1 Ramses II the Great Egypt versus the Bible

2 Outline Introduction Part I. Ramses II a. His reign b. His life and his family Part II. Moses and the Bible? a. Moses b. The Jews in Egypt c. The Red Sea Conclusion References

3 Introduction Ramses II (r B.C.), one of the longest reigns of any Egyptian pharaoh Third ruler of the 19th Dynasty, son of Seti I Reign marked last peak of Egyptian imperial power; famed for his massive building programs and many colossal statues Ramses is thought to be the pharaoh referred to in the biblical book of Exodus

4 Part I. Ramses II

5 a. His reign The son of Seti I and Queen Tuya was the third king of the 19th Dynasty. Called Ramesses the Great, he lived to be 96 years old Ramses assumed the throne and began a series of wars against the Syrians. The famous Battle of Kadesh is inscribed on the walls of his temple Ramesses' building accomplishments are two temples at Abu Simbel, the hypostyle hall at Karnak, a mortuary complex at Abydos, the Colossus of Ramses at Memphis, a vast tomb at Thebes, additions at the Luxor Temple, and the famous Ramesseum

6 Abu Simbel

7 b. His life and his family Ramses had 200 wives and concubines, 96 sons and 60 daughters; Among his wives were Nefertari, Queen Istnofret, and a Hittite princess Nefertari, daughter of King Seti I, and thus sister or half sister of Ramses II, was his favorite Queen Her participation in the affairs of the state is unparalleled; referred as the "Great King's Wife“ A political role is also reflected by the recurrent designation "Lady of Upper and Lower Egypt" and "Lady of the Two Lands"

8 Part II. Moses and the Bible

9 a. Moses Born in Goshen, a part of ancient Egypt His mother placed him in a basket made of papyrus and set it floating on the Nile River Rescued by the daughter of Pharaoh, who brought the infant up as her own child Moses went to Pharaoh, but in spite of the miracles he worked, Pharaoh would not release the Hebrew people At last, he consented, and Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt (Exodus) Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai, but smashed the tablets when he found the Israelites worshiping a golden calf

10 b. The Jews in Egypt The Hebrews lived in Egypt and were oppressed by the Egyptian ruler After the Israelites spend two centuries enslaved in Egypt, God chooses Moses, an Israelite who has fled from Egypt, to lead the children of Israel out of slavery Historians can verify none of this narrative; Jews honor the story of the miraculous departure from Egypt, called the Exodus, as the transforming event in Jewish history

11 c. The Red Sea Narrow, inland sea, separating the Arabian peninsula, western Asia, from northeastern Africa (1,900 km long) The site of the safe passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea is said to be the Gulf of Suez The Red Sea’s high salt content is a result of the region’s extreme heat, which makes its waters evaporate quickly

12 Red Sea

13 Conclusion Ramses II probably had about 100 children by his principle wives and consorts Unlike many pharaohs, his family is attested to with numerous monuments including Nefertari's small temple at Abu Simbel and her great tomb in the Valley of the Queens He also built a tomb for a number of his sons in the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes) very near his own tomb Interesting to note that Pharaoh released the Hebrew people only when his son died

14 References