History 1A

Discussion Analysis: Week 2

The Story of Sinhue depicts the strong sense of nationalism of Ancient Egypt through the
story of an exiled official who longed to return to his country. He is later formally invited back to
Court where he receives from the Pharaoh a large house with a garden. This illustrates the
dependence the Egyptians feel on the Pharaoh to provide for them. Believing the Pharaoh to be a
god, they relied upon him to ensure that the Nile flooded each year for a bountiful harvest.
Sinhue is also given his own lavish pyramid-tomb by the pharaoh even though there is no poor
man for whom the like has been done. This shows the Egyptians dependence upon the pharaoh
to provide them with an after-life. The ending of this story could be perceived as propaganda as
it portrays the pharaoh as a compassionate ruler willing to bestow precious gifts upon his
commoners.
The selections from the Old Testament show the struggle between God and the early
Hebrews to trust and obey Gods promises and commands. Like Babylonia under Hammurabi,
the Israelites had a set of conditional codes to obey while also having the Ten Commandments,
a set of unconditional codes. The commands dictated how the Hebrews must live according to
God. It is interesting to note the role of women in the Old Testament. They are barely mentioned
throughout the narrative and only appear as traditional gender roles such as wife and daughter.
One could easily compare the Egyptians reliance upon the pharaoh to the Hebrews reliance
upon God. Both rely upon their deity for an after-life and prosperity, but the pharaoh was a
mortal on earth. The God of the Hebrews is also much stricter and willing to punish those who
disobey him.