by John Holbrook Jr.
A Biblical View, Blog #125 posted on May 28, 2021.
AKHNATON
Historians like to refer to Pharaoh Amenhotep IV, or Akhnaton, the ninth sovereign of the 18th Dynasty, as the first monotheist. He established the cult of Aten, the solar disc, which was one aspect of the Egyptian sun god Ra. Given the extensive pantheon of Egyptian deities at the time, I think calling him a monotheist is a bit of a stretch. In any case, he was far from the first monotheist.
ADAM & EVE
The Bible clearly identifies Adam as the first monotheist. On the sixth day of Creation Week in 3977 BC, the triune God of the Bible who calls himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, created and named the first man Adam. Shortly thereafter, God created the first woman to be a helpmete for Adam and the mother of all their descendents, and Adam named her Eve. Both Adam and Eve knew the God who created them. Please note that everyone here is named. Each persons name is a mark of his or her unique identity.
OTHER MONOTHEISTS
The Bible tells us a great deal about Adam and Eve’s descendents. We know not only their names, but, in some cases, quite a bit about them, not the least of which is that many of them worshipped the one true God of the Bible.
The list below identifies the most prominent among them over the course of 3,121 years (3977-856 BC), from the year of creation (3977 BC) to the year when Akhnaton established the cult of Aten in Egypt (c.861 BC). I place the latter’s name at the bottom of the list. Do you think that he belongs there?
ABBREVIATIONS
AP = Ancient Patriarch HJ = Hebrew Judge
BD = Babylonian Demigod HP = Hebrew Patriarch
DK = Divided Kingdom UK = United Kingdom
gen. = generation unk. = unknown
1A – Early Prehistoric Era (3977-2321 BC)
1A-1 Ancients’ Primordial Age = Edenic Age Week (3977 BC)
There is little doubt in my mind that the following men and women worshiped the God of the Bible, who was identified in this age as Elohim.
Adam (AP-01, gen. 1, 3997-3047 BC = 930 years) = Alorus (BD-01).
Eve (gen. 1, 3977-unk. date BC).
►The Adam Disturbance (3977 BC) occurred.
1A-2 – Ancients’ Golden Age = Antediluvian Age (3977-2321 BC)
Although I am sure that they varied in faithfulness and obedience, there is little doubt in my mind that the following men and women worshiped the God of the Bible, who was identified in this age as Yahweh.
Adam cont. (AP-01, gen. 1, 3997-3047 BC = 930 years) = Alorus (BD-01).
Eve cont. (gen. 1, 3977-unk. date BC).
Cain (gen. 2, unk. dates BC).
Abel (gen. 2, unk. dates).
Seth (AP-02, gen. 2, 3847-2935 BC = 912 years) = Alasparus (BD-02).
Enos (AP-03, gen. 3, 3742-2837 BC = 905 years) = Amelon (BD-03).
Enoch (gen. 3, unk. dates).
Cainan (AP-04, gen. 4, 3652-2742 BC = 910 Years) = Amenon (BD-04).
Irad (gen. 4, unk. dates BC).
Mahalaleel (AP-05, gen. 5, 3582-2687 BC = 895 years) = Metalarus (BD-05).
Mehujael (gen. 5, unk. dates).
Jared (AP-06, gen. 6, 3517-2555 BC = 962 years) = Daorus (BD-06).
Methushael (gen. 6, unk. dates).
Enoch (AP-07, gen. 7, 3355-2990 BC = 365 years) = Aedorachus (BD-07).
Lamech (gen. 7, unk. dates).
Adah (gen. 8, unk. dates).
Zillah (gen. 7, unk. dates).
Methuselah (AP-08, gen. 8, 3290-2321 BC = 969 years) = Amphis (BD-08).
Jabal (gen. 8, unk. dates).
Jubal (gen. 8, unk. dates).
Tubal-cain (gen. 8, unk. dates).
Naamah (gen. 8, unk. dates).
Lamech (AP-09, gen. 9, 3103-2326 BC = 777 years) = Oliartes (BD-09).
Noah (AP-10, gen. 10, 2921-2321-1971 BC = 950 years) = Xisuthrus (BD-10).
Japheth (gen. 11, 2421-2321-unk. date BC).
Shem (AP-11, gen. 11, 2419-2321-1819 BC = 600 years).
Ham – (gen. 11, unk. dates BC).
►The Noah Disturbance (2321 BC) occurred.
1B – Middle Prehistoric Era (2321-1464 BC)
1B-1 – Ancients Silver Age = Early Postdiluvian Age (2321-1870 BC)
Although I am sure that they varied in faithfulness and obedience, there is little doubt in my mind that the following men and women worshiped the God of the Bible, who was identified in this age as Yahweh.
Noah cont. (AP-10, gen. 10, 2921-2321-1971 BC = 950 years) = Xisuthrus (BD-10).
Japheth cont. (gen. 11, 2421-2321-unk. date BC).
Shem cont. (AP-11, gen. 11, 2419-2321-1819 BC = 600 years).
Ham cont. (gen. 11, unk. dates BC).
Arphaxad (AP-12, gen. 12, 2319-1881 BC = 438 years).
Salah (AP-13, gen. 13, 2284-1851 BC = 433 years).
Eber (AP-14, gen. 14, 2254-1790 BC = 464 years).
►The Peleg Disturbance (2221 BC) occurred.
Peleg (AP-15, gen. 15, 2220-1981 BC = 239 years).
Reu (AP-16, gen. 16, 2190-1951 BC = 239 years).
Serug (AP-17, gen. 17, 2158-1928 BC = 230 years).
Nahor (AP-18, gen. 18, 2128-2000 BC = 148 years).
Terah (AP-19, gen. 19, 2099-1894 BC = 205 years).
►The Terah Disturbance (2070 BC) occurred.[i]
Haran (gen. 20, 2029 BC-unk. date BC).
Abram (AP-20, gen. 20, 1969-1870-1794 BC = 175 years).
Sarah (gen. 20, 1960-1870-1833 BC = 125 years).
Hagar (gen. 20?, unk. dates BC).
Ishmael (gen. 21, 1883-1870-1746 BC = 137 years).
►The Abraham Disturbance (1870 BC) occurred.
1B-2 – Ancients’ Bronze Age = Late Postdiluvian Age (1870-1464 BC)
Although I am sure that they varied in faithfulness and obedience, there is no doubt in my mind that these men and women worshiped the God of the Bible, who identified at this age as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6).
Abraham cont. (HP-01, gen. 20, 1969-1870-1794 BC = 175 years).[ii]
Sarah cont. (gen. 20, 1960-1870-1833 BC = 127 years).
Hagar cont. (gen. 20?, unk. dates BC).
Ishmael cont. (gen. 21, 1883-1870-1746 BC = 137 years).
Isaac (HP-02, gen. 21, 1870-1609 BC = 180 years).
Esau (gen. 22, 1809-unk. date BC).
Jacob (HP-03, gen. 22, 1809-1662 BC = 147 years).
Job (gen. 23?, unk. dates BC).
►The Job Disturbance (1667 BC) occurred.
Joseph (HP-04, gen. 23, 1718-1608 BC = 110 years).[iii]
Aaron (1547-1464-1424 BC = 123 years).
Moses (1544-1464-1424 BC = 120 years).[iv]
Zipporah (unk. dates BC).
Gershom (unk. dates BC).
Eliezer (unk. dates BC).
Joshua (1509-1464-1399 BC = 110 years).
Caleb (1503-1464-unk. date BC).
►The Moses Disturbance (1464 BC) occurred.
1C – Late Prehistoric Era (1464-665 BC)
1C-1 – Ancients’ Missing Age (1464-1008 BC)
Although I am sure that they varied in faithfulness and obedience, there is no doubt in my mind that these men and women worshiped the God of the Bible, who was identified in this age as the great I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14) and the LORD God of Israel (Exodus 5:1, Judges 4:6).
Aaron cont. (1547-1464-1424 BC = 123 years).
Moses cont. (1544-1464-1424 BC = 120 years).
Joshua cont. (1509-1464-1399 BC = 110 years).
Caleb cont. (1503-1464-unk. date BC).
►The Joshua Disturbance (1413 BC) occurred.
Othniel, Judge (HJ-01, unk. date-1350 BC).
Ehud, Judge (HJ-02, unk. date-1270 BC).
Shamgar, Judge (HJ-03, unk. date-1266 BC?).
Deborah, Judge (HJ-04, unk. date-1130 BC).
►The Deborah Disturbance (1261 BC) occurred.
Barak (unk. dates BC).
Gideon, Judge (HJ-05, unk. date-1190 BC).
Abimelech, King (HJ-06, unk. date-1187 BC).
Tola, Judge (HJ-07, unk. date-1164 BC).
Jair, Judge (HJ-08, unk. date-1142 BC).
Jephthah, Judge (HJ-09, unk. date-1118 BC).
Ibzan, Judge (HJ-10, unk. date-1111 BC).
Elon, Judge (HJ-11, unk. date-1101 BC).
Abdon, Judge (HJ-12, unk. date-1093 BC).
Samson, Judge (HJ-13, unk. date-1073 BC).
Samuel, Judge (HJ-14, unk. date-1030 BC).
►The Samuel Disturbance (1058 BC) occurred.
Saul, King (UK-01, unk. date-1028 BC).
Jonathon (unk. dates BC).
Ishbosheth (1067-1026 BC = 41 years).
David, King (UK-02, 1058-1008-988 BC = 70 years).
Michal (unk. dates BC).
Bathsheba (unk. dates BC).
Shebuel (unknown dates BC).
►The David Disturbance (1008) occurred.
1C-2 – Ancients’ Heroic Age (1008-754 BC)
Although I am sure that they varied in faithfulness and obedience, there is no doubt in my mind that these men and women worshiped the God of the Bible, who was identify in this age as the LORD God of Israel (1 Samuel 10:18, 1 Kings 12:24).
David, King cont. (UK-02, 1058-1008-988 BC = 70 years).
Michal cont. (unk. dates BC).
Bathsheba cont. (unk. dates BC).
Solomon, King (UK-03, unk. date-948 BC).
►The Solomon Disturbance (957 BC) occurred.[v]
Shimei (unk. date-985 BC).
Rehoboam, King of Judah (DK-01, Unk. date-931 BC).
Abijam, King of Judah (DK-02, unk. date-928 BC).
Asa, King of Judah (DK-03, unk. date-887 BC).
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (DK-04, 921-862 BC = 59 years).
Jehoram, King of Judah (DK-05, 893-854 BC = 39 years).
►The Jehoram Disturbance (855 BC) occurred.[vi]
Ahaziah, King of Judah (DK-06, 875-853 BC = 22 years).
Athalia, Queen of Judah (DK-07, unk. date-852 BC).
Jehoash, King of Judah (DK-08, 853-807 BC = 46 years).
● ● ●
AKHNATON =Amenhotep IV (841-861 BC), the ninth pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty – He was born c.881 BC. He was disowned by his father Amenhotep III and spent his childhood and youth in exile with a relative, the King of Mitanni. He returned to Egypt in 861 BC, where he solved the Riddle of the Sphinx, [vii] married his mother Queen Tiy, and ascended to the Egyptian throne. He commenced erasing records and defacing statues of his father, whom he blamed for his exile. He suffered from a rare deformity,[viii] which he flaunted by appearing in public nearly nude. In 856 BC, he founded the cult of Aten and commenced building the city of Akhet-Aten. The Jehoram Disturbance occurred in 855 BC, which affected Egypt negatively, for which the priests of Amon in Thebes blamed unacknowledged and unatoned instances of patricide and incest. Akhnaton became blind in 845 BC, possibly by his own hand, after which he retired and left the throne in the hands of his eldest son Smenkhare, who served as his co-regent for 4 years (845-841 BC). Akhnaton was formally deposed in 841 BC and went into exile again, probably accompanied by his daughter Bekhetaten. They may have ended up in Greece.
COMMENTS
Although I compiled the foregoing list to make a point about the appearance of monotheism, there is another point to be made here. I beg my readers to apply their common sense to answering the following questions:
First, which alternative is most believable: On the one hand, the Academy claims that the Prehistoric Period lasted 13,799,999,350 years (13.8 bya-650 BC). On the other hand, the Bible indicates that the Prehistoric Period lasted 3,312 years (3977-665 BC). The difference is 13,796,683,688 years – not a trivial number. Does the time period involved seem realistic. Would 13 trillion years or even 13 quadrillion years seem less realistic to you?
Second, which alternative is most believable: On the one hand, the Academy claims that the first men and women evolved roughly 300,000 years ago, but were not named until 1758, when the taxonomist Carolus Linnaeus called them Homo Sapiens. On the other hand, the Bible indicates that the first man and woman were created roughly 6,000 years ago and were named immediately when God called the man Adam, and Adam called the woman Eve. The difference is 294,000 years – again not a trivial number. Would 294 million years or even 294 billion years seem less realistic to you?
Third, which alternative is most believable: On the one hand, the Academy claims that the first men and women, spent (a) 170,000 years (300-130 kya) grunting at one another while they lived in caves, discovered fire, fabricated tools and weapons with stone heads, and killed animals and one another and (b) 120,000 years (130-10 kya) learning to talk to one another, while developing small compounds and villages from which they ventured out to till the fields and hunt animals. On the other hand, the Bible indicates that, immediately after his creation, Adam could understand God, who gave him first a proscription regarding his behavior and then the scientific project of identifying and naming all the animal species, which he completed successfully. Then God created Eve, and immediately after her creation she could converse with God and Adam as they fellowshipped in the Garden of Eden. Does it seem realistic to you that mankind lived together, but could not talk to one another for 290,000 years?
© 2021 John Holbrook Jr.
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[i] Originally, I assigned Terah’s Disturbance to 2070 BC. I forget all my reasons for doing so, but one was certainly the fact that Kenkenes (E03-01) had broken the Akkadian Dynasty’s hold on Egypt, which would have probably occurred early in his reign. In recent years, I have leaned toward 2020 BC, because there was a severe break at the end of Sharguni (AK-10)’s reign, which would have left the Akkadian Dynasty in a weakened state and thereby created an opportunity for Kenkenes to throw off the Mesopotamian yoke. Changing all my documents, however, is beyond my abilities at this point in my life.
[ii] Elsewhere in my writings, I identify the pharaoh whom Abram visited in 1895 BC as Cheops or Khufu, the first monarch of the 4th Dynasty.
[iii] Elsewhere in my writing, I identify Joseph’s name in Egyptian records as Mentuhotep, who governed Egypt for 80 years (1688-1608 BC).
[iv] Elsewhere in my writings, I identify Moses’ name in Egyptian records as Amenemhet IV of the 12th Dynasty, who was co-regent with his foster mother Queen Sebeknefrure for 4 years (1508-1504 BC). He then fled to Midian, where he tended his-father-in-law Jethro’s sheep for 40 years (1504-1464 BC). In the latter year, he returned to Egypt and confronted the second pharaoh of the 13th Dynasty, Concharis, and then led the Hebrew Exodus from Egypt during the Moses Disturbance.
[v] Homer’s 1st Cosmic Battle (957 BC) occurred.
[vi] Homer’s 2nd Cosmic Battle (855 BC) occurred. Homer’s 3rd Cosmic Battle (754 BC) occurred at the same time as the Azariah Disturbance, which was known as the Commotion in the Days of Uzziah. Amos predicted it beforehand. Then he, Joel, Isaiah, and Micah predicted other disturbances to follow.
[vii] The Sphinx sat in front of Thebes and asked a riddle of all travelers who tried to enter the city – “What goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening?” The riddle was finally solved by Oedipus, who answered, “Man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, then walks on two legs, and finally needs a cane in old age.” Following Immanuel Velikovsky, I believe that (a) Thebes here was the ancient capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, (b) the Sphinx was a statue that sat atop a cliff (possibly the one overhanging the Hatshepsut’s Temple at Deir El Bahari, below which fragments of sphinxes have been found, and (c) Oedipus was the Greek name for Akhnaton=Amenhotep IV (861-841 BC), the ninth pharaoh of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty.
[viii] Progressive lipodystrophy, resulting in the disappearance of subcutaneous fat in the upper body and a marked increase of adipose tissue in the lower Body (below the loins).