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AhmedBahgat · (This post was last modified: 09-13-2005, 07:53 AM by AhmedBahgat.)

Quranic Accuracy Vs. Biblical Error: The Kings & Pharaohs Of Egypt

1. Introduction

This paper proposes to investigate the usage of the titles "King" and "Pharaoh" during the time of Abraham(P), Joseph(P) and Moses(P) as used in both the Bible and the Quran.

For all kings, the contemporaries of Abraham(P), Joseph(P) and Moses(P), the Bible uses the term "Pharaoh" to address the kings of Egypt. The Quran however differs from the Bible: the sovereign of Egypt who was a contemporary of Joseph(P) is named "King" (Arabic, Malik); whereas the Bible has named him "Pharaoh". As for the king who ruled during the time of Moses(P) the Quran repeatedly calls him "Pharaoh" (Arabic, Fir'awn).

These differences in detail between the Biblical and Quranic narrations appear to have great significance as will be discussed in this paper.

2. Biblical Usage Of The Word "Pharaoh"

Some examples of the usage of the word Pharaoh are presented below, and are taken from the stories of Abraham(P), Joseph(P) and Moses.

2.1 Pharaoh During The Time Of Abraham

According to the book of Genesis, the king who was a contemporary of Abraham was called Pharaoh, and this title is used six times in Genesis 12:10-20. Three examples are illustrated below:



“But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his house hold because of Abram's wife Sarai.”

[Genesis ; 12:17]



“So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?"

[Genesis ; 12:18]



“Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had.”

[Genesis ; 12:20]

2.2 Pharaoh During The Time Of Joseph

According to the book of Genesis, the king who ruled Egypt in Joseph's time was also referred to as Pharaoh. The king is addressed as Pharaoh ninety times[2]. The following examples are take from Genesis 41:



“So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.”

[Genesis ; 41:14]



“Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do."

[Genesis ; 41:25]



“Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and travelled throughout Egypt.”

[Genesis ; 41:46]

2.3 Pharaoh During The Time Of Moses

According to the book of Exodus, the king who ruled Egypt in Moses' time was also referred to as Pharaoh. He is addressed as Pharaoh 128 times[3]. Three examples are illustrated below:



“When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian... “

[Exodus ; 2:15]



“Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet."

[Exodus ; 7:1]



“When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry land.”

[ Exodus ; 15:19]

Thus, for all kings, the contemporaries of Abraham(P), Joseph(P) and Moses(P), the Bible uses the term "Pharaoh" to address the kings of Egypt.

3. Quranic Usage Of The Words "King" & "Pharaoh" 

Some examples of the usage of the words King and Pharaoh are presented below, and are taken from the stories of Joseph(P) and Moses(P) . No such usage is to be found in the Quranic story of Abraham:

3.1 King Of Egypt During The Time Of Joseph

The sovereign who ruled Egypt during Joseph's day is named "King" (Arabic, Malik); whereas the Bible has named him "Pharaoh". The Quran never once addresses this monarch as "Pharaoh"

Two examples of the usage of the word King from the story of Joseph( are illustrated below. The Arabic word for King, Malik, is underlined in red in the Arabic text:

[Image: king1.gif]

“The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat cows, whom seven lean ones devour, and seven green ears of corn, and seven (others) withered. O ye chiefs! expound to me my vision, if it be that ye can interpret visions."

[The Quran ; 12:43]

[Image: king2.gif]

“They said: "We miss the great beaker of the king; for him who produces it, is (the reward of) a camel-load; I will be bound by it."

[The Quran ; 12:72]

Further examples of the usage of the word King during the time of Joseph can be found in the Surah Yusuf. See: 12:43, 12:50, 12:54, 12:72, 12:76

3.2 Pharaoh During The Time Of Moses

As for the king who ruled during the time of Moses(P), the Quran repeatedly calls him Pharaoh (Arabic, Fir'awn). Two examples of the usage of the word Pharaoh during the time of Moses are illustrated below. The Arabic word for Pharaoh, Fir'awn, is underlined in red in the Arabic text:

[Image: king3.gif]

“Moses said: "O Pharaoh! I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds."

[Quran 7:104]

[Image: king4.gif]

“Then after them sent We Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and his chiefs with Our Signs. But they were arrogant: they were a people in sin.”

[The Quran ; 10:75]

Further examples of the usage of the word "Pharaoh" during the time of Moses can be found in the following verses:

7:104-137, 8:52, 8:54, 10:75-90, 11:97, 14:6, 20:24, 20:43, 20:56, 20:60, 20:78, 23:46, 26:10-66, 27:12, 28:3-42, 29:39, 38:12, 40:24-46, 43:46-85, 44:17, 44:31, 50:13, 51:38-40, 54:41-42, 66:11, 69:9, 73:15-16, 79:17-25, 85:18

[Image: king13.jpg]

According to modern linguist research the word "Pharaoh" comes from the Egyptian Per-aa, meaning Great House and originally referred to the palace rather than the king himself. The word was used by the writers of the Old Testament and has since become a widely adopted title for all the Kings of Egypt. However, the Egyptians did not call their ruler "Pharaoh" until the 18th Dynasty (c.1552 - 1295 BC).

In the language of the hieroglyphs, "Pharaoh" was first used to refer to the king during the reign of Amenhophis IV (c.1352-1338 BC). We know that such a designation was correct in the time of Moses but the use of the word Pharaoh in the story of Joseph( is an anachronism, as under the rule of the Hyksos there was no "Pharaoh." Similarly, the events related in Genesis 12 concerning Abraham (c. 2300 BC) could not have occurred in a time when the sovereign of Egypt was called Pharaoh, and this exposes yet another anachronism. In several chapters of Genesis we find the same error. The biblical writers composed their texts under the influences of the knowledge of their time, when the king of Egypt was usually designated as "Pharaoh". The Interpreter's Dictionary Of The Bible
explains the reasons of such discrepancies with modern knowledge:



The frank attitude toward the stories about Egypt in Genesis and Exodus is that folk memory had retained the essentials of great Hebrew experience but had later clothed that memory with some details imperfectly recollected and some circumstantial details borrowed from later times and conditions.

The situation is entirely different in the Quran. We find it mentioned the Egyptian king who was a contemporary of Joseph. For him the Quran uses the title "King" (Arabic, Malik); he is never once addressed as Pharaoh. As for the king who ruled during the time of Moses, the Quran repeatedly calls him Pharaoh (Arabic, Fir'awn).

These facts that mentioned above were unknown at the time of the Quranic Revelation.

At the time of the Quranic Revelation, the only source of knowledge of the religious past was the Bible. From the time of the Old Testament to the Quran, the only document mankind possessed on these ancient stories was the Bible itself. Furthermore, the knowledge of the Old Egyptian hieroglyphs had been totally forgotten, and no one could read them until the 19th century AD.

These facts must be reflected upon, especially in the face of unfounded allegations that are usually made against the Prophet Muhammad,"the author of the Quran, who largely copied the Bible."

If there was no human knowledge in existence at the time, then from where did the Prophet Muhammad(P) obtain this information? If human factors are unable to account for the changes in the narrations which affected their meaning with regard to modern knowledge, another explanation has be accepted: the Quran is a Revelation from Allah, and that Muhammad(P) is his final Prophet.



“And thus (it is) that We have sent down the Book to thee. So the People of the Book believe therein, as also do some of these (pagan Arabs): and none but Unbelievers reject our signs.”

”And thou (Muhammad) wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: In that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted.”

”Nay, here are Signs self-evident in the hearts of those endowed with knowledge: and none but the unjust reject Our Signs.”

“Yet they say: "Why are not Signs sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "The signs are indeed with God: and I am indeed a clear Warner."

”And is it not enough for them that we have sent down to thee the Book which is rehearsed to them? Verily, in it is Mercy and a Reminder to those who believe.”

”Say: ‘Enough is God for a witness between me and you: He knows what is in the heavens and on earth. And it is those who believe in vanities and reject God, that will perish (in the end).’"

[Quran 29:47-52]

Allah knows best.

Thanks for reading

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