيثم طلعت Dr. Haitham Talaat

14 Jun 202412:26

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses skepticism about the historical accuracy of the story of Moses and the presence of the Israelites in ancient Egyptian records. It highlights the conflict between religious narratives and archaeological evidence, emphasizing the pharaohs' portrayal as deities and the implausibility of recording their defeats. The speaker argues that while there is no direct mention of Moses or the Israelites in Egyptian inscriptions, indirect evidence and historical analysis suggest their existence. The script also touches on the importance of understanding ancient cultures' perspectives and the ongoing nature of archaeological research.

Takeaways

🕵️‍♂️ The speaker discusses skepticism about the historical accuracy of the story of Moses and the presence of the Israelites in ancient Egyptian records, suggesting that such records are often missing due to the conflict with the Pharaonic ideology of divine kingship.
📜 The script mentions that ancient Egyptian kings had to follow a program that did not allow for the presence of prophets of God, as it would undermine the concept of the 'Pharaonic god'.
🤔 The speaker raises the question of why there is no mention of prophets in Egyptian archaeological findings, arguing that it is because the kings had to be portrayed as victorious to maintain their divine status.
📚 It is pointed out that only 30% of archaeological findings have been discovered, leaving a significant chance that evidence of the story of Moses and the Israelites could still be unearthed.
🌊 The script discusses the improbability of the story of the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of the Egyptian army being recorded in Egyptian records, as it would be a direct contradiction to the Pharaonic narrative of invincibility.
📝 The speaker refers to the mention of 'Israel' in a stele of Merneptah, suggesting that it indicates the existence of the Israelites at that time, although there is scholarly debate about the interpretation of the inscription.
👥 The argument is made that the number of Israelites who left Egypt, often cited as 2 million, is likely exaggerated and that they were probably a much smaller group, which would make archaeological evidence harder to find.
🏛 The script mentions that archaeological evidence for the Israelites in Sinai is scarce, which is puzzling given the large number of people supposedly involved in the exodus.
📖 The speaker recommends the book 'The Historical Existence of the Prophets' by Dr. Sami Gamri for its extensive evidence supporting the historical existence of the prophets and addressing archaeological discrepancies.
🔍 The importance of understanding the nature of ancient pagan thought and its impact on historical records is highlighted, as well as the need to consider what is not found in addition to what is found in archaeological research.
🙏 The script concludes with a call to prayer for the benefit of the speaker, the author of the book mentioned, and for an open-minded approach to the discussion of historical evidence related to religious figures.

Q & A

Why do atheists doubt the historicity of Moses and the presence of Israelites in Egypt?
-Atheists doubt these historical claims due to the lack of direct evidence in ancient Egyptian artifacts and the repeated assertions by figures like Zahi Hawass that such records do not exist in pharaonic inscriptions.
What is Zahi Hawass's stance on the absence of records about Moses and the Israelites in ancient Egyptian artifacts?
-Zahi Hawass argues that it is impossible to find such records because acknowledging Moses or the Israelites would contradict the pharaonic belief in the divine nature of the Pharaoh, which did not allow for the recording of such events.
Why is it unlikely to find references to prophets in ancient Egyptian artifacts?
-In ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh had to portray himself as a god who built tombs and temples, defeated enemies, offered sacrifices, and united Egypt. Mentioning prophets would conflict with this divine image, and thus, their stories were not included in the artifacts.
How do we know about the Hyksos according to the script?
-We know about the Hyksos because a student at the Karnak school heard stories about them and wrote them down. This highlights how historical events were sometimes recorded by chance rather than systematically.
What percentage of Egyptian artifacts have been discovered, according to the script?
-Only about 30% of Egyptian artifacts have been discovered, leaving 70% yet to be found, which suggests there is still a significant potential for new historical discoveries.
Why are the significant events during the Exodus not mentioned in Egyptian records?
-Such events are not mentioned because they would depict the Pharaoh as being defeated, which contradicts the pharaonic ideology where the Pharaoh must always be victorious to maintain his divine status.
What does the script say about the mention of Israelites in the Merneptah Stele?
-The script mentions that the Merneptah Stele includes a reference to 'Israel,' indicating that they were a people rather than a state and that they were defeated by Pharaoh. This suggests that the Israelites existed during the time before Merneptah.
What archaeological evidence exists for the presence of Israelites outside of Egypt?
-Archaeological evidence such as the Moabite Stone, the Seal of Isaiah, and the Tel Dan inscription supports the biblical narrative and mentions figures and events consistent with the Israelites' presence in the Levant.
How does the script address the issue of the large number of Israelites during the Exodus?
-The script suggests that the traditionally cited number of 2,000,000 Israelites is an exaggeration. Given the conditions and the time frame, a smaller group is more plausible, which would also explain the lack of extensive archaeological evidence.
What is the script's conclusion about the historical validity of the Exodus narrative?
-The script concludes that while the absence of certain records in Egyptian artifacts is due to ideological reasons, there is enough external archaeological evidence to support the historical basis of the Exodus narrative. It also emphasizes that future discoveries might provide further confirmation.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Doubts on the Historical Existence of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt

The speaker begins by addressing skepticism regarding the historical accuracy of the story of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt. They mention that some modern critics, like Zahi Hawass, argue that there is no archaeological evidence for Moses or the Israelites in ancient Egyptian records. The speaker counters this by explaining that the ancient Egyptian pharaohs would not have recorded their defeats, as it would contradict the divine image of the pharaoh. They also discuss the possibility that only a small percentage of historical artifacts have been discovered, and that future findings could potentially shed light on these historical figures.

05:03

🔍 The Assyrian Chronicles and the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt

The speaker discusses the Assyrian Chronicles and the gaps in historical records from the time of the Israelites' alleged exodus from Egypt. They mention the 'empty 40 years' in Assyrian history, which some scholars, like Albert Gryson, have noted. The speaker also addresses the improbability of finding evidence of the Israelites' journey through Sinai, given the large number of people believed to have left Egypt (2 million). They argue that the number is likely exaggerated and that archaeological evidence for a smaller group would be more plausible.

10:04

📜 Archaeological Evidence Supporting the Historical Moses and the Israelites

The speaker concludes by highlighting various pieces of archaeological evidence that support the historical existence of Moses and the Israelites. They mention the Tel Dan inscription, which some scholars believe refers to the Kingdom of David, and other findings that corroborate the biblical narrative. The speaker criticizes atheists for ignoring evidence outside of Egypt and for not engaging with the broader archaeological context. They recommend the book 'The Historical Existence of the Prophets' by Dr. Sami Gamri for further reading and understanding of the historical and archaeological evidence supporting the religious narrative.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Archaeology

Archaeology refers to the study of human history through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. In the video, it is mentioned how some atheists misunderstand how archaeology works, particularly in the context of finding evidence for religious events in ancient Egypt, such as the story of Moses.

💡Pharaonic Egypt

Pharaonic Egypt refers to the ancient Egyptian civilization ruled by pharaohs, considered gods on earth. The video discusses how the Pharaonic system did not record events that contradicted their divine status, such as the Exodus story, which involves the defeat of a pharaoh by Moses.

💡Moses

Moses is a prophet in Abrahamic religions who led the Israelites out of Egypt. The video addresses why there is no mention of Moses in Egyptian records, arguing that it would undermine the pharaoh's divine status, making it improbable to find such records in Pharaonic inscriptions.

💡Exodus

The Exodus is the biblical story of the Israelites' departure from Egypt under Moses' leadership. The video explains that finding archaeological evidence for such an event is unlikely due to the nature of Egyptian records and the small number of Israelites compared to the exaggerated figures in religious texts.

💡Zahi Hawass

Zahi Hawass is a prominent Egyptian archaeologist who frequently denies the historical presence of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt. The video references his statements to discuss the challenges and biases in interpreting archaeological findings.

💡Merneptah Stele

The Merneptah Stele is an ancient Egyptian inscription mentioning a group called 'Israel.' The video uses this stele to argue that Israelites existed during Pharaoh Merneptah's time, though it mentions their defeat, which aligns with the pharaoh's need to present victories.

💡Hyksos

The Hyksos were a Semitic people who ruled parts of Egypt before being expelled. The video mentions them to illustrate how certain groups' histories are known through indirect mentions in Egyptian records, drawing a parallel to how information about the Israelites might be similarly sparse.

💡Ancient Historiography

Ancient historiography refers to the methods and styles of recording history in ancient times. The video emphasizes that ancient records, especially in Egypt, often omitted or altered facts to maintain the pharaoh's image, affecting how modern scholars understand historical events like the Exodus.

💡Monotheism vs. Polytheism

Monotheism is the belief in one god, while polytheism is the belief in multiple gods. The video discusses how Egyptian polytheism and the divine status of pharaohs conflicted with the monotheistic message of prophets like Moses, influencing what was recorded in Egyptian history.

💡William Dever

William Dever is an archaeologist mentioned in the video for his assertion that the mention of 'Israel' on the Merneptah Stele is widely accepted among scholars. This supports the argument that some historical evidence of the Israelites does exist, though not in the way skeptics demand.

💡Biblical Archaeology

Biblical archaeology involves studying archaeological sites related to biblical narratives. The video refers to this field to argue that while evidence for events like the Exodus may not be found in Egyptian records, other archaeological finds in regions like the Levant support the biblical narrative.

💡Albert Grayson

Albert Grayson is a scholar mentioned for his observation of a 40-year gap in Assyrian records. The video uses this to parallel the lack of Egyptian records about Moses, suggesting that significant events might be omitted from official records for various reasons.

💡Moabite Stone

The Moabite Stone is an ancient inscription that parallels biblical accounts. The video references it to show how external archaeological evidence can corroborate biblical narratives, strengthening the case for the historical existence of figures like Moses.

💡Jonah

Jonah is another prophet mentioned in the video, whose mission to Nineveh (Assyrian territory) and the subsequent conversion of its people are not recorded in Assyrian annals. This absence is used to argue that the lack of Egyptian records on Moses is not unique.

💡Karnak School

The Karnak School refers to an ancient Egyptian center of learning. The video uses an example of a student from this school writing about the Hyksos to illustrate how indirect records can provide insights into historical events, suggesting that similar evidence for the Israelites might exist.

💡Egyptian Theology

Egyptian theology involves the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Egypt. The video argues that the theological requirement for pharaohs to be victorious gods on earth would prevent the recording of any events showing their defeat, such as those involving Moses and the Israelites.

Highlights

Introduction to the controversy over the historical existence of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt.

Explanation of why Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass argues against the existence of Moses and the Israelites in ancient Egyptian records.

Discussion on why Pharaohs would not record events like the existence of Moses or the Exodus due to their ideological implications.

Comparison between the treatment of prophets in ancient Egyptian records and the absence of similar records for other biblical prophets in different ancient cultures.

Reference to the discovery of only 30% of Egypt's ancient artifacts, leaving room for potential future findings.

The only mention of Israel in ancient Egyptian records, where they are depicted as a defeated ethnic group in the Merneptah Stele.

Analysis of why the number of Israelites mentioned in the biblical account (2 million) is likely exaggerated.

Explanation of why a smaller group of Israelites would leave minimal archaeological evidence.

Comparison with the missing records in Assyrian chronicles during the time of Jonah, suggesting a pattern in ancient records.

Historical evidence supporting the existence of Israelite settlements in the Levant post-Exodus.

Mention of archaeological findings such as the Moabite Stone and the Tel Dan Stele confirming biblical accounts.

The role of ideological and religious bias in the recording (or omission) of historical events in ancient records.

Promotion of the book 'The Historical Existence of the Prophets' by Dr. Sami Amiri, which compiles evidence supporting the historicity of biblical prophets.

Encouragement for further reading and research to better understand the archaeological context of biblical narratives.

Call to critically examine both the absence and presence of historical records in understanding ancient events.