ProlepsisOpen in the graph →

Prophecy

Noph (Memphis) and No (Thebes): the ruin of Egypt’s capitals (Jeremiah 46, Ezekiel 30)

The ruined hypostyle hall of the temple of Amun at Karnak (Thebes): artist’s impression by David Roberts, 1838.
Artist’s impression The ruined hypostyle hall of the temple of Amun at Karnak (Thebes): artist’s impression by David Roberts, 1838. — David Roberts, Wikimedia Commons · Domaine public

● Written before, according to historians

Written c. 605–571 BC according to tradition; 605–560 BC according to historians. Event: c. 88 BC – 1200 AD.

See the full entry: sources, objections, answers

In short

The announcement. The prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, between 605 and 571 BC, announce the ruin of Egypt's two great capitals: Noph (Memphis) will become a desert without inhabitants, and No (Thebes) will be struck.

What happened. Around 88 BC, Thebes is crushed by a king of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty, and by around 25 BC it is no more than a cluster of villages. Memphis remains a great city in the Roman period, then declines and is abandoned after the Arab conquest of AD 640. Its stones are used to build Cairo, and the site is now only a field of ruins.

What is still debated. these declines occur six to twelve centuries after the texts, for ordinary reasons such as the moving of the capital, whereas the announcement had in view Nebuchadnezzar's arrival.

Why it is striking

Jeremiah announced that Noph, that is, Memphis, would be “without inhabitant”. Most of the great cities of the Nile have remained inhabited; the most prestigious one no longer is. Linking the oracle to a decline six to twelve centuries later remains a reading, with no deadline in the text.

Main objection (in French for now)

Memphis reste une grande ville plus de six siècles après Jérémie (Strabon). Son abandon résulte du déplacement de la capitale vers Alexandrie puis Fustat-Le Caire, dynamique banale pour une capitale antique, et survient plus de mille ans après l’oracle.

The text (World English Bible)

You daughter who dwells in Egypt, furnish yourself to go into captivity; for Memphis will become a desolation, and will be burned up, without inhabitant.

Jer 46:19

The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods and her kings, even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him.

Jer 46:25

“‘The Lord GOD says: “I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the images to cease from Memphis. There will be no more a prince from the land of Egypt. I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. I will make Pathros desolate, and will set a fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments on No. I will pour my wrath on Sin, the stronghold of Egypt. I will cut off the multitude of No. I will set a fire in Egypt Sin will be in great anguish. No will be broken up. Memphis will have adversaries in the daytime.

Ezek 30:13-16

Sources