EGYPT
99
EGYPT
sides that of the kingdom of Judali. The policy of the Pharaohs, as previoush' explained, is the key to their conduct towards the Israelites. At the same time, the character of the portions of the Bible relating to this period j)revents our being sure that the Egyp- tians maj-- not have passed through the country, and even put the Israelites to tril)ute. It is illustrative of the whole question under consideration that, in the most flourishing days of the sole kingdom of Israel, a Pharaoh should have marched unopposed into Pales- tine and captured the Canaanitish city Gezer, at no great distance from Jerusalem, and that this should be merely incidentally mentioned at a later time instead of being noticed in the regular course of the narrative (1 Kings ix, 15, IG). See Exode.
4. Definite Period. — "\A'ith the 18th dj^nasty, about B.C. 1520, a new and clearer epoch of Egyptian histo- ry begins, both as regards the numerous materials for reconstructing it, and also its great importance. In fact, tlie history of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties is that of the Egyptian empire. Amosis, or Ahmes, the head of the tirst of these, overthrew the power of the Shepherds, and probably expelled them. No great monuments remain of the first king, but from varioiLS inscriptions we are warranted in supposing that he was a powerful king. During his reign we first find mention of the horse, and, as it is often called by the Shemitic name sus, it seems probable that it was introduced from Asia, and possibly hy the Shep- herd kings. If so, they may have been indebted to the strength of their cavalry for their easy conquest of Egypt. It is certain that, while other animals are frequent!}' depicted on the monuments, neither in the tombs near tiie pyramids, nor at Beni- Hassan, is there any appearance of the horse, and yet, subse- quently, Egypt became the great depot for these ani- mals, insomuch that in the time of Solomon they were regularly imported for him. and for " all the kings of the Hittites, and for the krhgs of Syria;" and when Israel was invaded by Sennacherili, it was on Egypt that they were said to put their trust for cliar- iots and for horsemen. Amenoph I, the next king (B.Cc cir. 1498), was sufficiently powerful to make conquests in Ethiopia and in Asia. In his time we find that the Egyptians had adopted the five interca- lary days, as well as the twelve hours of day and night. True arches, not "arches of approaching stones," also are found at Thebes, bearing his name on the briclvs, and were in common use in his time. See Arch. Some of the more ancient chambers in the temple of Amen-ra, or El-Karnak, at Thebes, were liuilt by him. In the reign of his successor, Thothmes I (B.C. cir. 1478), the arms of Egypt were carried into Mesopota- mia, or the land of "Naharayn:" by some Naharayn is identified with the Nairi, a people south-west of Armenia. Libya also was subject to his sway. A monument of his reign is still remaining in one of the two olielisks of red granite which he set up at El-Kar- nak, or Thebes. The name of Thothmes II (B.C. cir. 1470) is found as far south as Napata, or Gebel Berkel, in Ethiopia. With him and his successor was associa- ted a queen, Amense or Amen-numt, who seems to have received more honor than cither. She is thought to have been a Semiramis, that name, like Sesostris, prol>alily designating more than one individual. Queen Amen-nemt and Thothmes II and III are the earliest sovereigns of whom great monuments remain in the temple of El-Karnak, the cliief sanctuary of Thebes. Thothmes III (B.C. cir. 146.")) was one of the most re- markable of the Pharaohs. He carried his arms as far as Nineveh, and reduced perliaps Baljylon also to his sway, receiving a large tril)ute from Asiatic na- tions over whom he had triumphed. This was a com- mon mode of acknowledging the supremacy' of a con- queror, and b}' no means implied that the territory was surrendered to him ; on tlie contrary, he may only have defeated the army of the nation, and that beyond