The Great Edict of Horemheb (Harmhab, Horemheld)
1348-1320 BC
Time of Conquest: Joshua died in 1356 BC
Note: Ancient "Tharu" [Ṯʾ-rw]: is modern Wadi el-Arish, the southern border of Israel: Gen 15:18
The River of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) was the Biblical border between Judah and Egypt
Introduction by James Breasted:
“A large stela discovered by Maspero in February or March, 1882. It is, or when complete was, about live meters high by three wide, and stands against one of the pylons of Harmhab at Karnak. Over a third of the stone has broken off. The inscription occupies the face and the side edges. It has been copied and published very inaccurately by Bouriant, Recueil, VI, 41 ff.; important corrections, which unfortunately include only part of the inscription, by Piehl, Zeitschrift für ägyptische Sprache, 1885, 86 f.; see also Revue égyptologique, VIII, 106–9. I am greatly indebted to my friend, Mr. A. H. Gardiner, for a careful copy of the original on the spot. His copy corrects the incredibly numerous errors of Bouriant’s publication, and fills out many of the lacunæ therein, though the stone shows loss since Bouriant’s copy. Some fragments still surviving when Bouriant made his copy, Mr. Gardiner slates, are now missing entirely. An exhaustive study by Müller, with translation and notes, in Zeitschrift für ägyptische Sprache, 1888, 70–94. The present translation owes much to Müller, for which I make general acknowledgment here.
This is the most important edict which has come down to us from ancient Egypt, and it is much to be regretted that its very fragmentary state, together with the execrable manner in which it has been published, has deprived us of so many of its important data. The edict contains the practical legislation of Harmhab by means of which he intended to prevent the oppressive abuses connected with the collection of taxes from the common people, who were continually robbed and impoverished by the fiscal officers.
This legislation consists of a series of enactments, each of the following form:
a) Statement of the abuse as it existed before this legislation and the king’s displeasure at it.
b) Statement of a hypothetical commission of the offense by the officials concerned.
c) Declaration of the penalty to be inflicted.
A very interesting question is whether these enactments have preserved on the stela the form and language of the original edict in the royal archives. It seems probable that, beginning with l. 13 (§ 50), we have the ipsissima verba of the original document, and that it continued to and included l. 2 (§ 62), although Müller is doubtful on this point.
(Anc. Rec. Egypt 3.44, Breasted, James Henry, ed. 1906. Ancient Records of Egypt: The Nineteenth Dynasty. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.)
Discussion:
1. Arish was the eastern border town of Egypt where criminals with their noses cut off were sent at the time of Joshua.
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ARISH PRISON CAMP: Nose cut off and exiled to the border The fact that Arish was an Egyptian prison town from the time of the Exodus down to Paul, is utterly devastating to those who say the Sinai was not Egypt proper. The port city of Arish was in fact the far eastern border of Egypt at the Wadi el-Arish. It always has been. Any Mt. Sinai located in the Sinai Peninsula is impossible because the entire Peninsula was "inside Egypt" and under Egyptian control. Only a Mt. Sinai in Arabia, on the other side of the Gulf of Aqaba is outside Egypt entirely. |
1. The Wadi el-Arish flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Arish. Arish was called Tharu in 1446 BC and Rhinocolura [lit: cut off nose] in 100 BC.
2. 1348-1320 BC: "my majesty commands: that every officer who seizes the dues] and taketh the craft of any citizen of the army or of any person who is in the whole land, the law shall be executed against him, in that his nose shall be cut off, and he shall be sent to Tharu. (James Henry Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, 1906 AD, Vol 3 p 50-67, The Great Edict of Pharaoh Horemheb, 1300 BC)
3. Against Requisitioning Boats Used for State Corvee Duty: "If a private individual makes for himself a boat with its on-board shelter, in order to be able to serve Pharaoh, l.p.h., and if people] of the army [come and appropriate it as if it were for (?)] taxes: then the individual is despoiled of his property and deprived of his abundant means [of doing service. This is a crime!] Something like this should not be done [to controvert] his good purposes. As for every boat which is taxable for the offering halls of Pharaoh, l.p.h., by the two deputies [of the army] …, [if someone comes] and seizes a boat belonging to any member of the army or anybody in the entire land, let the law be applied to him by cutting off his nose and sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}. [As for] an individual who is without a boat, and he gets from someone else a boat for his service obligation, and undertakes on his own to bring wood and is thus fulfilling his obligations [to Pharaoh, l.p.h., …]: [should others] seize and plunder his cargo, and steal it, and the individual stands despoiled of his [means of doing service … so that] he has nothing—This is not good, this report: it is an abuse indeed! My Person had decreed that one should turn away from it. Indeed, [this applies to …, and to] those who contribute to the Private Quarters, and similarly to all the gods’ offerings when they are taxed by the two deputies of the army and …: [if anyone does this, let] the law [be applied] against him by cutting off his nose and sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}." (Horemheld’s great edict, 108. Edict from Karnak, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Vol. 5). W. J. Murnane, , E. S. Meltz, p235, 1995 AD)
4. 15 AD: "Next to Gaza is Raphia, where a battle was fought between Ptolemy the Fourth and Antiochus the Great. [218 BC] Then Rhinocolura, so called from the colonists, whose noses had been mutilated. Some Ethiopian invaded Egypt, and, instead of putting the malefactors to death, cut off their noses, and settled them at Rhinocolura, supposing that they would not venture to return to their own country, on account of the disgraceful condition of their faces." (Strabo, Geogr. 16.2.31, reporting event in 218 BC)
5. Notice that Strabo reports even in 15 AD, that it was the Egyptians who settled the criminals. This fact proves the Sinai Peninsula was under Egyptian control both during the Exodus and IN THE MIND OF PAUL.
6. The River of Egypt (Wadi el-Arish) was the Biblical border between Judah and Egypt
- Read detailed outline
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The River: 1. Brook of Egypt 2. River of Egypt 3. Wadi el-Arish 4. Shihor
Egyptian border seaport: 1. Arish 2. Tharu 3. Rhinocorura
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Full Text: Introduction to the
Great Edict of the Reign of Pharaoh Horemheb
Translation #1: by James Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol 3 p 50-67
His majesty took counsel with his
heart [how he might] .... [exp]el evil and suppress lying. The plans of his
majesty were an excellent refuge, repelling violence behind ...... [and
delivering the Egyptians from the oppressions] which were among them. Behold,
his majesty spent the whole time seeking the welfare of Egypt and searching out
instances [of oppression in the land]. .... [came the scribe] of his majesty.
Then he seized palette and roll; he put it into writing according to all that
his majesty, the king himself said. He spoke as follows: "[My majesty]
commands ... [concerning all] instances of oppression in the land.
Enactment Against Robbing the Poor of Dues for the Royal Breweries and
Kitchens.
If the poor man made for himself a craft with its sail, in order to be able to
serve the Pharaoh, L.P.H., [loading it with the dues for the breweries and the
kitchens of the Pharaoh, and he was robbed of the craft and] the dues, the poor
man stood reft of his goods and stripped of his many labors. This is wrong, and
the Pharaoh will suppress it by his excellent measures. If there be a [poor
man] who pays the dues of the breweries and kitchens of the Pharaoh, L.P.H., to
the two deputies, [and he be robbed of his goods and his craft, my majesty
commands: that every officer who seizes the dues] and taketh the craft of any
citizen of the army or of any person who is in the whole land, the law shall be
executed against him, in that his nose shall be cut
off, and he shall be sent to Tharu [Ṯʾ-rw].
Against Robbing the Poor of Wood Due the Pharaoh
[Furthermore, concerning the impost of wood, my majesty commands that if any
officer find] a poor man without a craft, then let him bring to him a craft for
his impost from another, and let him send him to bring for him the wood; thus
he shall serve [the Pharaoh].
Against Exacting Dues from a Poor Man thus Robbed
[Furthermore, my majesty commands that if any poor man be oppressed by]
[robbe]ry, his cargo be emptied by theft of them, and the poor man stand reft
of hi[s good]s, [no further exactions for dues shall be made from him] when he
has nothing. For it is not good, this report of very great injustice. My
majesty commands that restitution be made to him; behold .... .
Against Robbing the Poor of Dues for the Harem or the Gods by the Soldiers
[Furthermore, as for those who] ... and those who bring to the harem, likewise
for the offerings of all gods, paying dues to the two deputies of the army and
... [my majesty commands that if any officer is guilty of extortions or
thefts], the law [shall be executed] against him, in that his nose shall be cut off, and (he) shall be sent to Tharu [Ṯʾ-rw]
likewise.
Against Unlawful Appropriation of Slave Service
When the officers of the Pharaoh's house of offerings have gone about
tax-collecting in the towns, to take [katha-plant], [they have seized the
slaves of the people, and kept them at work] for 6 days or 7 days, without
one's being able to depart from them afar, so that it was an excessive
detention indeed. It shall be done likewise against them. If there be any place
[where the stewards shall be tax-collecting, and any one] shall hear, saying:
"They are tax-collecting, to take katha-plant for themselves," and
another shall come to report, saying: "My man slave (or) my female slave
has been taken away [and detained many days at work by the stewards;" it
shall be done likewise against them.]
Against Stealing of Hides by the Soldiers
The two divisions of troops which are in the field, one in the southern region,
the other in the northern region, stole hides in the whole land, not passing a
year, without applying the brand of [the royal house to cattle which were not
due to them, thereby increasing] their number, and stealing that which was
stamped from them. They went out from house to house, beating and plundering
without leaving a hide for the people .... Then the officer] of the Pharaoh
went about to each one, [to collect the hides charged against him and came to
the people demanding] them, but the hides were not found with them (although)
the amount charged against them could be established. They satisfied them, saying:
"They have been stolen from us." A wretched case is this, therefore
it shall be [done] likewise.
When the overseer of the cattle of Pharaoh, L.P.H., goes about to attend to the
loan-herds in the whole land, and there be not brought to him the hides of the
... which are on the lists, [he shall not hold the people responsible for the
hides if they have them not, but they shall be released by command of his
majesty] according to his just purposes. As for any citizen of the army,
(concerning) whom one shall hear, saying: "He goeth about stealing
hides," beginning with this day, the law shall be executed against him, by beating him a hundred blows, opening five wounds,
and taking from him by force the hides which he took.
Against Connivance of Dishonest Inspectors with Thievish Tax-Collectors, for
a Share of the Booty
Now, as for the other instance of evil which the [official staff were
accustomed to commit, when they held inspection] in the land, of that which
happened [against the law], [the table-scribe of] the queen and the
table-scribe of the harem went about after the official staff, punishing them
and investigating their affair ...... of the one who sailed down-or up-river.
One investigated it among the officials in the time of the King Menkheperre
(Tuthmosis III). Now, when the one who sailed down-or up-river whom they took;
and when [the superior officials of] [the king], Menkheperre, went about [after
these officials] each year, [that they might make an] expedition to the city,
and that these superior officials might come to these officials, saying:
"Give thou [to us] the consideration for the careless expedition;"
then, behold, the Pharaoh, L.P.H., made the expedition at the feast of Opet
each year without carelessness. One prepared the way before the Pharaoh [and
questioned the local magistrate, wherever he] landed, [concerning the corrupt
official] causing him to ......what he (the corrupt official) was like. As for
one who goes about again, afterward, to seek the consideration ......, then these
officials shall go about with the expedition concerning the affairs of these
poor people ...... My majesty commands to prevent that one shall do thus,
beginning with this day ..... the landing; he is the one against whom one shall
prosecute it.
Against Stealing Vegetables Under Pretense of Collecting Taxes
Likewise the collection of vegetables for the breweries [and kitchens of the
Pharaoh and] ..... [Extortion was practiced, and the officials plundered] the
poor, taking the best of their vegetables, saying: "They are for the
impost [of the Pharaoh]." [Thus they] robbed the poor of their labors, so
that a double [impost was levied. Now, my majesty commands that as for any
officials who come to] collect vegetables [for] the impost of Pharaoh, L.P.H.,
in the arbors, and the .... houses of the estates of Pharaoh, L.P.H., and the
... of Pharaoh which contain vegetables, (concerning whom) one shall hear,
saying: "They ... for any ... of any citizen of the army, or [any] people,
[beginning with this day, the law shall be executed against them] ......
transgressing commands.
Enactments Too Fragmentary for Analysis
Now as far as these officials of the herds, who go about ...... in the southern
region or the northern region collecting grain from the [citizens] of the city
.... going about .... in the southern region or northern region collecting ...
from the poor ... .
......... going about taking possession to bring every citizen, to cause them
to see ... (concerning whom) one shall hear, (saying) ".... a crime, ....
collection of the harem who go about in the [towns tax-collecting] ...... the
... of the fishermen .... carrying the ..... .
Narratives of the King's Reforms, Containing also an Enactment against
Corrupt Judges
Appointment of Two Judges
I have improved this entire land ...... I have sailed it, as far as south of
the wall, I have given ..., I have learned its whole interior, I have traveled
it entirely in its midst, I have searched in .... [and I have sought two
officials] perfect in speech, excellent in good qualities, knowing how to judge
the innermost heart, hearing the words of the palace, the laws of the
judgment-hall. I have appointed them to judge the Two Lands, to satisfy those
who are in ...... . [I have given to each one] his seat; I have set them in the
two great cities of the South and the North; every land among them cometh to
him without exception; I have put before them regulations in the daily register
[of the palace] ........ I have directed [them] to the way of life; I led them
to the truth, I teach them, saying: "Do not associate with others of the
people; do not receive the reward of another, not hearing .... . How, then,
shall those like you judge others, while there is one among you committing a
crime against justice.
Now, as to the obligation of silver and gold ....... [my] majesty remits it, in
order that there be not collected an obligation of anything from the official
staff of the South and North.
Punishment of Bribery
Now, as for any official or any priest (concerning whom) it shall be heard,
saying: "He sits, to execute judgment among the official staff appointed
for judgment, and he commits a crime against justice therein;" it shall be
against him a capital crime. Behold, my majesty has done this, to improve the
laws of Egypt, in order to cause that another should not be ........... .
Appointment of Local Courts
[Behold, my majesty appointed] the official staff of the divine fathers, the
prophets of the temples, the officials of the court of this land and the
priests of the gods who comprise the official staff out of desire that they
shall judge the citizens of every city. My majesty is legislating for Egypt, to
prosper the life of its inhabitants; when he appeared upon the throne of Re.
Behold, the official staffs have been appointed in the whole land ... all ...
to comprise the official staffs in the cities according to their rank.
The King's Audiences and Largesses
.... They went around ... times a month, which he [made] for them like a feast;
every man set down at a portion of every good thing, of good bread, and meat of
the storehouses, of royal provision .....; their voices reached heaven,
praising all benefits ... the heart of all the soldiers of the army. [The king
appeared to the people] ... throwing (gifts) to them from the balcony while
every man was called by his name by the king himself. They came forth from the
presence rejoicing, laden with the provision of the royal house; yea, they too
[grain-heaps] in the granary, every one of them [bore] barley and spelt, there
was not found one who had nothing .... their cities. [If they did not complete
the circuit therein within three days, [....] their khetkhet-officers hastened
after them to the place where they were immediately. They were found there
.....
Laudation of the King and Conclusion
Hear ye these commands which my majesty has made for the first time governing
the whole land, when my majesty remembered these cases of oppression which
occur before this land.
(James Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol 3 p
50-67)
Translation #2:
Against Requisitioning Boats Used for State Corvee Duty: "If a private individual makes for himself a boat with its on-board shelter, in order to be able to serve Pharaoh, l.p.h., and if people] of the army [come and appropriate it as if it were for (?)] taxes: then the individual is despoiled of his property and deprived of his abundant means [of doing service. This is a crime!] Something like this should not be done [to controvert] his good purposes. As for every boat which is taxable for the offering halls of Pharaoh, l.p.h., by the two deputies [of the army] …, [if someone comes] and seizes a boat belonging to any member of the army or anybody in the entire land, let the law be applied to him by cutting off his nose and sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}. [As for] an individual who is without a boat, and he gets from someone else a boat for his service obligation, and undertakes on his own to bring wood and is thus fulfilling his obligations [to Pharaoh, l.p.h., …]: [should others] seize and plunder his cargo, and steal it, and the individual stands despoiled of his [means of doing service … so that] he has nothing—This is not good, this report: it is an abuse indeed! My Person had decreed that one should turn away from it. Indeed, [this applies to …, and to] those who contribute to the Private Quarters, and similarly to all the gods’ offerings when they are taxed by the two deputies of the army and …: [if anyone does this, let] the law [be applied] against him by cutting off his nose and sending him to Tcharu {Tharu}." (Horemheld’s great edict, 108. Edict from Karnak, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt (Vol. 5). W. J. Murnane, E. S. Meltz, p235, 1995 AD)
By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
