Topical Bible: Egypt: Mode of Embalming In

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Topical Encyclopedia

The practice of embalming in ancient Egypt is a significant cultural and religious tradition that is referenced in the Bible, particularly in the context of the patriarchs. Embalming was a method used to preserve the body after death, reflecting the Egyptian belief in the afterlife and the importance of maintaining the body for the deceased's journey.

Biblical References:

The Bible provides specific instances of embalming in the context of the narratives of Joseph and Jacob. In Genesis 50:2-3 , it is recorded: "Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him, taking the full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days." This passage highlights the involvement of skilled professionals in the embalming process and the extended period of mourning that accompanied it.

Later, in Genesis 50:26 , the embalming of Joseph himself is mentioned: "So Joseph died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt." This indicates that Joseph, despite his Hebrew heritage, was accorded the Egyptian practice of embalming, signifying his high status and integration into Egyptian society.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Embalming in Egypt was deeply intertwined with religious beliefs. The Egyptians believed in an afterlife where the deceased would need their physical body. The process of mummification was thus a sacred rite, intended to prepare the individual for eternal life. The preservation of the body was thought to be essential for the soul's survival and its eventual resurrection.

The embalming process was elaborate and could take up to seventy days, as noted in the biblical account of Jacob. It involved the removal of internal organs, which were often placed in canopic jars, and the desiccation of the body using natron, a naturally occurring salt. The body was then wrapped in linen bandages, sometimes with amulets and other items intended to protect the deceased in the afterlife.

Historical Context:

The practice of embalming in Egypt dates back to the Old Kingdom period (c. 2686–2181 BC) and evolved over the centuries. By the time of the biblical patriarchs, embalming had become a sophisticated art, reserved primarily for the elite and those of significant social standing. The process was carried out by specialized priests who were trained in the religious and technical aspects of mummification.

The biblical accounts of embalming reflect the historical reality of Egyptian customs and underscore the influence of Egyptian culture on the Israelites during their sojourn in Egypt. The integration of Joseph into Egyptian society, as evidenced by his embalming, illustrates the cultural exchanges and the adoption of certain practices by the Hebrews during their time in Egypt.

Conclusion:

The mode of embalming in Egypt, as referenced in the Bible, provides insight into the cultural and religious practices of the ancient Egyptians. It highlights the significance of the afterlife in Egyptian belief and the meticulous care taken to preserve the body for eternity. The biblical narratives of Jacob and Joseph's embalming serve as a testament to the historical interactions between the Israelites and the Egyptians, reflecting a period of cultural assimilation and exchange.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 50:3
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him three score and ten days.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Egypt
... of it; hence came the practice of embalming the body ... confirms the conclusion to which
the mode of burial ... The culture of Pharaonic Egypt must have been derived ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4. <. ... CHAPTER
I"THE FIRST CHALDAEAN EMPIRE AND THE HYKSOS IN EGYPT. ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... to become enervated by idleness, but obliged him to labour as in the days when he
still dwelt in Egypt. ... The feudal gods promptly adopted this new mode of life. ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

The Gods of Egypt
... And so men did not die in Egypt; they were assassinated. ... not change their names in
altering the mode of their ... of the city, and Anupu, master of embalming or of ...
/.../chapter ii the gods of egypt.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... In order to understand the manner in which the government of Egypt was conducted ...
The apprentice observed what went on around him, imitated the mode of procedure ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

Chapter l
... the forty days during which the embalming took place ... The reason for this roundabout
mode of procedure is not ... to Joseph's perhaps trying to leave Egypt now that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter l.htm

Jer. 6:16 the Good Way.
... tradition, that, after being dragged into Egypt by the ... By embalming those truths
in our Articles and ... In their mode of expressing their theological opinions ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter v jer 6 16 the.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... to the condemned a choice of his mode of death ... found supporting the existence of
such a practice in Egypt. ... by the natron in the process of embalming, the skin ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

The Eighteenth Theban Dynasty --(Continued)
... as well as their own fortune and mode of life. ... once the Syrian conquest had been
effected, Egypt gave permanency ... with pitch at the time of embalming, did not ...
/.../chapter ithe eighteenth theban dynastycontinued.htm

The Memphite Empire
... by a race who had come from Asia, and who had established the kingdom of Egypt. ... of
them, shows how far the Egyptians had carried the art of embalming at this ...
/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm