Pharaoh (Book of Abraham)

In the Latter Day Saint scripture the Book of Abraham, Pharaoh is the proper name of the first king of Egypt.^[1] According to the story, all Egyptians descended from him.^[2] He was the eldest son of Egyptus, who was the daughter of Ham and Egyptus. Pharaoh was a descendant of the Canaanites,^[2] a race of people who according to Latter Day Saint theology had been cursed with black skin.^[3] Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have taught that he inherited the curse of Cain through his grandmother, Egyptus, so that the devil might have representation upon the earth.^[4]

Anachronism

The use of the name Pharaoh is considered anachronistic during Abraham's time by virtually all scholars, including LDS Scholars.^[5] Most LDS Scholars who adhere to the historicity of the Book of Abraham point to a Jewish redactor who replaced original words with wording that would have been more understandable to his day.^[6]

Notes

^ Abraham 1:20–31: Pharaoh, King of Egypt, The Pearl of Great Price: Teacher Manual, (2000), 39–40
^ ^a ^b Abraham 1:22
^ Moses 7:8
^ Harris, Matthew L.; Bringhurst, Newell G. (2015). The Mormon Church and Blacks: A Documentary History. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-252-08121-7.
^ Egyptology and the Book of Abraham
^ Barney, Kevin (2006). "The Facsimiles and Semitic Adaptation of Existing Sources". In Gee, John; Hauglid, Brian M (eds.). Astronomy, Papyrus, and Covenant. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. ISBN 9780934893763.

[1] Abraham 1:20–31: Pharaoh, King of Egypt, The Pearl of Great Price: Teacher Manual, (2000), 39–40

[Abraham_1:22-2] Abraham 1:22

[3] Moses 7:8

[Harris2015-4] Harris, Matthew L.; Bringhurst, Newell G. (2015). The Mormon Church and Blacks: A Documentary History. Chicago: University of Illinois Press. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-252-08121-7.

[5] Egyptology and the Book of Abraham

[6] Barney, Kevin (2006). "The Facsimiles and Semitic Adaptation of Existing Sources". In Gee, John; Hauglid, Brian M (eds.). Astronomy, Papyrus, and Covenant. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University. ISBN 9780934893763.

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