Geographical and Historical Context:
Elephantine is an island located in the Nile River, near the modern city of Aswan in southern Egypt. It served as a strategic military and trade outpost due to its position at the first cataract of the Nile, marking the traditional boundary between Egypt and Nubia. The island was known for its granite quarries and played a significant role in ancient Egyptian history.

Biblical Significance:
While Elephantine is not directly mentioned in the Bible, its historical and archaeological significance provides valuable context for understanding the Jewish diaspora in Egypt during the biblical period. The Elephantine Papyri, a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts discovered on the island, offer insights into the life and religious practices of a Jewish community living there during the 5th century BC.

The Elephantine Jewish Community:
The Jewish community at Elephantine is believed to have been established by Jewish mercenaries who served in the Persian army. This community maintained a temple dedicated to Yahweh, which coexisted with the worship of other deities, reflecting a syncretistic environment. The existence of this temple is particularly noteworthy, as it provides evidence of Jewish worship practices outside of Jerusalem during the time of the Second Temple.

Religious Practices and Conflicts:
The Elephantine Papyri reveal that the Jewish community observed Passover and other traditional Jewish customs, albeit with some variations. The documents also record a conflict with the local Egyptian priests, which led to the destruction of the Jewish temple around 410 BC. The community sought assistance from Jerusalem and Samaria to rebuild their temple, highlighting the interconnectedness of Jewish communities across the ancient world.

Relevance to Biblical Studies:
The Elephantine Papyri contribute to our understanding of the Jewish diaspora and the diversity of Jewish religious practices during the Persian period. They provide a backdrop for interpreting biblical texts that address the challenges faced by Jews living outside the land of Israel. The papyri also shed light on the historical context of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which describe the return of exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple.

Cultural and Archaeological Insights:
Archaeological excavations on Elephantine have uncovered artifacts and structures that illustrate the daily life and multicultural interactions on the island. The findings include remnants of the Jewish temple, residential buildings, and inscriptions in Aramaic, the lingua franca of the Persian Empire. These discoveries enhance our understanding of the cultural and religious dynamics in Egypt during the biblical era.

Scriptural Connections:
While Elephantine itself is not mentioned in the Bible, the broader theme of Jewish communities living in Egypt is reflected in several biblical passages. For instance, the prophet Jeremiah warned the Jewish exiles in Egypt about the consequences of their disobedience (Jeremiah 44:1-14). Additionally, the presence of Jewish communities in Egypt is acknowledged in the New Testament, as seen in the account of the Holy Family's flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15).

Conclusion:
The study of Elephantine and its Jewish community provides a richer understanding of the historical and religious landscape during the biblical period. The Elephantine Papyri serve as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Jewish communities living in the diaspora, offering valuable insights into their faith and practices amidst diverse cultural influences.(a.) Pertaining to the elephant, or resembling an elephant (commonly, in size); hence, huge; immense; heavy; as, of elephantine proportions; an elephantine step or tread.ELEPHANTINE

el-e-fan-ti'-ne.

See SEVENEH.

1661. elephantinos -- of ivory
... of ivory. From elephas (an "elephant"); elephantine, ie (by implication) composed
of ivory -- of ivory. (elephantinon) -- 1 Occurrence. 1660, 1661. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1661.htm - 6k

The End of Cambyses.
... Smerdis."Jealousy of Cambyses."The two magi."Cambyses suspicious."He plans an
invasion of Ethiopia."Island of Elephantine."The Icthyophagi ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter ii the end of.htm

Synod at Ephesus against Nestorius. His Deposition.
... by his pathetic entreaty that the imperial authorities would not be less merciful
than the barbarians, ordered some soldiers to convey him to Elephantine. ...
/.../chapter xxxiv synod at ephesus against.htm

Editor's Preface
... At Elephantine, I found, a short time since, on a granite boulder, an inscription
of Khufuankh"whose sarcophagus of red granite is one of the most beautiful ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 1/editors preface.htm

History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 5
... reign -- The great building works -- The temples of Nubia: Soleb and his sanctuary
built by Amenothes III, Gebel Barkal, Elephantine -- The beautifying of ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 5/title page.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... Delta, the inhabitants of the marshes"Memphis, its monuments, its population"Travels
in Upper Egypt: the Fayum, Khemmis, Thebes, Elephantine"The apparent ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of.htm

Volume ii. , Part B. The Memphite Empire
... Shaitu and the country of Tiba"Metesuphis I. and the second Papi: progress of the
Egyptian power in Nubia"the lords of Elephantine; Hirkhuf, Papinakhiti ...
/.../volume ii part b the.htm

The Christian View of the Old Testament
... Devotional literature, 17 f., 242 f. Divine element, 26 ff. Doctrinal value, 257
f. Ecclesiastes, 250 f. Elephantine, 141. Eponym lists, 153. Esarhaddon, 140. ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/index 2.htm

It is the Same in the Case of Girls. ...
... the populace in the popular education. There is nothing but plodding,
elaborate, elephantine imitation. And just as in the case ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 41 it is the.htm

Episcopal Conspirators
... It was Maruthas, Bishop of Mesopotamia. He was a man of slouching gait
and elephantine proportions, who wore heavy boots. Cyrinus ...
/.../chapter xlv episcopal conspirators.htm

But, that we May not Pass Without Notice what Celsus Has Said ...
... a part of Egypt, which was watered by the inundation of the Nile, and that those
were Egyptians who dwell to the south of the city of Elephantine, and drink of ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxxiv but that we.htm

Elephantine
... (a.) Pertaining to the elephant, or resembling an elephant (commonly, in size);
hence, huge; immense; heavy; as, of elephantine proportions; an ...ELEPHANTINE. ...
/e/elephantine.htm - 6k

Sanballat (10 Occurrences)
... been awakened in Sanballat from the fact that he is mentioned in the papyri I and
II of Sachau (Die aramaischen Papyrusurkunden aus Elephantine, Berlin, 1908 ...
/s/sanballat.htm - 14k

Dispersion (4 Occurrences)
... papyri were discovered in 1904, and a year or two later, additional papyri were
discovered in a mound which stands on the site of the ancient Elephantine or Yeb ...
/d/dispersion.htm - 44k

Cambyses
... king under the claim that he was "Barzia, the son of Cyrus and brother of Cambyses."
The name of Cambyses is found in three of the Elephantine papyri recently ...
/c/cambyses.htm - 12k

Aramaic (12 Occurrences)
... Peculiarities 6. Comparison of Aramaic of Sinjirli with That of Bible 7. Comparison
of Aramaic of Assouan with That of Daniel 8. Elephantine Papyri 9 ...
/a/aramaic.htm - 31k

Sanctuary (250 Occurrences)
... The Altar of God's House (5) Local Altars in Deuteronomy 4. The Alternative View
(1) Lay Sacrifice (2) Three Pilgrimage Festivals 5. The Elephantine Papyri The ...
/s/sanctuary.htm - 63k

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... It is certain, however, that he was no longer governor in 407 BC; for at that time
according to the Aramaic letter written from Elephantine to the priests of ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Number (2370 Occurrences)
... that these or similar signs were known to the Jews, but actual proof was not
forthcoming until the discovery of Jewish papyri at Assuan and Elephantine in 1904 ...
/n/number.htm - 40k

Papyrus (4 Occurrences)
... 3. Aramaic Papyri: In very recent years (1898, 1904, 1907) several Aramaic papyri
have been found on the Island of Elephantine, just below the First Cataract ...
/p/papyrus.htm - 34k

Language (112 Occurrences)
... Peculiarities 6. Comparison of Aramaic of Sinjirli with That of Bible 7. Comparison
of Aramaic of Assouan with That of Daniel 8. Elephantine Papyri 9 ...
/l/language.htm - 101k

What is a Samaritan? | GotQuestions.org

Elephantine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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