The Bible, as a historical source, is of great value since it contains the centuries-old experience of people and can reveal a lot. It has long been proven that those parts of it, where it speaks of Egypt and Babylon, were written by people who are well informed about the life of these monarchies. Discoveries are more convincing that these people were real representatives of the culture that dominated their time; this information is constantly being confirmed and clarified. The text of the Bible, consisting of several books, was compiled at different times; the oldest parts of the Bible were written no later than the XII-XI centuries BC. Many letters and documents in the Aramaic language found in these places during excavations are indisputable evidence of the closest Jewish-Egyptian relations at that time. Egyptian religious thinking reveals many contact points; an overlap between biblical and Egyptian literary and religious images is evident. What is more, the Egyptians’ unique culture, practices, and beliefs can be noted due to sacred primary sources.
Cultural Features
The events of the Old Testament are associated with several localities, namely the regions of the ancient Middle East. Historians note that the Nile is the dominant geographical feature of Egypt played an essential role in the history of Egypt and was reflected in the cultural worldview of the Egyptians. The fertile black soil of the valley was the source of life and vitality, while the lifeless sands of the desert reminded the ancient Egyptians of their mortality. The Egyptians treasured the great muddy river; the soil rich in black soil was called “the black land,” and such a picture of the world was reflected in the unique cultural fund of the people. (Arnold & Beyer, 2015) The culture of Egypt cannot be considered in isolation from religion since syncretism was the spiritual foundation of the people. Religion has been an integral factor in the development of Egyptian culture throughout its entire existence (Aling, 2020). They believed in the magical power of art and its mystical purpose. Therefore, they created a rational system of artistic expression, conveying the sacred meaning of the ritual of human burial.
The uniqueness of culture was determined by the early emergence of class relations and the state and the relatively isolated geographical position of the Nile Valley. All this made it difficult for the ancient Egyptians to contact and, consequently, borrow the cultural achievements of other peoples. The decisive role of the Nile in the economy and the geographic features of the valley determined the specifics of the Egyptian worldview and religious cult, the entire system of spiritual values. Only by common labor, organized by the intense power of the Pharaoh, the Egyptians could create conditions for a normal life. Therefore, fear of the formidable forces of nature embodied in fierce deities, of the all-crushing power of the Pharaoh, their absolute greatness, and power permeated the entire worldview of the Egyptian in antiquity.
Practices of the Egyptians Found in Bible
The Bible also reflects the Egyptian views on the afterlife, in particular, the concept of psychostasy. Bible books repeatedly mention weighing as a method (Israel-Pelletier, 2018). The sculpture served as part of a funeral ritual; it was a backup copy of the body. If the mummy for some reason is destroyed, then the soul could have a spare home – a statue made of limestone or alabaster. As part of the ritual, sculptures were made subject to specific rules, so a canon appeared – a set of aesthetic principles when depicting certain images and subjects.
It should be noted that the Jews who lived in Egypt did not disdain the funeral rites of the Egyptians, as directly stated in the Bible. The account of Joseph’s history in Genesis ends with a description of his death: “And Joseph died one hundred and ten years. And they embalmed him and put him in an ark in Egypt.” (Collins KJV Bibles, 2008) Thus, one of the faces of the biblical story, Joseph, was buried in Egypt and according to Egyptian custom.
Beliefs and special rituals
The Egyptians believed that almighty gods govern natural processes and human life. The gods were recognized as the creators of cities, laws, crafts, and art; however, the Egyptians revered some gods more than others. To preserve the proper course of things in the universe, a small army of priests in numerous temples in Egypt offered daily prayers to the gods. In each temple, there was a unique statue of a deity, with which the ritual of opening the mouth was performed to obtain the “spiritual essence of the deity.” (Aling, 2020, p 27) These statues received daily offerings of food, drink, and gifts. The priests also sang hymns and even washed and clothed their gods. During the ritual, oils and incense were used, as well as eye paint.
Conclusion
The Bible and the primary sources based on it make it possible not only to immerse oneself in religion but also reveal valuable historical information about the people involved in its creation. The development of ancient Egyptian culture and its high level was determined by the features of the socio-economic system of the Ancient Egypt. The economic development of the Nile Valley, the creation of rationally organized agriculture, and the general rise of the entire economy created the material basis for cultural creativity. It can be concluded about the uniqueness of the Egyptian people, with their cultural characteristics, views, and ways of development.
References
Aling, C. F. (2020). Egypt and bible history: From earliest times to 1000 BC. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Arnold, B. T., & Beyer, B. E. (2015). Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian survey [eBook edition]. Baker Publishing Group.
Collins KJV Bibles, C. K. (2008). Holy Bible: King James Version (KJV) [eBook edition]. HarperCollins Publishers Limited.
Israel-Pelletier, A. (2018). On the Mediterranean and the Nile: The Jews of Egypt. Indiana University Press.