Joseph and seven years of famine...

[Bronzesnake]

This inscription was found on a marble tablet in a ruined fortress on the seashore of Hadramaut in present day Democratic Yemen. It has been dated to eighteen hundread years before the birth of Christ, a date that corresponds with the Biblical narrative about Jacob and his twelve sons.

 "We dwelt at ease in this castle a long tract of time;
nor had we a desire but for the region-lord of the vineyard.
Hundreads of camels returned to us each day at evening,
their eyes pleasant to behold in their resting places.
And twice the number of our camels were our sheep,
in comeliness like white does, and also the slow moving kine.
We dwelt in this castle seven years of good life - how difficult for memory it's description!
Then came years barren and burnt up:
When one evil year had passed away, then came another to suceed it.
And we became as though we had never seen a glimpse of good.
They died and neither foot nor hoof remained.
Thus fares it with him that renders no thanks to God:
His footsteps fail not to be blotted out from his dwelling.

 This next one is a Yemenite inscription about a famine during the time of Joseph. This ancient inscription reveals a Yemenite Arab noble woman's sincere complaint that she could not purchase Egypt's grain with her gold.

 "In thy name O God, the God of Hamyar, I Tajah, the daughter of Dzu Shefar, sent my steward to Joseph, and he delaying to return to me, I sent my hand maid with a measure of silver, to bring me back a measure of flour:
And not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of gold:
And not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of pearls:
And not being able to procure it, I commanded them to be ground:
And finding no profit in them, I am shut up here.
Whosoever may hear of it, let him commiserate me;
And should any woman adorn herself with an ornament from my ornaments, may she die with no other than my death.

[Ralph]

  Thanks for that, bronzesnake. Very interesting!

[Symphony]

Yes, this is interesting.

I started an archaeology thread here under Apologetics, but no one seemed interested in it.

I wonder when these inscriptions from Yemen were found?

[Whitehorse]

Wow. That is fascinating! Thanks for sharing.