The pyramids were grain silos! More wisdom from Ben carson.

[Xalith]

As I said, there is zero archaeological evidence to support the claim that millions of Hebrews lived in a ten square mile piece of desert for forty years. None.

Who said Millions?

The only actual figure I can find in the Bible is in Exodus 12:37 where ~600,000 people (plus children) left the land of Ramses and journeyed to Succoth.

Once they got to Sinai, a lot of them died in the whole Molten Calf incident and they wandered the wilderness, and such. Where are you getting the "Millions" of Hebrews at? The word "Million" is never used in the KJV version of the Bible, except for in Genesis, and that's in a prophecy.

Also, I'll point out that the region where Mt. Sinai is believed to be by some is in a region that is not open to the public, and it is fenced off, in a mountain range in Saudi Arabia, so it isn't like we can actually get there and do some actual archaeology.

EDIT: Numbers 1:46 says the total Population of Israel (excluding Levites) was 603,550 before they began their 40 year wandering in the desert.

EDIT2: Fun Fact: If you take a sheet of graph paper and assign a value for each square, and follow the directions in Numbers 2 and take the measurements of the tabernacle and set up a diagram, you get an almost-perfect cross formation. That's right, more than a thousand years before Jesus was to be crucified, the Bible predicts the Cross. Keep in mind that Numbers was part of the Torah, which was written way before Christ and the New Testament came around.

This explains it better.

 

[Armoured]

Let's not even get into the ridiculous numbers of Christians who base their theology off of a movie made in Hollywood that was loosely based upon Scripture and History.

How many Christians can actually recite the story of Moses as it appears in the Bible, and NOT as it appears in Cecil DeMille's The Ten Commandments? Not saying that Mr. DeMille's movie is bad or anything, but if he had stuck with pure Scripture, the movie would not have been anywhere near as dramatic or interesting. He took some artistic liberties while keeping the general spirit of the story.

I bet there are also some unbelievers out there who assume that the movie's depiction of Moses and the Exodus is the "true" one, too.

I think many of us would be pretty concerned if we knew just how much common "Biblical" knowledge is actually from pop culture, generally.

 

[timewerx]

Ben Carson reaffirms his belief that the pyramids were built as grain silos by Joseph.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...pyramids-were-grain-stores-not-pharoahs-tombs

There is comparatively little empty space inside the pyramids. That's a grossly inefficient means to store grains....

A huge engineering marvel for a few grains?? It's like saying those who built the pyramids are the smartest dumb persons in history...

Would have made much more sense if the pyramids are some sort of "above ground" bunker.

My own theory is that their nearly watertight construction may have been utilized to save a few people from the great flood and would have withstood enormous amounts of pressure from a very deep flood.

 

[Goonie]

There is comparatively little empty space inside the pyramids. That's a grossly inefficient means to store grains....

A huge engineering marvel for a few grains?? It's like saying those who built the pyramids are the smartest dumb persons in history...

Would have made much more sense if the pyramids are some sort of "above ground" bunker.

My own theory is that their nearly watertight construction may have been utilized to save a few people from the great flood and would have withstood enormous amounts of pressure from a very deep flood.

Except the pyramids show no evidence of such flooding, and remember if your going for the literal version of the flood, the only survivors were Noah and his family. The pyramids are what they seem, great monuments/tombs to dead pharaohs who were seen by themselves and their subjects as gods.

 

[AV1611VET]

Ben Carson reaffirms his belief that the pyramids were built as grain silos by Joseph.

Sounds plausible.

Any reason they couldn't have been?

I've looked around on the Net, and so far all I see is the equivalent of: "That's a silly idea."

Does anyone have anything concrete to offer as to why I should think otherwise?

 

[Goonie]

Sounds plausible.

Any reason they couldn't have been?

I've looked around on the Net, and so far all I see is the equivalent of: "That's a silly idea."

Does anyone have anything concrete to offer as to why I should think otherwise?

Lack of storage, massive over build, writing on the tomb walls spelling out what the pyramid was for
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Texts

 

[Goonie]

Doublepost

 

[Goonie]

Triple post

 

[Armoured]

Lack of storage, massive over build, writing on the tomb walls spelling out what the pyramid was for
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Texts

Fascinating! I'd never heard of theses before.

 

[029b10]

Lack of storage, massive over build, writing on the tomb walls spelling out what the pyramid was for
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Texts

Can you read the actually read writing on the wall?

Are you sure it doesn't say that reason obeys itself while ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.

Here's a picture of the Pyramid you cited contained the writings on the tomb wall.

 

[AV1611VET]

Lack of storage, massive over build, writing on the tomb walls spelling out what the pyramid was for

Let's look at it in the context:

1. The famine that God sent was preceded by seven years of plenty throughout Egypt.

Genesis 41:46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
Genesis 41:48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
Genesis 41:49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

So Joseph built the pyramids as silos to store all the grain.

Keep in mind that this was a one-time occurrence -- a miracle from God -- that occurred during only seven years of Earth's history; and was never repeated.

2. Following the years of plenty, came seven years of famine.

Genesis 41:53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
Genesis 41:54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
Genesis 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
Genesis 41:56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Again, keep in mind that this was a one-time occurrence -- a miracle from God -- that occurred during only seven years of Earth's history; and was never repeated.

So now that the silos have been built, filled, then emptied -- and their purpose has been fulfilled -- never to be repeated on that scale again -- what to do with them?

Simple.

Use them as edifices for something else.

Like tombs.

Go inside of them and remodel them to be used as tombs now, instead of silos.

Write instructions on the wall, or do whatever you want with them.

Their purpose has been fulfilled; either dismantle them, or use them for something else.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Texts

From that link:

The spells, or "utterances", of the pyramid texts are primarily concerned with protecting the pharaoh's remains, reanimating his body after death, and helping him ascend to the heavens, which are the emphasis of the afterlife during the Old Kingdom. The spells delineate all of the ways the pharaoh could travel, including the use of ramps, stairs, ladders, and most importantly flying. The spells could also be used to call the gods to help, even threatening them if they did not comply.

So what?

The pyramids are now being used to further their religious beliefs.

Remember what happened to the Serpent in the Wilderness, after its purpose was fulfilled?

2 Kings 18:4 [Hezekiah] removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

 

[029b10]

Sounds plausible.

Any reason they couldn't have been?

I've looked around on the Net, and so far all I see is the equivalent of: "That's a silly idea."

Does anyone have anything concrete to offer as to why I should think otherwise?

I got Pharaoh's compass which allow him to align the Pyramids of Giza with each side facing a cardinal point.
Pretty impressive since the magnetic compass wasn't invented until 2 BC.


I thought I saw one post that might have already mentioned it the reason already, but they were primarily built for defence, and could serve a number of
different uses, but including storing limited amounts of perishable or grains but I seriously doubt that it would have been completely used for storage, since doing so would leave them vulnerable to inevitable defeat if attacked by superior numbers.

Watchmen could stand guard and see any approaching adversaries and thus warn the 'elites' who lived in the area of the
pyramids of coming trouble. Thus, they could enter the structure and and seal off the entrance which left the adversary on the
side of the pyramids.

But the brilliance was that Pharaoh's soldiers would be hiding in the belly of the Sphinx, which was an underground bunker
below the Sphinx. As the adversaries would climb up to sides of the pyramids to reach the entrances, unable to gain entrance they
would soon find themselves stuck without anywhere to go. Thus the Sphinx would spew out the soldiers hiding in its belly
and pin the adversaries on the sides, as they would try to descend the troops could come out from inside and spear them as they
were climbing down, or the soldiers on the ground could spear them as they tried to climb off. And in nothing else, they could simply wait
them out.

While I thought they were access shafts at the upper level of the pyramids, I can,t seem to be able find the documents that I had but from what I hear
they are going to being conducting some muon testing of the Pyramids in the near future to detect any hidden chambers or tunnels that might be sealed off,
the muon testing is like an x-ray but using the smaller muons that can pass through the stone easier.

But that's all I got and feel free to consider it all pure conjecture

 

[029b10]

Let's look at it in the context:


So Joseph built the pyramids as silos to store all the grain.

Did Joseph built them by his self? Didn't the Hebrews begin migrating into Egypt after Joseph.


Ex 1:1-7

1:1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

 

[AHH who-stole-my-name]

I would think that the need for graineries was non-stop. They would have been used as we use them every day of the year. I would think the priesthood would have need of them as well as the merchants to be held for commerce or food stuffs.

 

[Goonie]

Let's look at it in the context:

1. The famine that God sent was preceded by seven years of plenty throughout Egypt.

Genesis 41:46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
Genesis 41:48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
Genesis 41:49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.

So Joseph built the pyramids as silos to store all the grain.

Keep in mind that this was a one-time occurrence -- a miracle from God -- that occurred during only seven years of Earth's history; and was never repeated.

2. Following the years of plenty, came seven years of famine.

Genesis 41:53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
Genesis 41:54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
Genesis 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
Genesis 41:56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Again, keep in mind that this was a one-time occurrence -- a miracle from God -- that occurred during only seven years of Earth's history; and was never repeated.

So now that the silos have been built, filled, then emptied -- and their purpose has been fulfilled -- never to be repeated on that scale again -- what to do with them?

Simple.

Use them as edifices for something else.

Like tombs.

Go inside of them and remodel them to be used as tombs now, instead of silos.

Write instructions on the wall, or do whatever you want with them.

Their purpose has been fulfilled; either dismantle them, or use them for something else.From that link:So what?

The pyramids are now being used to further their religious beliefs.

Remember what happened to the Serpent in the Wilderness, after its purpose was fulfilled?

2 Kings 18:4 [Hezekiah] removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

Sorry AV, but the pyramids as grain silos is silly. Thee is no evidence that once built the insides were at anytime significantly modified, the pyramids never had the storage for grain. Archaeologists have found grain silos in Egypt, they are not the pyramids.

How much more absurd is it to believe that rather than building cheap grain silos, as have been found by archaeologists, the egyptians/Joseph chose to spend a massive chunk of Egypt resources on massive stone structures, with little storage facilities?

 

[Armoured]

I got Pharaoh's compass which allow him to align the Pyramids of Giza with each side facing a cardinal point.
Pretty impressive since the magnetic compass wasn't invented until 2 BC.

When did they invent the celestial north pole?

 

[Armoured]

But the brilliance was that Pharaoh's soldiers would be hiding in the belly of the Sphinx, which was an underground bunker
below the Sphinx. As the adversaries would climb up to sides of the pyramids to reach the entrances, unable to gain entrance they
would soon find themselves stuck without anywhere to go. Thus the Sphinx would spew out the soldiers hiding in its belly
and pin the adversaries on the sides, as they would try to descend the troops could come out from inside and spear them as they
were climbing down, or the soldiers on the ground could spear them as they tried to climb off. And in nothing else, they could simply wait
them out.

 

[Goonie]

Article from sciencealert.com on the pyramids
http://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-...ramids-were-built-to-store-pharaohs-not-grain

 

[JackRT]

The logistics problems entailed by an Exodus, as biblically described, are so formidable as to render it impossible. The bible suggests that 3 to 3.5 million people were involved. This would require 1500 tons of food daily and that would require two, mile long, freight trains daily. Who gre this food and where was it grown? That food needs to be cooked and that would require 4000 tons of wood daily to be carried by about six more mile long freight trains daily. Oh my, what about water? A conservative estimate is that 11,000,000 gallons were needed. To carry all this a train of tank cars 18 miles long would be required daily. The nightly camp would have to be roughly 750 square miles. Can you just imagine distributing all that food, wood and water in such a camp? For these reasons I believe that the bible account is mythological in nature. If there actually was an Exodus it must have been very much smaller --- perhaps a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of people. It also could have consisted of a number of these smaller migrations over several generations.

 

[Xalith]

The bible suggests that 3 to 3.5 million people were involved.

Scripture, please?

Both Exodus 12:37 and Numbers 1:46 say the number was ~600,000, NOT 3-3.5 million.