Egyptians Say They Found Proof of Biblical Joseph

MEMRI/The Lid ^ | 9/25/09 | The Lid

[Shellybenoit]

Whether you believe that the biblical account of Joseph did happen (or something close to the biblical account), or if you didn't, this account of an Egyptian archeological find in a leading Egyptian Newspaper translated by MEMRI is very cool According to a report in the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, by Wajih Al-Saqqar, archeologists have discovered ancient Egyptian coins bearing the name and image of the Biblical Joseph.

[LibertyRocks]

Unfortunately, some people are like doubting Thomas. The more hard evidence and proof that is found to back up the historical accounts in the Bible, the less room the naysayers have to maneuver in their attempts to discredit it.

Then you also have to consider those who are NOT religious in anyway and who completely discredit the Bible as a work of pure fiction. It is these people who try to fill the minds of our children with doubt, and sometimes succeed. The more tangible proof we have, the more ammunition we have against those who say we believe in pure myths...

Surely, that is not a bad thing... If it were I do not think that the Lord would make it possible for people to find these clues and proofs.

What is always so fascinating to me is that many of these archaeologists have set out to find proof that the Bible was FALSE - and instead all they do is find more and more proof to shatter their illusions.

[SunkenCiv]

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[FourPeas]

From the MEMRI article:

"Koranic Verses Indicate Clearly That Coins Were Used in Egypt in the Time of Joseph"

Reading the excerpt from MEMRI, it does sound as if the scholarship is attempting to prove Koranic verses that claim coinage was used in Egypt in the time of Joseph. Colour me skeptical, too.

[djf]

Didn’t Heradotus mention first hand accounts of him?
I mean, for his time, he was pretty renowned.

[ApplegateRanch]

If you mean Herodotus, the Greek historian, he lived about 1,000 or so years later. His mentions would not have been “first hand”, but are interesting nonetheless.

[ChocChipCookie]

We have used the story of Joseph to explain to our kids why we are storing food. Great story with so many life lessons.

[Paine in the Neck]

Pictures would have been nice.

From this blog.

[curmudgeonII]

Were the coins dated 1300 B.C.?

[Califreak]

I like how he was able to overcome adversity, prosper, and help so many people and still have love and forgiveness in his heart for his rotten, no good brothers.

[VietVet]

Thank you.

These pictures strongly indicate that these are NOT coins, as the word is commonly used. The first coins were standardized and officially verified pieces of Metal, gold silver, electrum, copper/bronze, a.s.f. of a given weight, for example, a shekel, or for that matter, a deben. These are all different sizes, are of all different materials; no two are alike. Not a very good monitary model.

Might they have been used in commerce? Possibly, rather as the Old Norse used their silver arm rings as spare change, cutting off and weighting pieces to spend as needed.

Nor would I place a lot of weight on the fact that one of the jewels has the name of Joseph inscribed on it, since it is paired with a name that is not Egyptian. What is the date supposedly enscribed on this item? What other evidence on this item links it with the Biblical Joseph?
What is the archeological context and provinance of this item?

VietVet

[Pride_of_the_Bluegrass]

darn I posted this before I saw that you had posted same story. Apologies given

[metal321]

I was really excited to read this, but I like to see details and this story is definitely lacking. One detail that got the attention of my b.s. detector was where they talked about an inscription of the year. I have never heard of anything from ancient Egypt being inscribed with a year. That kind of timekeeping is a much more relatively recent phenomenon. It’s one of the reasons why there is still a great deal of debate between scholars about the dating of the dynasties of ancient Egypt. Because there are no written dates to go by. Also, nobody knows the precise pharaoh of Josephs time, so for the story to suggest that the coin could be dated directly to Joseph’s time is also bogus. If this story were true, this would be some of the most explosive news imaginable. A lot of scientists and skeptics would be eating they’re words. Really had me going for awhile. Just goes to show that it pays have a little bit of skepticism or at least a keen eye for details.

[Fedora]

The age of the coins mentioned in the article is from the wrong dynasty to be the Biblical Joseph.

[SunkenCiv]

Not only that:

The researcher also pointed out that the coins made of precious metals or stones usually had a hole in them... allowing them to be [worn] around the neck or on the chest... [and] were scarab-shaped.

IOW, the upper crust Egyptians were medallion men. ;') Joseph was in Egypt in the 12th Dynasty, and the Egyptian name this "researcher" gives for him isn't correct anyway.

[Shellybenoit]

no problem

[SunkenCiv]

So, any photos emerge yet?

• Leading Egyptian Daily 'Al-Ahram' Reports: Coins from Era of Biblical Joseph Found in Egypt
• Top Egyptian Daily: Joseph's Era Coins Found in Egypt
• Coins from Era of Biblical Joseph Found in Egypt
• Egyptian paper: Coins found bearing name of Joseph