History Corner

In the Jewish historian Josephus’ book “Against Apion” where he defends the history of the Jewish people against contemporary scutiny, he gives the following account of the Israelites time in Egypt as written by an Egyptian historian Manetho.
This differs in some ways from the Biblical account and one who is familiar with the Exodus story can easily see the errors. It should be noted that Manetho would have written his history about eleven centuries after Moses wrote Exodus.
Josephus of course knew the real story, but presents this Egyptian version as proof that the Jews had a very ancient and accurate recorded history.

(Beginning of excerpt from Against Apion)
Now this Manetho, in the second book of his Egyptian History, writes concerning us in the following manner. I will set down his very words, as if I were to bring the very man himself into a court for a witness: "There was a king of ours whose name was Timaus. Under him it came to pass, I know not how, that God was averse to us, and there came, after a surprising manner, men of ignoble birth out of the eastern parts, and had boldness enough to make an expedition into our country, and with ease subdued it by force, yet without our hazarding a battle with them. So when they had gotten those that governed us under their power, they afterwards burnt down our cities, and demolished the temples of the gods, and used all the inhabitants after a most barbarous manner; nay, some they slew, and led their children and their wives into slavery. At length they made one of themselves king, whose name was Salatis; he also lived at Memphis, and made both the upper and lower regions pay tribute, and left garrisons in places that were the most proper for them. He chiefly aimed to secure the eastern parts, as fore-seeing that the Assyrians, who had then the greatest power, would be desirous of that kingdom, and invade them; and as he found in the Saite Nomos, [Sethroite,] a city very proper for this purpose, and which lay upon the Bubastic channel, but with regard to a certain theologic notion was called Avaris, this he rebuilt, and made very strong by the walls he built about it, and by a most numerous garrison of two hundred and forty thousand armed men whom he put into it to keep it. Thither Salatis came in summer time, partly to gather his corn, and pay his soldiers their wages, and partly to exercise his armed men, and thereby to terrify foreigners. When this man had reigned thirteen years, after him reigned another, whose name was Beon, for forty-four years; after him reigned another, called Apachnas, thirty-six years and seven months; after him Apophis reigned sixty-one years, and then Janins fifty years and one month; after all these reigned Assis forty-nine years and two months. And these six were the first rulers among them, who were all along making war with the Egyptians, and were very desirous gradually to destroy them to the very roots. This whole nation was styled HYCSOS, that is, Shepherd-kings: for the first syllable HYC, according to the sacred dialect, denotes a king, as is SOS a shepherd; but this according to the ordinary dialect; and of these is compounded HYCSOS: but some say that these people were Arabians." Now in another copy it is said that this word does not denote Kings, but, on the contrary, denotes Captive Shepherds, and this on account of the particle HYC; for that HYC, with the aspiration, in the Egyptian tongue again denotes Shepherds, and that expressly also; and this to me seems the more probable opinion, and more agreeable to ancient history. [But Manetho goes on]: "These people, whom we have before named kings, and called shepherds also, and their descendants," as he says, "kept possession of Egypt five hundred and eleven years." After these, he says, "That the kings of Thebais and the other parts of Egypt made an insurrection against the shepherds, and that there a terrible and long war was made between them." He says further, "That under a king, whose name was Alisphragmuthosis, the shepherds were subdued by him, and were indeed driven out of other parts of Egypt, but were shut up in a place that contained ten thousand acres; this place was named Avaris." Manetho says, "That the shepherds built a wall round all this place, which was a large and a strong wall, and this in order to keep all their possessions and their prey within a place of strength, but that Thummosis the son of Alisphragmuthosis made an attempt to take them by force and by siege, with four hundred and eighty thousand men to lie rotund about them, but that, upon his despair of taking the place by that siege, they came to a composition with them, that they should leave Egypt, and go, without any harm to be done to them, whithersoever they would; and that, after this composition was made, they went away with their whole families and effects, not fewer in number than two hundred and forty thousand, and took their journey from Egypt, through the wilderness, for Syria; but that as they were in fear of the Assyrians, who had then the dominion over Asia, they built a city in that country which is now called Judea, and that large enough to contain this great number of men, and called it Jerusalem. Now Manetho, in another book of his, says, "That this nation, thus called Shepherds, were also called Captives, in their sacred books."
(End of excerpt)

Man will fail, will God?

If God is everything to you, then it’s only a minor detail when man or man’s systems fail. We know from the Word that all men are sinners and that only God is good. Therefore it should be no surprise when the works of man fail as they are right now with the so called economic crisis.
A crisis for whom? Naturally, we are all connected to the global economy. We all own at the least money the value of which can be destroyed over night, the same with properties, stocks, etcetera. Money, stocks and other financial products are the most obvious ones to be built on imaginary value, or “faith based” value, if you will.
But as true as that is, the same can be said of “hard” assets such as land, metals, food, or other commodities.
The truth is, everything of value in this world is based only on the value given to it by people like you and me. People who are fallible, no less than they think, change their minds, people who lie, steal and cheat.
So what is of real value?
Does the value of love ever fail? Or faith? God’s Word? Or what about joy? Or peace? The truth is, that the things of the spirit and of the soul are the only things that last and who’s value does not fade away.
Therefore, if God, and His Word, and the fruits thereof are everything to you, then what does it matter when “nothing” fails? It doesn’t matter.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh, profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
The point I’m trying to make, is that this crisis is only a crisis for those who believe and have put their trust in the financial system.
It hurts to lose money, it hurts to see the things we’ve worked for be lost, but we have to believe that these seeming setbacks change nothing when it comes to God’s promises and what He says He will do to take care of his children and make them prosperous.
When the things that the material world of materialistic men are built on come crashing down, let’s keep things in perspective and remember what life is really about and what really matters.
God will never fail us, He says so and He is no liar, so why should we ever fear?

Man and God. Truth, Forgiveness, and Love: Reading the Psalms

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works unto the children of men.”
The above phrase, repeated several times throughout the 107th Psalm sums up well the nature and theme of this book of the Bible of which Psalm 107 is a particularly good representation and a good Psalm to read if you have not read it recently.
If you want a good look at God’s relationship with man throughout ordinary experiences that shape individual lives as well as great and long lasting events, then I suggest you read this Psalm.
God wants to save people, anyone, even bad people that call out to Him in their troubles.
God is just and He is behind the things that happen to the world, he actively rewards the evil and the good. But God is also merciful and ready to rescue people from their afflictions, from disaster, from death, when they ask Him to.

Read it for yourself if you haven’t recently. This is currently my favorite Psalm and it might be yours to. Read it, and you’ll see why.

History Corner

This is an excerpt from Herodotus' book 7 and recounts a conversation between two Spartans and the Persian Satrap Hydarnes.

On their road to Susa they presented themselves before Hydarnes. This Hydarnes was a Persian by birth, and had the command of all the nations that dwelt along the sea-coast of Asia. He accordingly showed them hospitality, and invited them to a banquet, where, as the feasted, he said to them:
"Men of Lacedaemon, why will you not consent to be friends with the king? You have but to look at me and my fortune to see that the king knows well how to honor merit. In like manner you yourselves, were you to make your submission to him, would receive at his hands, seeing that he deems you men of merit, some government in Greece."
"Hydarnes," they answered, "you are a one-sided counsellor. You have experience of half the matter; but the other half is beyond your knowledge. A slave's life you understand; but, never having tasted liberty, you cannot tell whether it be sweet or no. Ah! had you known what freedom is, you would have bidden us fight for it, not with the spear only, but with the battle-axe."
So they answered Hydarnes.
note1: The battle axe was a typical Persian weapon
note2: Years later, Hydarnes was the commander of the elite Persian guard that surrounded and destroyed the Spartan led army at Thermopylae.

Bush presses Russia not to recognize Georgia regions

http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=313908

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - The White House Monday pressed Russia not to recognize Georgia's rebel areas and said Vice President Dick Cheney, an staunch critic of Moscow, would visit the region to show U.S. support for former Soviet states.

I'm inclined to agree with what Bush is saying. But after what the US did to Russian ally Serbia with Kosovo, Bush has nothing whatsover to stand on. Zip, zilch, nada!

This whole situation plays right into Russia's hands like a dry, ironic joke at America's expense with the whole world "getting it".

Wanted! Worthy Men.

Young Man,

With the melting of the ice blockade in the northern islands of Canada, Space Peter with the backing of Squire Smith and Brown, is organizing a party to establish a permanent post for aiding and supplying merchant ships seeking to transit the newly opened North West Passage.

Famed Indian fighter and negotiator Robert Campbell and his valiant negro will be accompanying the voyage to guarantee amicable relations with the native hunters.

Provisions and salaries are not lacking. All that is in want is good men with a heart for adventure, a mind for discipline, a respect for orders and a back for hard work.

No man will be discriminated against for his religion or country of origin. We will gladly accept for equal duties and rewards the Mohammedan, Jew and Irishman.

Present yourself, bold man, during the coming fortnight, at the offices of Squire Smith and Brown and there put down your name next to the noble Robert Campbell and Space Peter, to embark on the prospect of a lifetime.

Fantastical footballing of European countries for winning of delightfully coveted championship!

This is where we see the best of the best. The top 16 European national teams contend every four years for the championship.

This event is more important than any other football confederations tournaments and rivals even the World Cup.

The prestige is tremendous as is the prize money. There are 7.5 million Euros to each team that qualifies for the tournament with a chance of winning a total of 23 million (if the eventual champion wins each game it plays in the tournament).

Now that the tournament has finished the first and second stages and is down to the last four teams (out of the 16 that qualified) I figure It’s time for a short coverage of these semifinalizers that are in the top football confederation in the world.

These are the best of the best.

Germany:

Croatia’s musically inclined coach Slaven Bilic in a pre-game press conference (before dealing Germany it’s only defeat of the tournament) said the music group he most associated the German team with was Rammstein.

I’m guessing (though I don’t claim to read minds) that what Bilic meant was the teams powerful and precise style of play rather than on stage lewdness or pyrotechnics.

But like the familiar saying goes, “It ain’t over until somebody invades Poland.”

Or something like that.

Germany is a usual favorite and has shown themselves worthy of the top four by beating Austria and Poland in the group stage (and losing to Croatia) and then beating Portugal in their quarterfinal match.

Russia:

I don’t know much about these guys, accept that they have a habit of showing up for major tournaments (by qualifying of course) only to crash out early on. This time things are looking different with the team qualifying for their first European semi finals. (thanks wikipedia)

In the group stage Russia lost to Spain but beat Sweden and Greece, and then stunned everyone by beating the hitherto amazing Netherlands 3-1 in the quarterfinals. (psssst! You guys weren’t supposed to do that!)

Spain:

Known as the greatest underachievers, Spain, for all their great players and high expectations has only won one major tournament in the history of the team, a European championship in 1964 (or was it 1694, who cares) and has as their best over World cup finish, a 4^th place finish in 1950.

Well here they are again, with more high hopes and yet another great team. They’ve earned their spot in the top four with a perfect start in the group stage, beating Russia, Sweden and Greece, and then knocking Italy out in the quarterfinals.

Turkey:

Most of the Turkish players play in their domestic league rather than abroad. The good performance of the national team therefore reflects quite well on the level of football in the country.

In 2002 Turkey finished 3^rd place in the World Cup, they then failed to qualify for both the 2004 Euro Cup and the 2006 World Cup, but with this current Euro Cup, Turkey is back in style.

In the group stage they beat Czech Republic and Switzerland while losing to Portugal, then in the quarterfinals won an upset victory over favored (and unbeaten) Croatia.

The semifinals now line up

Germany vs Turkey

Russia vs Spain