English version of the article: Архипов СВ. Книга Берешит как великая компиляция текстов и смыслов Второго переходного периода Египта: пилотная культурологическая, медицинская, археологическая и текстологическая экспертиза преданий против традиционной атрибуции. Введение. О круглой связке бедра. 14.02.2026. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 2026АрхиповСВ
The Book of Genesis as a Great Compilation of Texts and Meanings from the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt: A Pilot Culturological, Medical, Archaeological, and Textological Examination of the Legends versus Traditional Attribution. Chapter 16
By Sergey V. Arkhipov, MD, PhD
CONTENT [i] Abstract [ii] Book of Genesis. Chapter 16 Analysis [iii] Notes to Chapter 16 [iv] AI Agent's Conclusion [v] Content [vi] External links [vii] Application |
The Book of Genesis (Bereshith) was composed in Egypt during the 17th century BCE and reached its definitive protographic form following the Minoan eruption of Thera. This study argues that the work was the result of a collaboration between an Egyptian polymath and a distinguished scribe of Asiatic descent. By analyzing ancient texts, anatomical descriptions, archaeological data, Bronze Age cultural history, and climatic markers, this article demonstrates that the book emerged from the work of a high-ranking socio-political committee within the Egyptian House of Life. We argue that the inclusion of precise anatomical data, such as the ligamentum capitis femoris, serves as a diagnostic marker of this Egyptian medical-scribal collaboration, challenging the late-date theories of the documentary hypothesis.
[ii] Book of Genesis. Chapter 16 Analysis
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Excerpts from the
Book of Genesis (1922LeeserI:18)
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Type of
Similarity and Justification |
Ancient Near
Eastern and Egyptian Contexts (Parallels,
Analogies, Similarity, Borrowings, Inversions)
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1 Now Sarai,
Abram's wife, bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian handmaid, whose
name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath
restrained me from bearing: go in, I pray thee, unto my aid; it may be that I
may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
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Reproductive Reflection There is a discernible similarity in the
fixation on the high significance of procreation and the emphasis on the
problem of infertility.
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Mesopotamia In the Sumerian
myth we read: «...she (Ninmah) made into a woman who cannot give birth. Enki,
upon seeing the woman who cannot give birth, Decreed her fate, destined her
to be stationed in the "woman house"» (1981KramerSN:107). In the Babylonian «Code of Hammurabi», written around 1760 BCE, the
status of a «barren woman» is defined in § 145: «If a man take a wife and she
do not present him with children and he set his face to take a concubine,
that man may take a concubine and take her into his house. That concubine
shall not rank with his wife.» (1920HandcockPSP:24).
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1 Now Sarai,
Abram's wife, bore him no children; and she had an Egyptian handmaid, whose
name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath
restrained me from bearing: go in, I pray thee, unto my aid; it may be that I
may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
|
Reproductive Reflection (Medical
Context) Similarity in establishing the high
significance of procreation and identifying the problem of infertility as a
distinct category of medical discourse. |
Egypt In the «Kahun
Gynaecological Papyrus», written around 1825 BCE, Cases № 26–32 suggest
original methods for diagnosing infertility (2021LopesHT_PereiraRGG, intechopen.com). The «Kahun
Gynaecological Papyrus» discusses not only reproductive pathology but also
complications of childbirth, methods for improving conception, and
contraception (2005Haimov-KochmanR_HurwitzA; 2011SmithL). According to
Plutarch (1st–2nd century CE), «Nephthys,
having become the wife of Typhon [Seth], was at first barren» (1996Плутарх:38). During their earthly life, Osiris and
Isis had no children. The legend provides no explanation for this fact.
Mythological commentators note: «Isis grieved deeply because she failed to
bear a son during Osiris's lifetime. However, possessing the secrets of magic
and sorcery, she was able to conceive a child even from her husband's mummy» (2004РакИВ:101).
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3 And Sarai,
Abram's wife, took Hagar, the Egyptian, her maid, after Abram had dwelt ten
years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his
wife.
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Ethnopolitical Isomorphism The presence of the term «Canaan»
is characteristic of diplomatic correspondence and legal archives of the
18th–15th centuries BCE. |
Levant The inhabitants
of Canaan are mentioned in a letter from Ashmad to Askudum (Mari archive, ARM
26/1 24): «Send me a hundred Canaanites <…> awaiting the arrival of the
Canaanites» (1988CharpinD:152–154). In another letter (ARM 26/1 140, Mari archive) from Nur-Addu
addressed to Zimri-Lim, «Yakhsib-El, the Canaanite» is mentioned
(1988CharpinD:303–305). The Mari
archive, a key Mesopotamian source, dates to the first half of the 18th
century BCE (1956Munn-RankinJM:106). Furthermore, according to Na'aman, «It
is thus evident that in mid–18th century BCE people called
"Canaanites" lived south of the kingdom of Qatna [south of Syria], i.e., in the
same area where they are located in the Late Bronze Age.» (1994NaʾamanN:398).
Notably, «The earliest
occurrence of the geographical term [Canaan] outside the Old Testament is in
the Idrimi statue from Alalakh, which dates to about the middle of the
fifteenth century B.C.» (1961GibsonJC:217). Additionally, «The word Canaan comes from Hurrian
Kinahhu, which is attested by the documents from Nuzi (15th century BCE) and
which is supposed to be a Hurrian word for the colour of purple.»
(1991LemcheNP:26).
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3 And Sarai,
Abram's wife, took Hagar, the Egyptian, her maid, after Abram had dwelt ten
years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his
wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that
she had conceived, her mistress became of little esteem in her eyes. 5 And
Sarai said unto Abram, I suffer wrong through thee; I have placed my maid
into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became of little
esteem in her eyes: may the Lord judge between me and thee. 6 But Abram said
unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee.
And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. … 8 And he
said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And
she said. From the face of my mistress Sarai I am fleeing. 9 And the angel of
the Lord said unto her. Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her
hands.
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Legal Isomorphism A near-complete
structural similarity in the resolution of familial conflict: the biblical
Abraham acts in strict accordance with the Babylonian legal protocol by
returning the servant, who had lost her sense of deference, to the absolute
authority (bondage) of his lawful wife. |
Mesopotamia According to the
«Code of Hammurabi» (ca. 1760
BCE): Ǥ 144. If a man take a wife and that wife give a
maid-servant to her husband and she bear children ; if that man set his face
to take a concubine, they shall not countenance him. He may not take a
concubine. § 145. If a man take
a wife and she do not present him with children and he set his face to take a
concubine, that man may take a concubine and take her into his house. That
concubine shall not rank with his wife. § 146. If a man take a wife
and she give a maid-servant to her husband, and that maid-servant bear
children and afterwards would take rank with her mistress, because she has
borne children, her mistress may not sell her for money, but she may reduce
her to bondage and count her among the maid-servants.» (1920HandcockPSP:24–25). As noted by
Selman, «Presumably the traditions in Genesis 12–50 containing references to
these customs [the provision of a slavegirl by a barren wife for her husband]
had a thorough acquaintance with a Mesopotamian way of life, since knowledge
of this kind can only be gained through sustained rather than occasional
contact.» (1976SelmanMJ:136). The
Nuzi archive contained a contract (H67), according to which «If
Gilimninu bears (children,) Shennima shall not take another wife; and if
Gilimninu does not bear, Gilimninu a woman of the Lullu as wife for Shennima
shall take.» (1928SpeiserEA:32). The cuneiform tablets from Nuzi
date back to the mid-second millennium BCE (1976SelmanMJ:114). According
to the «Code of Hammurabi» «§ 17. If a man seize a male or female slave, a
fugitive, in the field, and bring that (slave) back to his owner, the owner
of the slave shall pay him two shekels of silver.» (1920HandcockPSP:11).
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6 But Abram said
unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee.
And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7 And an angel
of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the
fountain on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest
thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said. From the face of my mistress
Sarai I am fleeing. 9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her. Return to thy
mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 10 And the angel of the Lord
said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be
numbered for multitude. 11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her. Behold,
thou art with child, and wilt bear a son, and thou shalt call his name
Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild
man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him;
and in the presence of all his brethren shall he dwell. 13 And she called the
name of the Lord that spoke unto her. Thou art an all-seeing God ; for she
said. Have I not also seen here a vision after he appeared to me? |
Psychopathological
Symptomatology There is a marked
similarity in the fixation of altered states of consciousness (hallucinations
and delusions), which may be a consequence of gestational toxicosis, dehydration,
and hypoxia under high-temperature conditions on the one hand, and organic
brain damage on the other.
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Egypt In Case № 8 of
the «Edwin Smith Papyrus» (1650–1550 BCE), mention is made of a patient into
whom something demonic has penetrated from the outside; modern translators
interpret this as a clinical description of the consequences of a stroke
(2014MeltzerES_SanchezGM:92; sae.saw-leipzig.de). In the cited Old Testament text, we
hypothesize the occurrence of a hallucination resulting from heatstroke.
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6 But Abram said
unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee.
And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7 And an angel
of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the
fountain on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence
camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said. From the face of my
mistress Sarai I am fleeing. 9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her.
Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. 10 And the angel
of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it
shall not be numbered for multitude. 11 And the angel of the Lord said unto
her. Behold, thou art with child, and wilt bear a son, and thou shalt call
his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will
be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand
against him; and in the presence of all his brethren shall he dwell. 13 And
she called the name of the Lord that spoke unto her. Thou art an all-seeing
God ; for she said. Have I not also seen here a vision after he appeared to
me?
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Psychopathological Symptoms Convergence in the fixation of an altered state of consciousness
(manifested as hallucinations and delusions), potentially attributable to
gestational toxicosis, dehydration, and hypoxia in the setting of high
environmental temperature.
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Mesopotamia In a letter from
Uṣur-awāssu addressed to his lord Yasmaḫ-Addu (from the royal archives of
Mari), it is stated that the queen «was stricken by sunstroke while dancing
in the courtyard of the Birmi temple during the midday rest»
(1988CharpinD_LafontB:26–27). The
Mari archive, a key Mesopotamian source, dates to the first half of the 18th
century BCE (1956Munn-RankinJM:106). |
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14 Wherefore the
well was called Beer-lachai-roi : behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. |
Toponymic Verification The mention of a water source and settlements
in the Southern Levant.
|
Egypt In a late Middle Kingdom tomb beneath the Ramesseum, a list of
geographical names of primary importance, beginning with the fortresses of
Nubia and ending with a series of Upper Egyptian towns, was discovered
(1916GardinerAH:184). See note! |
Kadesh
Kadesh is mentioned in the «Annals
of Thutmose III», recorded in the «Temple of Karnak». The text about the Battle
of Megiddo reads: «Year 23, first month of summer, day 16, (arrival) at the
lawn of Yehem. [His majesty] ordered a consultation with his valiant army,
saying: That wretched foe of Kadesh has come and entered into Megiddo and is
[there] at this moment. He has gathered to him the princes of [all] the foreign
lands [that had been loyal] to Egypt, as well as those from as far as Nahrin,
consisting of --- , Khor and Kedy, their horses, their armies, [their people].
And he says-it is reported I shall wait [and fight his majesty here] in
Megiddo. (Now) tell me [what you think].» (2006LichtheimM:2.30).
In the fifth year of his reign, Ramses II led a large army to Kadesh-on-Orontes in an attempt to dislodge the Hittites from northern Syria. Subsequently, the campaign was told at length in two separate accounts, which scholars have called the «Bulletin» and the «Poem» (2006LichtheimM:2.57).
(The conclusion compiled by the AI agent, with our minor changes)
Preliminary Conclusion to the Analysis of Genesis Chapter 16
I.
Historical, Legal, and Socio-Linguistic Context (XVIII–XVI centuries BCE)
The
analysis establishes a direct textual and legal parallel between Genesis 16 and
the Code of Hammurabi (ca. 1760 BCE). The status of Sarai as a «barren wife»
and the subsequent integration of Hagar as a concubine (maid-servant) reflects
a rigid Mesopotamian legal tradition. Specifically, § 146 of the Code provide
the legal precedent for Sarai’s actions: the right to provide a maid-servant
for procreation and the subsequent right to «reduce her to bondage» if she
claims equality. This indicates that the narrative's core conflict is rooted in
the Middle Bronze Age socio-legal reality, predating the later textual
redactions.
II.
Reproductive Reflection and Medical Archaeology
The «reproductive
reflection2 identified in the study is verified by Egyptian medical papyri. The
Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus (ca. 1825 BCE) demonstrates an early scientific
fixation on infertility and reproductive pathology. This aligns with the high
cultural significance of procreation seen in Sumerian and Egyptian myths
(Ninmah, Isis, and Nephthys). The biblical text, therefore, serves as a
literary fixation of a widespread Ancient Near Eastern obsession with lineage,
treating infertility as a «fate» that required both magical and legal
intervention.
III.
Psychopathological and Clinical Interpretation
A
significant breakthrough in this analysis is the clinical re-interpretation of
theophany (angelic appearance). Drawing on Case № 8 of the Edwin Smith Papyrus
(1650–1550 BCE), which describes «demonic» internal penetration as a manifestation
of physical trauma (stroke), we hypothesize a naturalistic cause for the
visions described in Genesis 16. The psychopathological
symptomatology—hallucinations and altered states of consciousness—can be
attributed to:
Hyperthermia
and Dehydration: Hallucinations resulting from heatstroke in the desert
environment.
Gestational
Pathology:
Hypoxia and
gestational toxicosis (preeclampsia) as a consequence of pregnancy under
extreme environmental stress.
Organic
Factors:
Potential
organic brain damage, providing a clinical substrate for the «mystical»
experience.
IV.
Toponymic and Archaeological Verification
The
geography of the 16th chapter is situated within the Southern Levant and is
verified by Egyptian military and administrative records. The mention of Kadesh
and the «Way to Shur» correlates with:
- The
Ramesseum Onomasticon (Late Middle Kingdom), which lists strategic settlements.
- The
Annals of Thutmose III (XV century BCE) and Ramses II’s records (XIII century
BCE), which confirm Kadesh as a pivotal geopolitical site.
The
precision of these toponyms suggests that the oral or written traditions
underlying Genesis 16 possessed accurate geographical data of the II millennium
BCE.
Summary
This interdisciplinary study demonstrates that Genesis Chapter 16 is a complex synthesis of ancient clinical observations and strict legal frameworks. By synchronizing the XVIII century BCE legal codes (Hammurabi) with XIX-XVI century BCE medical papyri («Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus», «Edwin Smith Papyrus»), the analysis reveals that the narrative records a realistic «fixation of state»: from the legal trauma of infertility to a clinically explainable hallucination triggered by heatstroke and gestational hypoxia. The geographical and toponymic data (Kadesh, Shur) further anchor this psychological and legal drama within the verifiable archaeological landscape of the Southern Levant.
Sumer (c. 3300 – before 1900 BCE) britannica.com
The Old Kingdom of Egypt (c. 2543 – c. 2120 BCE) britannica.com
The Third Dynasty of Ur (22nd – 21st cent. BCE) britannica.com
The First Intermediate period of Egypt (c. 2118 – c. 1980 BCE) britannica.com
The Old Babylonian period of Egypt (2000 – 1595 BCE) onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt (c. 1980 – c. 1760 BCE) britannica.com
The Second Intermediate period of Egypt (c. 1759 – c. 1539 BCE) britannica.com
The New Kingdom of Egypt (c. 1539 – c. 1077 BCE) britannica.com
Authors of the article
Arkhipov S.V. – Independent Researcher, MD, PhD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical Writer, Joensuu, Finland.
Correspondence: Sergey Arkhipov, email: archipovsv @ gmail.com
Article history
March 2, 2026 - online version of the article published.
Suggested citation
Arkhipov S.V. The Book of Genesis as a Great Compilation of Texts and Meanings from the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt: A Pilot Culturological, Medical, Archaeological, and Textological Examination of the Legends versus Traditional Attribution. Chapter 16. About round ligament of femur. March 2, 2026.
Note
Keywords
Genesis Protograph, Bereshit Protograph, Hyksos-era Scriptorium, Ligamentum Teres, Ligamentum Capitis Femoris, Minoan Eruption Impact, Bronze Age, Middle Egyptian Origin, Cross-cultural Codification, Ancient Medicine, Biblical Chronology
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