What’s a “scarab,” anyway?
A scarab is a small, beetle-shaped object, inscribed with a reverse image of a name or personally identifiable symbol. Typically, the seal would be attached to a ring, allowing the wearer to imprint the name onto clay or wax. They functioned something like a notary stamp does nowadays, and were only owned and used by very important people.
Jacob El Scarabs
Inscribed scarab seals, primarily containing names of kings, officials, and others in positions of power, can be extremely useful in identifying particular time periods. Name usage and popularity changed over time in the ancient world, just as it does today. Therefore, the emergence and popularity of certain names often illuminates historical periods and chronologies. For example, many scarab seals discovered in both Egypt and Canaan contain the names of rulers mentioned in the Bible.
For example, at present we know of 27 scarab seals bearing the name “Yaqob” (Jacob) and the element “EI” (perhaps meaning “protected by God”) that have been unearthed in Egypt, Canaan, and Nubia dating to around 1800— 1600 BC.
These inscriptions are important for two reasons. First, they show that the name Yaqob/Jacob was used in Canaan and Egypt during the time of the Jacob known from Genesis around the 18th century BC. Second, even though the scarabs themselves probably did not belong to the Biblical patriarch, they are still significant because the name Yaqob/Jacob was not in common usage either before or after the time of the patriarchs. This demonstrates that the narratives in Genesis accurately reflect the historical usage of this name.
The Sheshi Scarabs
Other scarabs possibly connected to Joseph and his time in Egypt are those of the 14th Dynasty king or pharaoh named Sheshi. Sheshi ruled for around 40 years during the 18th and 17th centuries BC. Archaeologists have discovered a great deal of information about this pharaoh, often referred to as Maaibre Sheshi. In fact, they’ve discovered more about him than any other pharaoh of the second Intermediate Period. There are 396 currently known Sheshi seals, found throughout Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Nubia, and Canaan. This implies great power and authority, and indicates widespread influence, not just regional jurisdiction.
One fascinating footnote. there is evidence for a long famine in Egypt soon after Sheshi’s reign. Based on the time period of his rule, the famine that followed, and evidence that Semites served in the Egyptian government at the time, it is possible that Sheshi was the unnamed pharaoh under whom Joseph served.
