Engelbrite's Egyptian Chronology Synchronized to the Bible

Engelbrite's Egyptian Chronology Synchronized to the Bible

The following information is derived, with permission, from Eve Engelbrite and her book, "Pharaohs of the Bible 4004 - 960 B.C.: A Unifying High Chronology of Egypt Based on a High View of Scripture". This "high view of Scripture" includes the presupposition that the dozen "books" of Genesis were written by contemporaries who signed "these are the generations of ___" which is known as Tablet Theory. Given that the Bible is historically true and accurate, a timeline needed to be built on the historical information contained within the Bible, untainted by bias or preconceptions.

Modifications to Ussher's Bible Timeline
In 1650 AD, Archbishop James Ussher used all the “begats” from Adam to the exodus, and through the regnal dates of judges and kings to the release of king Jehoiachin in the winter of 562 BC at Nebuchandnezzar's death (dated by Ptolemy), and published a timeline in his book, "The Annals of the World". Because Ussher assumed Israel's kings counted their regnal years in the Spring instead of the Fall, his period for the kings only lasts 388 years instead of 390 years; otherwise his dating is sound. 

Identification of Shishak
The first pharaoh named in the Bible is Shishak. Napoleon's discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 led to Jean-Francois Champollion's linguistic breakthrough in the 1820's. Eight years later when Champollion saw the Canaanite conquest wall in Karnak of Hedjkheperre Sheshonk I, Champollion declared him to be the biblical Shishak. In the late 1800's and early 1900's when archaeologisits derived an Egyptian chronology, they placed the beginning of Sheshonk I's reign between 1090 and 1069 B.C. Solomon reigned 1015 - 975 B.C. according to the Bible; so they should have looked at Sheshonk II as the biblical Shishak. Egypt's current conventional chronology does not even come close, placing the reign of Sheshonk I between 945 and 924 B.C.

Others have identified Shishak as Thutmose III, Seti I, Rameses II, and Rameses III. All of these pharaohs reigned prior to Sheshonk I. There were at least a dozen Sheshonks during the 22nd dynasty who could have been Shishak. Since Shishak looted the Temple at Jerusalem, a lot of wealth would be associated with this pharaoh. Sadly, archaeologists have been unable to locate the tomb of Sheshonk I, though his wooden canopic chest is in a museum (Dodson, pp.83-84). A tomb of one of his officials was found with some jewelry. The silver coffin of Heqakheperre Sheshonk IIa was discovered in the tomb of Psusennes I, who also had a silver coffin. Like Psusennes I, Sheshonk IIa was buried with a gold face mask, but Sheshonk IIa also had four miniature silver coffins containing his viscera (Dunn). This is the type of wealth associated with Shishak. For more of the author's evidence that Shishak was Heqakheperre Sheshonk IIa, and not Sheshonk I, visit her blog.

Rewriting Ancient History
Since ancient history, to a large part, is based upon the conventional Egyptian chronology; to rewrite one necessitates rewriting them all. Even though archaeologists vary considerably in their dating of ages, the relative age of pottery is useful in establishing a general Mediterranean chronology.

In the Levant the early, middle, and late bronze and iron ages were used. The chart below (Engelbrite, p. 76) includes the years Before Christ, the Egyptian dynasty numbers, and the archaeological periods of the Levant as well as those of Crete, Cyprus, and Greece. These are rough approximations based upon much conflicting data.

Appendix A of "Pharaohs of the Bible 4004 - 960 B.C." contains stratigraphy charts (using relative ages) of 50 cities which Shishak attacked as well as another 25 key cities.

Dynastic Naming Conventions
Much like naming the "ages" stone, bronze, and iron; different groupings of dynasties were named by Egyptologists for their convenience. Egyptian dynasties are numbered from zero to thirty-three when Rome conquered Egypt. The author places dynasty zero ruling an area before the flood; whereas most consider dynasty zero to be Egyptian gods.

To differentiate the FIP and SIP of the conventional chronology with the new ones in the Engelbrite chronology, a lowercase 'e' was added: eFIP and eSIP. The pre-15th and pre-16th dynasty pharaohs are recorded in the Turin King List. It is in the Turin King List (TKL) that pharaohs are recorded from dynasties pre-15th, pre-16th, and at Thinis and Abydos. The tomb of Woseribre Senebkay of the Abydos dynasty was recently discovered.

Egyptian King Lists
Though the pharaonic king lists have been known for over 150 years, most Egyptologists have refused to adjust their chronologies accordingly for ephemeral (short-reigned, roughly 1-3 years) pharaohs. But since the TKL adds roughly 100 ephemeral pharaohs, that's a lot of time to gloss over.

Turin King List
The following is from the [free .pdf download from the book's website].

In addition to the Turin King List written on papyrus, there are three king lists engraved by Egyptians at Karnak, Abydos, and Saqqara.

Karnak King List
The Karnak King List in the jubilee hall of Thutmose III is the oldest engraved listing of pharaohs, and yet most Egyptologists dismiss it either because they don't understand it or because they don't like its ramifications upon their chronologies. The Engelbrite chronology is based upon it and the Turin King List as supported by other archaeological evidence.

Biblical Famines
One unique synchronism used in the book is that of famines. Both Abram and Joseph were dwelling in Egypt during a famine. Famines leave evidence in the trees and the soil; and pharaoh Unas/Wenis even had starving people engraved in his causeway.

Third Biblical Famine (1707-1700 BC) of Jacob/Israel and Joseph - Drought
This famine has a clear beginning and ending year ascertained from the Holy Bible.

Volcanic Eruptions
Egyptologists have been trying to pin down the eruption of Thera/Santorini. This author placed it in 1651 B.C., ending Hatshepsut's reign, based upon its pumice at Tel Kabri and other Minoan trading sites.

Another eruption pointed to another synchronism. Both the Ipuwer Papyrus during Egypt's period of anarchy (1378-1323 B.C.) and Deborah noted the roads were barren.

Many place the Admonitions of Ipuwer at the time of the exodus because of the pestilence and starvation. But it goes into greater length describing attacks from foreigners, class warfare, and the overthrow of the king/pharaoh and rule of law which did not occur at the exodus. These may have been caused by volcanic eruptions which sent the Sea People looking for new homes in the 5th and 8th years of Rameses III (1313 and 1310 BC respectively) while Deborah was judge.

Joseph and Moses
The author made a [video], under a pseudonym, on the evidence for Joseph and Moses in Egypt. In the video, Joseph was made vizier by Ahmose I after he conquered the Hyksos of the 15th dynasty. Moses was pulled out of the Nile by Sitamun, the daughter of Amenhotep III. Moses fled Egypt during the Amarna heresy of monotheism (which he likely influenced). The exodus occurred during the reign of Rameses I. Joshua conquered Canaan after Rameses II had already acquiesced the northern lands to the Hittites.