Deliverance of Mankind Overview

DELIVERANCE OF MANKIND FROM DESTRUCTION

• Language: [Not mentioned]

• Province: Egypt

• Date: 1350-1200 BC

• Purpose: Explain Re’s supremacy by many names (one mysterious name)

• From the walls of the tombs of pharaohs

• From the walls of the tombs of pharaohs

pg. 10

The text introduces itself as a spell of the divine god who came into being and created all things, and has many names, unknown to other gods and even himself. Re has many names—some that other gods cannot even know. God, also having a personal name, reveals even that to Moses and to Israel.

Isis was a goddess more clever than millions of men. As Re travels in his sun-barque, his old mouth is looser, and he accidentally spits in the soil. Isis uses this damp soil to make a sharp august snake.

Re comes out of the morning chamber with the other gods to stroll, and Isis sends forth the august snake to attack him. Re calls all the gods to him for help. He tells them how he was struck by a serpent he did not make nor recognize, and that he is in more pain than he had ever been in. He explains that he has many forms and names - He is known as Atum and Horus-of-Praise. His father and mother told him his name, but it was hidden in his body before his birth so that no magician could use it.

Isis comes to help, but says she needs Re to say his name for it to heal him. Re explains that he made all things, including a heavenly cow. He is Khepri in the morning, Re at noon, and Atum at the evening. However, Re is not healed, and Isis insists that he must share his name for him to be healed. Re first wants Isis to tell it to Horus, as long as Horus swears to keep it a secret before he shares it with her. Isis then commands the poison to come forth, even leaving space in her command for anyone else to use it to cure themself. The text ends, explaining how to use this to take away the sting. Re explains how he created a heavenly cow, perhaps similar to the cow that the Israelites make to represent their god(s) after they leave Egypt.