Egyptian Execration Texts

Overview

The Egyptian Execration Texts are a series of administrative papyri discovered in various locations throughout Egypt, dating to the 19th and 18th centuries BCE. These documents, written on papyrus scrolls, represent a sophisticated system of recording and managing foreign tributes and diplomatic relations during the Middle Kingdom period. The texts were used by Egyptian officials to track payments and obligations from vassal states and neighboring regions, serving as a crucial tool for maintaining Egypt's geopolitical influence. Among the most significant references in these texts are mentions of specific cities that correspond to locations mentioned in the Book of Genesis, including Jerusalem, Shechem, and Ashkelon. These references provide concrete archaeological evidence that these cities were not only known to the Egyptians but were also subject to diplomatic and economic interactions during the patriarchal period. The texts demonstrate that Egyptian scribes were meticulous in recording foreign relations, often using standardized formulas to document tribute payments. This administrative practice reflects the broader geopolitical context of the ancient Near East, where city-states engaged in complex networks of power and exchange. The Execration Texts thus offer valuable insights into the historical backdrop of the biblical narratives, particularly those involving the patriarchs' interactions with Egypt and neighboring regions.

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