Artapanus — Fragments

Artapanus — Fragments

[Fragments of a retelling of the patriarchs and Moses in an Egyptian setting, preserved in quotation.]

Abraham came into Egypt and taught the king astrology, and after twenty years returned to Syria. Joseph, foreseeing his brothers’ envy, went down into Egypt, and being wise he was set over the land; he divided the fields, which before lay in confusion, and gave the strong their portions, and was a benefactor to the people. [Text missing]

Moses was the teacher of many useful things: he invented ships and engines for lifting stones, and weapons, and devices for drawing water, and he set in order the divisions of the land. The Egyptians, though they were not his own people, honored him, and the priests held him equal to a god, and called him Hermes, because he interpreted the sacred writings. When Pharaoh sought his life, he fled to Arabia; and afterward God sent him to lead his people out, and great signs were done by his hand. [Line damaged]

[Fragment breaks here]