00.3. Preface

Preface THE recent interest in the subject of Egyptian antiquities began with the publication of the works of Champollion the younger, about twenty years ago. Since his death, which occurred in 1832, these researches have been prosecuted with much zeal, by several of his scholars and other distinguished archaeologists. Two of the learned men of Holland, professors Reuvens and Leemans, have made important contributions to the subject, derived in part from the treasures of the Leyden Museum. The results of the labors of Rosellini, professor of oriental languages and antiquities at Pisa, are of the highest value. In 1829, he and his brother accompanied Champollion in the scientific expedition to Egypt, which was undertaken under the joint auspices of the governments of France and Tuscany. Champollion, just before his death, committed to him the honorable office of bringing before the world the result of their associated labors and studies. The first part of the great work of Rosellini, which is yet incomplete, appeared in 1832, at Pisa, in folio, entitled, “I monumenti dell’ Egitto e della Nubia disegnati della Spedizione scientifico-letteraria toscana in Egitto, distribuiti in ordine di materie, interpretati ed illustrati.” Through the liberality of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, it is brought out in the highest style of typography.

It consists of a series of treatises which embrace the most important results of the investigations into the history and civil institutions of the ancient Pharaoh-dynasties under the Pagan, Greek and Roman dominion. The contents of the work are as rich as the plan is comprehensive. It abounds in researches relating to the languages, civil history, and history of the arts in the valley of the Nile. Rosellini published in Rome, in 1837, in quarto, a valuable Egyptian grammar, entitled, “Elementae Linguae Egyptiacae, vulgo Copticae.” In this interesting field of research, several Englishmen have acquired high distinction. Among these are Dr. Young, Major Felix, Lord Prudhoe and Sir Gardner Wilkinson. Dr. Young shares with Champollion the honor of having first indicated the right method of deciphering the hieroglyphical language. To Mr. Wilkinson justly belongs the encomium which he has himself bestowed on Rosellini. “He is a man of erudition and a gentleman, and one whose enthusiastic endeavors, stimulated by great perseverance, are tempered by judgment, and that modesty which is the characteristic of real merit.” Mr. Wilkinson’s principal works on Egypt are contained in nine volumes, namely, “A general View of Egypt, and Topography of Thebes,” in two vols. (a new edition was published in 1843) and “Manners and Customs of the ancient Egyptians, including their private life, government, laws, arts, manufactures, religion, and early history,” in two series of three volumes in each. A second edition of the first series was published in 1842. These works are full of most valuable materials, accompanied with many fine illustrations. They everywhere exhibit that caution, sound judgment, modesty and enthusiasm, which greatly delight the reader. At the same time, the arrangement is susceptible of improvement, while the style is somewhat heavy, and wanting in precision and scholar-like finish. It is delightful to observe the reverence with which the author regards the sacred volume, and the gratification which every undoubted illustration of its authenticity affords him. He has now, for the fourth time, we believe, taken up his abode in Egypt.

Another distinguished investigator in these fascinating studies is Dr. Richard Lepsius, a native of Naumburg in Prussia. He published, in 1834, a prize dissertation entitled “Palaeographie als Mittel für die Sprachforschung zunächst am Sanscrit nachgewiesen.” His studies led him to Turin and then to Rome, where he was appointed one of the two corresponding secretaries of the Archaeological Institute there. In 1842, Dr. Lepsius was sent to Egypt by the Prussian government, in connection with a number of other learned men. He is reaping “a rich harvest on this earliest scene of the history of mankind.” If the results of the expedition correspond to the promises of the commencement, much new light will be thrown on the ancient condition of Egypt.

These researches derive special importance from the light which they cast upon the Old Testament records, especially upon the Mosaic history. An incidental, undesigned, but most valuable proof is thus drawn from witnesses that cannot lie in favor of the trustworthiness of those records. “Paintings, numerous and beautiful beyond conception, as fresh and perfect as if finished only yesterday,” exhibit before our eyes the truth of what the Hebrew lawgiver wrote, almost five thousand years ago. The authenticity of the documents of our faith thus rests, not on manuscripts and written records alone, but the hardest and most enduring substances in nature have added their unsuspecting testimony.

“Egyptian history and the manners of the most ancient nations,” Mr. Wilkinson remarks, “cannot but be interesting to every one, and so intimately connected are they with the scriptural accounts of the Israelites and the events of succeeding ages relative to Judea, that the name of Egypt need only to be mentioned to recal the early impressions we have received from the study of the Bible.”

It is the object of the present volume to collect and apply the results obtained by these and numerous other authors as far as they relate to the Books of Moses. This had not been done before the appearance of this work in 1840. Even the most recent German commentators are sadly deficient in this respect. They have scarcely made any advance upon the works of Spencer and Le Clerc, who wrote more than a century ago. Some of the other works of the author of this volume, Dr. E. W. Hengstenberg, are too well known in this country to render a statement of his general qualifications for the work which he has here undertaken necessary. It may, however, be proper to say that he has made the Pentateuch a subject of special study, and probably no one in Germany or elsewhere has devoted more attention to that interesting, but too much neglected portion of the sacred volume. His situation as Professor at Berlin also gave him access to the rich collection of Egyptian antiquities in the Berlin Museum, and the reader is left to judge whether he has not made good use of his advantages. The form of the work has been somewhat changed in the translation. The references to authorities, which in the original volume were in the text, are thrown to the bottom of the page. Nearly all of the italic headings have been inserted. In a very few cases notes, which it was thought would add more to the size than value of the volume to an English reader, have been omitted or abridged. In one instance a long note from another untranslated work of the author has been inserted in the text. The very few notes at the end have been added by the translator. It was his intention to insert many more but they have been unavoidably omitted. The translator is under great obligations to Prof. H. B. Hackett of Newton Theological Seminary, who consented to listen to a large part of the manuscript before it was printed, and make such corrections as his accurate knowledge of the German language suggested. Much valuable advice and assistance has also been received from Professor B. B. Edwards of Andover Theological Seminary.

Andover, Sept. 1843.