Approaching the Facsimiles of the Book of Abraham

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Approaching the Facsimiles of the Book of Abraham

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Summary: Joseph Smith's explanations of the Facsimiles of the Book of Abraham pose a conundrum for faithful students of the Book of Abraham: scholars of the Book of Abraham have no agreed-upon method for interpreting the explanations. This page outlines different approaches that students of the Facsimiles can take as they seek to interpret and provide evidence for the various explanations.

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1. The illustrations were original to Abraham

This approach suggests that we interpret the explanations by looking at how Egyptians in Abraham’s day, or Abraham himself, would have understood them. This approach is certainly the most straightforward way of approaching the Facsimiles. However, it is severely complicated by the fact that the Joseph Smith Papyri (the papyri that is extant today) dates to the Ptolemaic Period of Egyptian history.

Furthermore, hypocephali (like the one depicted in Facsimile 2) were not in use in Egypt until the Late Period lasting from 664 BC to 332 BC. This is long after Abraham is traditionally thought to have lived.

2. The illustrations were original to Abraham but were modified over time for use by the ancient Egyptians

This approach suggests that the illustrations we have, as preserved in the facsimiles, are much later and altered copies of Abraham’s originals. To interpret them, we should consider the underlying Abrahamic elements and compare them with the Egyptians' understanding of these images. This approach avoids some of the potential pitfalls of the first approach, but is complicated by the search for similar artwork that dates to the time of Abraham that was then altered by a sequence of later, Egyptian redactors.

The illustrations were connected to the Book of Abraham when the Joseph Smith Papyri were created in the Ptolemaic period (circa 300–30 BC). To interpret them we should look to what Egyptians of that time thought these drawings represent.

This is the approach suggested by Dr. John Gee, a Latter-day Saint Egyptologist. This approach can account for some but not all of the evidence that supports Joseph Smith's explanations.

The illustrations were connected to the Book of Abraham for the first time in the Ptolemaic period, but to interpret them we should look specifically to what Egyptian priests who were integrating Jewish, Greek, and Mesopotamian religious practices into native Egyptian practices would have thought about them

This is the approach taken by Dr. Kerry Muhlestein, another Latter-day Saint Egyptologist. This approach can also account for some but not all of the evidence that supports Joseph Smith's explanations.

The illustrations were connected to the Book of Abraham in the Ptolemaic period, but to interpret them we should look to how Jews of that era would have understood of them

This is the approach taken by Kevin Barney, a Latter-day Saint scholar and apologist. Barney's approach can likewise support some but not all of the evidence for Joseph Smith's explanations.

The illustrations were never part of the ancient text of the Book of Abraham, but instead were adapted by Joseph Smith to artistically depict the ancient text he revealed/translated

We can make sense of Joseph’s interpretations by expanding our understanding of his role as a “translator.” This approach is taken by Terryl L. Givens, a Latter-day Saint theologian, literary scholar, and historian.

This approach is complicated by the fact that Joseph Smith's explanations are, in many instances, consistent with how ancient people would have interpreted the same figures. Also, Joseph Smith seems to be pulling his explanations from the ancients themselves when he says things like "[o]ne day in Kolob is equal to a thousand years according to the measurement of this earth, which is called by the Egyptians Jah-oh-eh" (Fac. 2, Fig. 1). Thus, clearly Joseph Smith is not merely depicting his revealed text with the Facsimiles.

Interpreting Joseph Smith's Explanations

Intepretation is Not Always Clear. Depending on Intepretation, Ancient Support Increases or Decreases

Joseph Smith's explanations of the Facsimiles can be interpreted in different ways. Depending on how one interprets the explanations, the support for the explanation can become weaker or stronger.

Approaching Facsimile 2

Facsimile 2 is a particular kind of document. It is a copy of what is known as a hypocephalus.

Before we proceed with our commentary on Joseph Smith's explanations of Facsimile 2, there is a point that should be kept in mind.

Portions of Papyrus that Contained Facsimile 2 Were Missing When the Papyrus Arrived to Joseph Smith

The original hypocephalus was missing large portions when Joseph Smith originally received it. This is confirmed by a sketch of the hypocephalus that was likely done by Willard Richards.

Drawing showing how much of Facsimile 2 was likely extant before publication
(Image from the Joseph Smith Papers)

The missing parts of the hypocephalus correspond to Figures 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Those portions are highlighted portions of Facsimile 2.

Missing sections of Facsimile 2 and the "restorations" added before
publication (Click to enlarge)

Figure 1 may have had its heads restored by comparison to and copying of Figure 2.

Figure 3 appears to have been taken from Joseph Smih Papyri IX (see the bottom right corner of the papyrus, depicted below).

This figure on Joseph Smith Papyrus IV matches what was used
to fill in a missing section of Facsimile 2.

Figures 12–15 were taken from Joseph Smith Papyri XI. It is because of the removal of characters from JSP XI to the hypocephalus that the translation of these characters renders nonsense in the context of the hypocephalus.

Some question whether it could be a legitimate practice to "replace" several figures of the hypocephalus with figures from other papyri fragments. We'd argue "yes" for two reasons:

1. In the case of Figure 3, the same figure appears in the same spot on at least one other hypocephalus that Hugh Nibley was able to find.
2. With regards to Figures 12–15, Joseph Smith may have wanted to indicate that he did not translate Joseph Smith XI. That will be explained more below.
3. Joseph Smith's explanations of the figures, regardless of the figures' exact origins, have some striking earmarks of antiquity that we explore on our page commenting on Joseph Smith's explanations.