Book manuscript: Arkhipov S.V. Medical Record: The Contribution of a Middle Bronze Age Egyptian Physician to the Book of Genesis. Kyrö: Author’s Edition, 2026. – 312 pp. – 2 tables. – Bibliographical references: 856 entries. play.google.com , books.google.com
Chapter 14
Date and site of Injury
The
most crucial stage of Jacob's journey from Haran to Canaan was the crossing of
the Jabbok River (Gen. 32:23–24). In the original source, the sequence of
actions before and after the crossing is described in considerable detail.
Having met the messengers, Jacob sends a "present" to his brother and
spends "that night in the camp" (Gen. 32:22). Then "he arose
that night … and crossed the ford of the Jabbok" (Gen. 32:23). After that,
"a man wrestled with him until the breaking of day" (Gen. 32:25).
During the struggle, "day broke" (Gen. 32:27). In the conclusion of
the events at the Jabbok River, it is stated that as Jacob passed "Penuel",
the "sun rose upon him" (Gen. 32:32).
The
exact location where the river was crossed is not specified in the text. This
question has long intrigued Bible scholars, and no definitive answer has been
reached to this day. Opinions also vary regarding which body of water the
caravan traversed. In particular, on a mid-18th-century map, it is noted that
"Mahanaim" and "Penuel" are drawn near the Yarmouk River…
The
Book of Genesis states that Jacob's family crossed the stream of
"Jabbok" (Gen. 32:23). We use this name as the widely known form
linking our narrative to the Hebrew translation of the tradition. Synonyms for
the river's name include: "Nahr ez-Zarqa" (meaning "Blue
River"), "Abu ez-Zighan", "Seil ez-Zarqa", "Zarqa",
"ez-Zarqa", "Zerqa", "Yabok", "Yabbok",
"Iavok", "Iabok", "Iabbok", and "Jabbok".
It is the third most significant watercourse in Jordan. It is described as
having two main branches: "Amman-Zarqa" and "Wadi Dhuleil".
The former originates northeast of Amman on the Balqa highlands, while the
latter begins in the eastern areas of the Jordanian Highlands and the Arabian
Plateau. Numerous ephemeral streams and creeks that dry up during arid periods
and originate on the slopes of nearby mountains flow into the Jabbok (1954,1989Атлас_мира; 1998ОрленокВВ).
The
general direction of the Jabbok River flow is from east to west. In the last
century, the middle stretch of the riverbed was dammed. From the dam, the
stream flows between the Jebel Ajloun and Balqa highlands, emerging into the
Jordan Valley, specifically onto the Ghor El-Arba'in plain. The river mouth is
located closer to the Dead Sea, approximately one-third of the distance between
it and the Sea of Galilee. The Jabbok flows predominantly through mountainous
and hilly terrain. In its middle course, the river follows a deep canyon,
whereas on flat stretches, the stream flows across the Ghor El-Arba'in plain
and near the river mouth across the Ghor Damiah-wa-Shiqa plain.
The
Jabbok has a relatively constant discharge volume: 2–3 million cubic meters
during the summer and 5–8 million cubic meters in winter. According to the
Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources, the maximum recorded flood on
the Jabbok River occurred on November 29, 1979. On that day, approximately 2.5
million cubic meters of water passed through the canyon. The width of the river
is variable, depending on the season and precipitation, ranging from a few
meters in the upper reaches to up to 20 m near its confluence with the Jordan
(1956АрмандДЛ_СпрыгинаЛИ). Apart from the Book of Genesis,
the Jabbok River is mentioned in the books of Bamidbar (Numbers), Devarim
(Deuteronomy), and in the books of Joshua and Judges (Num. 21:24; Deut. 2:37,
3:16; Josh. 12:2; Judg. 11:13, 22). This evidence demonstrates the preservation
of the river's name for at least two millennia.
The
Jabbok River is not wide, and for most of the year, the water flow is minimal.
However, a study of Jordan's geography indicates that crossing the river is not
feasible at every section. In 2008, we expressed the view that the prototype of
Jacob crossed the stream near the settlement of Khirbat es-Suweirat. Our
colleague, the monastic priest Father Simeon, personally visited this location
in 2012. A direct examination of the landscape demonstrated that negotiating
the river canyon at this point with a large caravan would be difficult.
Furthermore, to reach the crossing, Jacob would have needed to drive the herds
across the Jebel Ajloun highlands for a distance of 50–60 km and cross a pass
at an altitude of about 1000 m above sea level. The caravan would then have had
to descend to the water level at an elevation of approximately 240 m above sea
level, before continuing across the rugged terrain of the Balqa highlands,
gradually ascending to the plateau near Amman, which thrives at elevations of
approximately 800–900 m above sea level. Such a route would be exceptionally
difficult for driving livestock.
Based
on these considerations, Father Simeon suggested that Jacob crossed the Jabbok
further west, in the Jordan Valley, near the settlement of Es-Sawalha. This
hypothesis was investigated during a joint expedition in November 2014. Having
visited the location, we concluded that the crossing most likely took place
near the coordinates 32°10'19.9" N, 35°37'09.7" E. The ford is
located at a straight-line distance of approximately 9.7 km from the river
mouth and 5.6 km from the Jordan River. The surrounding topography is flat,
with isolated hills.
It
appears that one of the authors of the Book of Genesis traversed these places
and set the events within a familiar environment. According to our original
source, the caravan prepared for the crossing west of modern Highway 65. The
preferred location is on an elevated plot. Nearby, there is a relatively
convenient descent to the water for watering animals, as well as extensive
areas for grazing livestock.
Upon
emerging from the Jordanian Highlands, the Jabbok flows across a plain sloping
toward the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. Since the time of Jacob's legendary
crossing or the author's visit to the site, geographical features have shifted
by approximately 20 m. Undeniably, the configuration of the lower Jabbok
riverbed after exiting the canyon has also changed. A southward shift of the
river mouth location is a natural occurrence. It has been noted that the
terminal sections of all major eastern tributaries of the Jordan are oriented
from northeast to southwest. As the Dead Sea rift system expanded and the
Jordan Valley deepened, its tributaries inevitably altered their course over
3,600 years.
At
present, water from the Jabbok River is heavily extracted for agricultural
needs. Consequently, even in November, when rainfall is relatively frequent, we
observed a meager flow filling only the line of maximum depth (thalweg). During
our visit, the riverbed at the site of the hypothetical crossing was shallow,
estimated at 1/3 m. The immediate width of the stream beneath the bridge was
about 5 m, and downstream, opposite the gentle banks, approximately 3 m.
According to the Book of Genesis, Jacob crossed a "stream" (Gen.
32:24). In the area of the preferred crossing, over a stretch of approximately
9 km, the river level drops from 227 to 314 m below sea level. Thus, the slope
gradient of the riverbed is about one degree. During the rainy season of 2014,
the Jabbok was a small, shallow river with a relatively swift current – indeed,
a stream of water. Downstream and upstream of the crossing, there were dense
thickets of bushes and trees (poplar, tamarisk, acacia) in places. This
indicated that for a long period, the width of the riverbed remained small. The
water in the river was turbid, brown in color, containing suspended clay, sand,
and organic matter. Based on indirect evidence, we determined that the riverbed
in this section is stony, with occasional large boulders. If similar conditions
existed in Old Testament times, Jacob could well have waded across the river with
small livestock.
According
to our calculations, 3/4 of the original caravan livestock remained in Jacob's
"two camps": no fewer than 600 female goats and as many female sheep,
60 rams and male goats, 90 female camels and an equal number of camel calves, 120
cows, 30 oxen (bulls), 60 female donkeys, and 30 donkey foals. Forcing the
river took place in two stages: first, Jacob's "camp" crossed the
stream with a quarter of the total livestock, numbering 560 head. The head of
the family was assisted by approximately five people. The second, reserve
"camp" crossed later, managed by no more than ten workers. During the
river crossing, Jacob directed the process and, apparently together with his
wives, led and carried small children across the river (Gen. 32:23, 34:3).
Accordingly, he had to force the stream repeatedly. Shuttle-crossing from bank
to bank, the patriarch ascended and descended the stony-sandy ground, in the
water and on the shore, stepping over wet boulders, and overcoming the current.
The
forcing of the watercourse took place at night (Gen. 32:23). The ford was
apparently illuminated by the moon, which alternated between appearing and
hiding behind the clouds. The weather in Jordan in November is rainy, and the
sky is frequently covered with low cloud cover. It could have
"draped" the moonlight, making it difficult to detect obstacles.
According to our hypothesis, while crossing from bank to bank in the dark, an
accident occurred with the prototype of Jacob. The patriarch misstepped or stumbled
either in the water or on the bank, or perhaps slipped on the wet ground.
Examining the northern bank, we discovered an unusual boulder with a defect
resembling part of a human left foot. This artifact was tentatively named the
"stumbling stone". Such a block could have caused the hip joint
injury to the unwary traveler.
According
to the authors, having completed the crossing, Jacob rests alone (Gen. 32:25).
For the remainder of the night, the injured man remains on the southern bank
near the ford. Today, several trees grow here, and farm buildings are located.
Downstream, along the river, there is a sparse growth of shrubs. The bank is
relatively steep, and the soil along the water is clay-sandy, sticky, with
occasional large stones. Upstream, active economic activity is conducted, which
complicates the reconstruction of the original landscape.
It
is assumed that the forcing of the water barrier occurred during the rainy
season. In this regard, Jacob rested under a tree or bush 10–20 m from the
water's edge. The authors do not report that the character pitched a tent. The
halt after the crossing was brief. By the time the sun rose, the caravan was
already moving (Gen. 32:32). From Jacob's account, one can imagine that the
injury was sustained under the described conditions in the "open air",
rather than in a temporary dwelling. He calls the place of injury "Peniel"
(Gen. 32:31). This toponym is mentioned for the first time, from which we
conclude that the authors attributed to Jacob priority in naming the location under
discussion. Nearby, there existed a settlement named "Penuel" (Gen.
32:32). It was later mentioned in biblical books as "Penuel" and
"Peniel". The exact location of the settlement has not been
established, but it appears in a number of Old Testament texts as being near
"Succoth" and the Jordan River (Judg. 8:4, 8–9, 17; 1 Kings 12:25).
An ancient Egyptian physician undoubtedly clarified the location of the injury and specified it in medical documentation. The entry might have read as follows: "according to the patient, the injury was sustained on the southern bank of the Jabbok River near Peniel". In our opinion, the accident actually occurred somewhat before the rest – namely during the crossing, on one of the banks or in the water. We have determined the location of the injury in the area of the bridge on the section of modern Highway 65 connecting the towns of Deir Alla and Muaddi. The approximate coordinates of the caravan's location after the crossing are 32°10'18.1" N, 35°37'09.4" E. This location is designated as the endpoint of the fifth, shortest leg of Jacob's journey up to the moment of the hip joint injury. Currently, the nearest settlement is Es-Sawalha, 200 m to the north, and 400 m to the south lies the small town of Muaddi. We assert that it was precisely here that the authors of the Book of Genesis implied the injuring of Jacob's prototype. Notably, all Hittite open-air sanctuaries were located near water sources, and springs and rivers were believed to provide natural purification (2002BryceT). A subtext of the events at the Jabbok River may lie here: the caravan of migrants from Asia performs a peculiar "purification" ritual as they approach Egypt.
We
believe that the prototype of Jacob undertook the crossing of the Jabbok River
near the coordinates 32°10'19.9" N, 35°37'09.7" E, with a potential
margin of error of approximately 20 m. The only main north-south highway,
Highway 65, passes through this area. Running parallel to the west is the
Jordan River. To the east of the highway lies the difficult-to-traverse
Jordanian Highlands, comprising the Jebel Ajloun and Balqa sections.
We
believe that Jacob traversed this path and crossed the Jabbok stream twice:
first en route to Haran, and second when returning home with his family from
Northern Mesopotamia (Gen. 28:10, 31:18). Biblical narratives indicate that
King Abner, David, Gideon, and the fleeing Midianite kings also traveled north
toward "Mahanaim" along this same route (Judg. 8:4, 8; 2 Sam. 2:29,
17:22, 24; 1 Kings 2:8). It is possible that the New Testament Jesus followed
this same route into "the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan",
departing from Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and reaching
Jericho (Matt. 19:1; Mark 9:33, 10:1, 46).
Above
the site of the assumed ford used by Jacob's prototype, a road bridge now
stands. It forms part of Highway 65, bypassing the Jordanian towns of Deir Alla
and Muaddi (Wadi Shaban, Mu'addi, Ma'addi). Inspection of the probable crossing
area revealed that the most favorable section of the riverbed lies beneath the
bridge. At this point, the northern bank is marked by a small incline 1–2 m
high, with sparse trees and shrubs growing at its edge. West of the overpass, a
gentle slope leads down to the water's edge today. Beneath the bridge, the
riverbed and banks are strewn with cobbles of various sizes over a width of
approximately 8–10 m. The opposite southern bank is smooth, gradually rising at
an angle of 15–20°.
The
soil on both banks consists of relatively firm ground: sand, gravel, and large
stones. Downstream, the shoreline is wet, muddy, clay-sandy, and difficult for
animals and people to navigate. Upstream to the east of the bridge, as far as
the eye can see, both the southern and northern banks are steep. It appears to
us that prior to the construction of the bridge crossing, the road on the banks
had a slight slope and was covered with gravel, allowing for a safe descent to
the water without sinking into the clay soil.
A
key stage of Jacob's journey was the crossing of the Jabbok River (Gen. 32:23).
The sequence of actions before and after the crossing is described in
considerable detail in the Book of Genesis. Here, as in no other place in the
narrative, there are numerous time-of-day reference points. After the
messengers return, Jacob sends a "present" to his brother and goes to
sleep "that night in the camp" (Gen. 32:22). It then states: "he
arose that night … and crossed the ford of the Jabbok", as well as
"…he took them over the stream" (Gen. 32:23–24). Then it says:
"a man wrestled with him until the breaking of day" (Gen. 32:25).
During the struggle, "day broke" (Gen. 32:27). When Jacob passed
"Penuel", the "sun rose upon him" (Gen. 32:32). Upon
completing the meeting with his brother, "Esau returned that day on his
way unto Seir" (Gen. 33:16).
It
has been noted that "it is better to send a caravan on its way before dawn
at 3 a.m.", move until 9 a.m., then rest, and continue movement after 4
p.m. (1964ЛакозаИИ_ЩегинВА). The prototype of Jacob apparently
acted similarly. During his lifetime, portable timepieces did not exist.
Ancient humans used the movements of the stars, moon, and sun as time
indicators. Jacob was a descendant of representatives of the Sumerian
civilization. The Sumerians divided the year into two seasons – summer and
winter, the latter beginning in September–October, while the months (strictly
lunar) lasted 29–30 days. The day was counted from sunset and lasted 12 double
hours, while the night was divided into three watches of four hours each (2002КрамерС).
In
biblical texts, which in our opinion were composed in the Iron Age, night
periods were called "watches", which had a "beginning"
(Lam. 2:19; Judg. 7:19). It is logical to assume that they also had an
"end". The first watch began at sunset and lasted until approximately
10 p.m.; the second watch ended at 2 a.m.; and the third continued until
sunrise (1908–1913КацельсонъЛ_ГинцбургъДГ).
According to the Book of Judges, Gideon attacks the "camp of Midian"
"at the beginning of the middle watch" (Judg. 7:19). During the
Israelites' crossing of the sea "in the morning watch", the Egyptian
army is thrown into confusion (Exod. 14:24). Saul's warriors smite the
Ammonites "in the morning watch" (1 Sam. 11:11).
According
to the established tradition of Jewish communities, as was once the case with
the Sumerians, a new day begins at sunset. Before the crossing, Jacob lay down
to rest (Gen. 32:22). According to our reconstruction, this took place
tentatively on Sunday, November 19, 1640 BCE. Apparently, he dines late in the
evening, gives instructions, and goes to sleep immediately after evening
twilight. The sun disappears from the firmament, and the count of the next day
begins. As noted above, the city closest to the crossing point of the Jabbok
River today is Deir Alla. According to the sunrise and sunset calendar, on
November 19, 2021, the sun dipped below the horizon at this location at 4:35
p.m., and evening twilight faded at 5:01 p.m. It is reasonable to assume that
at this time the caravan "falls asleep" before the upcoming crossing.
Jacob's
prototype rests after a grueling day during the "first watch" of the
night until 10 p.m. Then the leader awakens his companions, who begin to break
camp. Tents are folded and loaded with belongings onto pack animals, while
herds are concentrated in parallel. This activity could have been illuminated
by the moon. According to our observations during the expedition to Jordan,
during a full moon with light cloudiness, moonlight is sufficiently bright and
even casts a clearly visible shadow behind objects. Preparations, aligning the
caravan formations, and instructing workers took place "at the beginning
of the middle watch" – that is, at the same time Gideon acted when
attacking the "camp of Midian" (Judg. 7:19). In modern timekeeping,
this corresponds to the interval from 10 p.m. to midnight. After this, Jacob,
along with his family and livestock, wades across the river (Gen. 32:23–24). We
believe the crossing took place during the "middle watch",
specifically before 2 a.m.
The exact date and time of crossing the Jabbok stream are not specified in our primary source. According to the Book of Jubilees, crossing this water barrier occurs "in the ninth month, on the eleventh day" in the seventh year of the fourth week of the forty-fourth jubilee, which corresponds to the year 2135 from the creation of the world (1913CharlesRH). Converting this to the Gregorian calendar yields Monday, November 20, 1626 BCE. According to the Hebrew calendar, this date belongs to the ninth month of the year, called Kislev. According to our calculations and collation of facts, forcing the Jabbok River took place on the same day, but 14 years earlier, in 1640 BCE.
[iv]
In
our opinion, the crossing of the stream took place from midnight to two o'clock.
Forcing the river could have taken a couple of hours, and during the remaining final
third of the night, in the "morning watch", the caravan was already
standing on the southern bank of the Jabbok River. At this time, Jacob rests
alone (Gen. 32:25). According to the Book of Genesis, during this period his
hip joint is injured (Gen. 32:26). More precisely, it is apparent from the text
that the joint is damaged at the very end of the night. This moment is
described by the words "until the breaking of day" (Gen. 32:25). By
the time "day broke", the hip joint injury had already occurred (Gen.
32:26).
Having
completed the crossing, Jacob was in the immediate vicinity of the Jabbok
River, on the southern bank. Using the method of analogy, one can approximately
understand at what time the night ended and the sun rose on the presumed day of
the injury. In Deir Alla, the largest city nearest to the ford across the
Jabbok, the night of November 20, 2021, ended with morning twilight at 5:44
a.m., after which dawn began. The sun rose on that day 27 minutes later – at
6:11 a.m. This means that morning twilight began approximately a quarter of an
hour (16 minutes) before 6:00 a.m. o'clock in the morning. If one follows the
text of the primary source literally, Jacob sustains the injury immediately
before morning twilight, approximately at 5:43 a.m. Thomas Mann in his work
Joseph and His Brothers refers to this time as "the hour of the
Jabbok" (2004МаннТ).
According
to the Book of Jubilees, Jacob departed for Haran in the first year of the
second week of the forty-fourth jubilee, and returned to "Gilead" in
the seventh year of the fourth week, crossing the Jabbok in the ninth month on
the eleventh day of that same year (1913CharlesRH). Based on the foregoing, an
ancient Egyptian physician compiling Jacob's "medical history" could
have written: according to the patient, he was injured by an angel at the end
of the morning watch of the night, before the breaking of day, in the ninth
month, on the eleventh day of the seventh year of the fourth week of the
forty-fourth jubilee. In accordance with the Hebrew calendar, everything
occurred in the year 2,135 from the creation of the world (1913CharlesRH).
The
year the injury was sustained could also have been determined according to
Egyptian chronology, based on the accession date of one of the pharaohs. It
seems that Jacob's medical chart was filled out by a doctor serving at the
court of the rulers of the 15th Dynasty (the Great Hyksos), or less likely, the
16th Dynasty (the Lesser Hyksos). The "shepherd kings" ruled in
northern Egypt between 1640 and 1532 BCE. At approximately the same time, the
17th Dynasty reigned from 1640 to 1550 BCE, following the earlier 13th and 14th
Dynasties (2002BunsonMR).
Unfortunately, the regnal periods of many pharaohs of these dynasties are not known with certainty. From our perspective, it is unlikely that the "medical history" contained a reference to rival rulers of the Upper Nile from the 13th, 14th, or 17th Dynasties. Among the Hyksos rulers, the most acceptable candidate is Pharaoh Salitis of the 15th Dynasty, who occupied the throne for 19 years (1992RedfordDB). In our opinion, an ancient Egyptian doctor could have dated Jacob's injury to the first year of Salitis's reign. This would also have been preferable if the authors of the Book of Genesis invented the plot of the struggle at the Jabbok stream solely for readers among the Hyksos. The date proved to be clearly verifiable and coincided with the beginning of a "new era" in Egypt. It was then that Jacob received the blessing that would later be passed to the Pharaoh, Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh (Gen. 32:30, 47:7, 10, 48:15–20). Near 1640 BCE, Pharaoh Sekhemre-Wadjkhaw Rahotep of the Theban 17th Dynasty ascended the throne, coexisting peacefully with the Hyksos, though the exact dates of his reign are not established (2002BunsonMR).
Analyzing
the narrative, we come to the realization that in the final minutes of the
night, "at the end of the morning watch" before dawn, Jacob merely
realized the injury he had sustained earlier. The direct trauma to the hip
joint occurs during the second part of the night, at the conclusion of the
"middle watch". In modern timekeeping, this corresponds to the first
two hours after midnight. It is more likely that Jacob suffered the injury
closer to two o'clock in the morning. We think so because by that time he had
already completed all the work of transporting his family and property
"across the stream". At the end of his labors, attention dulled,
fatigue took its toll, compounded by lack of sleep the night before, anxiety
before meeting his brother, expectation of a potential attack, the dark time of
day, concern for the safety of belongings and livestock, and naturally, anxiety
for the health of his children and wives while wading across the Jabbok (Gen.
32:23–24). At least, this is how it might appear to a critically minded reader
of our primary source.
The
crossing takes place in November during the "winter" period, which in
Jordan lasts through April with an average daily temperature of around 13 °C
(2011Oxford_Business_Group). The rainy season begins in October and continues
through May, with 80% of precipitation falling from December to March
(2011BlackE_MithenS). During the 2016–2017 rainy season, 281 mm of
precipitation fell in the area of Deir Alla (2017Dep._of_Meteorol). Undertaking
an expedition to the Jabbok River in November 2014, we noted cool weather with
periodic downpours.
As
an example, one can cite the warning map text from the Jordan Meteorological
Department for November 20, 2021: risk of torrential rain in valleys and
lowlands in the north and center of the Kingdom, risk of slipping on roads
during rain, danger of poor horizontal visibility due to low clouds touching
the Earth's surface and fog formation over mountain heights. Regarding the
weather, it stated: in a day a drop in temperature is observed, relatively
cold, partly cloudy to cloudy weather prevails, with occasional downpours in
the north and center of the Kingdom and parts of the southern and eastern
regions; rainfall is expected to be heavy at times for limited durations in the
north of the Kingdom and parts of the central-western regions, occasionally
accompanied by thunder and hail, with moderate southwesterly winds that will be
active at times. Night: cold and partly cloudy weather, with possible downpours
in the north and center of the Kingdom, while moderate rainfall may occur in
southern regions and parts of eastern regions, possibly accompanied by
thunderstorms and moderate northwesterly winds, active at times (from jometeo.gov.jo).
An
illustrative example is the actual weather in Deir Alla: on November 19, 2021,
during the day it was sunny; in the evening, around 6 p.m., rain fell and
resumed after midnight. The moon rose at 4:41 p.m. in a waning phase. Sunset
occurred at 4:35 p.m., and illumination was 90%. On November 20, 2021, rain
fell almost continuously with precipitation of 0.1–2.8 mm per hour, accompanied
by thunderstorms. Nighttime temperatures between midnight and 6 a.m. fluctuated
between 19 and 20 °C, and daytime temperatures between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. ranged
from 19 to 25 °C. The sun rose at 6:11 a.m., and moonset was recorded at 6:58
a.m. Nighttime winds were 6 to 15 km/h, daytime up to 20 km/h with gusts up to
30 km/h, and humidity ranged from 57 to 71%. Cloud cover was variable,
predominantly rain clouds, reaching up to 100% at times with rare clearings.
Atmospheric pressure at the beginning of the day was 1013 mbar (approx. 760
mmHg), dropping to 1010 mbar during the day and rising to 1011 mbar by evening.
Visibility was described as good to excellent, with illumination at 83% (from worldweatheronline.com ; arabiaweather.com).
Inclement
weather was caused by a cyclone moving in from the Mediterranean Sea. In the
middle of the day on November 20, 2021, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., a cold front
passed over the site of the Jacob caravan's presumed crossing. We drew this
conclusion based on a decrease in air temperature, a shift in wind direction with
gusts up to 39 km/h, and a drop in atmospheric pressure combined with
increasing cloud cover.
Such
climatic conditions – and therefore wet soil, slippery grass, and damp boulders
– could have complicated the river crossing. Precipitation inevitably raised
the water level and increased current velocity, making wading across more
difficult. The danger of being swept away and injured by falling onto stones
increased. General apprehension, inclement weather, nighttime conditions, and a
swift stream undoubtedly lengthened the duration of the crossing. Therefore,
the injury is dated to approximately two o'clock in the morning on Monday,
November 20, 1640 BCE (Gen. 32:23–24). From our point of view, on that specific
date and time, the prototype of the literary Jacob indeed experienced a
"dislocation of the hip joint" (Gen. 32:26). At least, that is what
the authors of the Book of Genesis wished us to believe.
The
circumstances of the injury and the time it occurred were elicited by the
ancient Egyptian physician directly from the patient himself. According to his
account, the injury was inflicted during a mystical struggle at approximately
5:43 a.m. This time appears to have been indicated in the "medical records",
in the "injury history" (anamnesis) section recorded while
questioning the victim. At the same time, the medical practitioner could have
added a note to the chart reflecting his expert opinion: it cannot be ruled out
that earlier, at the end of the middle watch of the night, an accident
resulting in an injury to the hip joint had taken place.
A
preliminary analysis of the facts indicates that Jacob sustained the injury
while wading across the Jabbok stream, rather than in a night struggle with an
angel (Gen. 32:23–26). The crossing took place "during the middle watch of
the night", tentatively between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., corresponding by
modern convention to the night of November 19–20. It is more likely that the
traumatic event occurred after midnight, at approximately two o'clock in the
morning on November 20, 1640 BCE. According to our hypothesis, closer to two
o'clock in the morning, during the darkest hour of the night, a sudden,
unintended, brief traumatic incident resulted in damage to the hip joint of
Jacob's prototype.
The
accident occurred while crossing the water barrier on foot. The primary source
draws attention to this circumstance. In it, we read that Jacob personally
"took" his wives, children, and female servants "and crossed the
ford of the Jabbok", and that he himself "took them over the
stream" along with all that he had (Gen. 32:24–25). As becomes clear to
us, Jacob does not cross the river riding an animal (a camel or a donkey) or in
a wagon. With these modes of transportation under nighttime conditions with
limited visibility, the probability of injury is significantly lower. The
patriarch traverses the Jabbok on foot, explicitly caring for the safety of his
property and livestock, but above all for his "four wives and twelve
children" (Gen. 32:23). The text specifies the number of sons (the twelfth
is born later) and omits mention of his daughter Dinah (Gen. 34:1, 35:16–18,
23). All this implies multiple crossings through the water carrying luggage or
a child in his arms in the dark and in haste – which, from our point of view, served
as the most critical prerequisites for the accident.
We date the completion of the crossing in the middle of the night – specifically after two o'clock in the morning on November 20, 1640 BCE – as the end of the fifth stage of Jacob's journey from Haran to Canaan. Geographically, its terminus lies on the southern bank of the Jabbok (Zarqa) River beyond the bridge on present-day Highway 65. The approximate coordinates of the caravan's location after the crossing are 32°10'18.1" N, 35°37'09.4" E, situated between the modern settlements of Es-Sawalha and Muaddi in the Kingdom of Jordan.
Title & Contents / Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14 / Chapter 15 / Chapter 16 / Chapter 17 / Chapter 18 / Chapter 19 / Chapter 20 / Chapter 21 / Chapter 22 / Chapter 23 / Chapter 24 / Chapter 25 / References / Notes
Russian-language version:
Титул и оглавление / Глава 1 / Глава 2 / Глава 3 / Глава 4 / Глава 5 / Глава 6 / Глава 7 / Глава 8 / Глава 9 / Глава 10 / Глава 11 / Глава 12 / Глава 13 / Глава 14 / Глава 15 / Глава 16 / Глава 17 / Глава 18 / Глава 19 / Глава 20 / Глава 21 / Глава 22 / Глава 23 / Глава 24 / Глава 25 / Список литературы
Author of the publication
Arkhipov S.V. – Independent Researcher, MD, PhD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Medical Writer, Finland.
Correspondence: Sergey Arkhipov, e-mail: archipovsv @ gmail.com
Publication history
October 23, 2026 - online version of the book is published.
Suggested citation
Arkhipov S.V. Medical Record: The Contribution of a Middle Bronze Age Egyptian Physician to the Book of Genesis. Chapter 14. About the round ligament of the femur. October 23, 2026. https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2026/10/medical-record-chapter-14.html
Note
Keywords
hip joint, hip dislocation, osteoarthritis, ligament of the head of femur, ligamentum teres, ligamentum capitis femoris, Minoan Eruption, Bronze Age, Ancient Medicine, Ancient Egypt, Edwin Smith Papyrus, Biblical Chronology, Genesis, Genesis Protograph, Bereshit
NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7
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