ii. 275.

CHAPTER VII.

We learn from the inscriptions that Assurbani-pal succeeded Esar-haddon

as the Great Elamite King, and as we find him Brugsch, vol. engaged in conflict with Urdamaneh, the Cushite Pharaoh of Egypt, we may assure ourselves that the struggle for supremacy between the two rival races is as hotly contested as ever. Dr. Brugsch tells us that "A thick veil covers the ensuing times in which the Ethiopians occupy the foreground of Egyptian history." But when we recognise that these so-called. Ethiopians were the Cushites under the ancient house of Abraham, the veil is lifted and true history becomes revealed.

Ibid. 276.

The inscriptions inform us that Assurbani-pal's campaign against the Cushite Pharaoh Urdamaneh was a successful one, and as we find that Assur-bani-pal styles himself "King of Upper and Lower Egypt and Nubia," we can only conclude that

the flag of Elam now waved over every fortress from Elam to Napata. The Semitic race is now clearly dominant over the whole eastern empire; but their success is only short lived, for Psamethik I. succeeds, by the aid of his kindred, the I. Maccabees Lacedemonians, in securing supremacy in Egypt, and assumes the double crown, which might perhaps represent the crowns of the two rival races.

xii. 21.

Dr. Brugsch in- Brugsch, vol.

forms us that Psamethik's name belonged to the Ethiopic family, to which he most probably owed his success; so we may certainly follow him as a descendant of the Cushite house of David (i.e. Hirhor). His title, Son of the Sun, recalls his ancestors, Moses, Khuenaten, and David, who all bore a similar designation.

Let me again remind the reader when the Elamite Assyrians overthrew the dynasty of David (ie. Hirhor), and the elder branch of the royal family with their forces retired to Ethiopia, Solomon, David's youngest son, elected to take service under the Elamite flag.

It will be noticed that the priestly writers

ii. 235.

ii. 281.

have ingeniously obscured the elder branch of David's family by alluding to them as Ethiopians when they again come into power.

The inscriptions inform us that Hirhor (ie. David), was a prince of Cush, and as Psamethik was one of his lineal descendants, he must have secured his accession to the throne of Egypt under the Cushite flag.

Whatever claims Psamethik might have had to the throne, he settled the dispute Brugsch, vol. by marrying Shep-en-apet, the daughter and heiress of the Cushite Pharaoh Piankhi and his beautiful queen Ameniritis, which restored peace and order in the distracted relations of the royal succession. We must therefore understand that the Cushites had expelled the Elamite forces from Egypt, and Psamethik now ruled in undisputed sovereignty as the Cushite Pharaoh of the house of David (ie. Hirhor). I must leave it to students to reconcile conflicting dates, and will pass over Psamethik's undoubtedly glorious reign.

He is succeeded by Necho; and, as it would appear that Josiah was at this period. petty king of Judea and vassal to the great Elamite king, it becomes evident that neither Psamethik's nor Necho's rule, at this period, extended beyond Egypt.

The Pharaoh Necho carries his arms into Asia; and, as we might anticipate, he comes into conflict with Josiah; a battle is recorded at Megiddo, where Josiah is slain, and the Elamite forces are completely routed. The Pharaoh pushes on his victory; and, as we find him at Carchemish, which guarded the northern fords of the Euphrates, we may be certain that he had expelled the Elamite forces from Western Asia.

A great battle takes place at Carchemish between the Pharaoh Necho and the great Assyrian Elamite king. As this battle is recorded on the Egyptian monument we may assure ourselves that the victory rested with Necho; and, we may further surmise, that he not only took Carchemish, but Nineveh also, and planted his flag on the walls of Babylon.

The reader will probably consider this

II. Kings xxiii. 29.

II. Chron. xxxvi. 5.

a very daring assertion; but I still assert it with every confidence; for, as there were only two parties struggling for supremacy in the empire, it follows that if Nabopolassar, the great Elamite king, had to reconquer his kingdom, it must have previously been wrested from him by the Cushites. History, then, explains itself.

We learn from the records, that when the Cushite Pharaoh Necho returned from his victorious campaign, he appointed Jehoiakim as his vassal king of Judea. It is recorded that he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, which proves that the country was at peace during this period; and, as we learn that Nebuchadnezzar, the son of the great Elamite king, recovered Nineveh from the Cushites, and then took the fortress of Carchemish, it stands to reason that the successful campaign of the Pharaoh Necho was previous to these events; hence, we must conclude, that the fall of the Cushite power and the rise of Elam occurred during the reign of the Pharaoh Apries.

I am perfectly aware that this view discloses an entirely new historical phase, and