Thutmose I

The Life and Times of Pharaoh Thutmose I

Gathering the morsels of information on Thutmose I (Thothmes) - Checking the Revised Scenario

Thutmose I [010] became king of Egypt not as a son of the previous king but as a result of unknown circumstance. He was the son of an unknwon military man and a mother, whose name was Seniseneb, a name that is documented on the `Accession Announcement' of Turi, viceking of Nubia [100]. According to the Bible the name of David's father was Jesse the Ephrathite of Bethlehem, but the name of his mother is unknown.

Several considerations lead us to believe that Thutmose I was the alter ego of King David of Israel. In our search for the evidences of this king in Egypt we shall keep in mind this possible link between these two rulers. If the mummy of Thutmose I really is that of this king, the David-Thutmose I link would not seem to have existed. More recent mitochondrial DNA was analyzed and according to Scott R. Woodward, showed that Thutmose I was not of the maternal line of Amenhotep I. This research seems to support our view that the `mummy of Thutmose I' is not that of the king. On the other hand, if King David was Thutmose I he also would have nothing in common with hereditary traits of the royal family of Egypt.

"From the Horns of the Earth to the Marshes of Asia" - such were the boundaries of the Empire of Thutmose I. His southern border, possibly called `Horns of the Earth', was near Tombos where he built a fortified station. No doubt a reference to the `Marshes of Asia', places which were personified in Egypt [130], gives us pause for the identification of this king we contemplate at this website.

He refers to his realm using experessions we know from the Bible and in particular the Psalms of David:

Thutmose I

Israeli or Davidic Phrases

"He brought the ends of the earth under his domain." BRA, III, Sec. 73.

"... the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth" 1.Samuel 2:10;
"God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him." Psalms 67:7; 59:13; 72:8; 98:3.

And so Thutmose I, according to a 40.5 cm high fragment from a granite statue and its inscriptional evidence, had the epithet, `lord of the strong arm'. [150]

And appropriately according to the biblical text, King David wrote similarly in his `Song of degrees':

"O give thanks unto the God of gods ... To him that smote Egypt in their first born ... And brought out Israel from among them ... With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm; for his mercy endureth forever." Psalm 136:2-12.

The Military Campaigns

Campaigns of Thutmose I

Campaigns of King David

Much of the scenario on the military campaigns of the kings of the period is based on guesswork, i.e., since later on Ramses II fought a battle at Kadesh, the supposed location of Kadesh on the banks of the Orontes River, this location must have, prior to that battle, become a significant center in the Syrian territory. This way Thutmose I is regarded as being instrumental in establishing Riblah, the conventional Kadesh, without any evidence. The importance of Yamkhad, as the other, more important Syrian town, is not in doubt. If Thutmose I is the alter ego of king David, the latters Syrian campaigns are most likely those spoken of in the Egyptian records.

Following the Biblical scenario Yamkhad was a Syrian center of power and influence, the Egyptian Kadesh of the time of Thutmose III was Jerusalem and the Kadesh of the time of Ramses II was Carchemish on the banks of the Euphrates.

David fought the rulers of Mesopotamia as we explain in
Zimri Lim's Time and
Mesopotamia.

Reasons for Campaigns

The literature on Egypt will give reasons like "In Egypt the warrior image of the Middle Kingdom rulers attests to the love of battle for its own sake, and in the New Kingdom it persists, principally during the reign of Thutmose I. This king speaks of his major campaign into Syria (Naharin) as undertaken `to slake his heart's thirst throughout the foreign lands. ... He found no one who could stand up to him.'" [200]

The Bible describes the reasons for the war(s) against Syria as follows:

David sent ambassadors to the Ammonite king Hanun to show him kindness on the death of his father. Suspicious minded advisors of the new king suggested David's intentions were evil - `to spy out the land' - and so they disgraced David's ambassadors. For this disgrace war started. [300]

The Syrian Campaign

Conventional accounts may state: "Thutmose I established his authority as far north as `Ruthen', and the people of that place continued to pay tribute to Egypt during the reigns of Thutmose II and Hatshepsut. In the reign of Thutmose III a revolt broke out over the whole of northern and eastern Syria, but it was quelled by the king ..." [400]

The Nubian Campaign Map

It was Thutmose I who conquered Upper Nubia and pushed south into the Sudan beyond the old frontier of Semna. It was written about him that for 400 miles he "... penetrated valleys unknown to my ancestors." There he strengthened the fortresses of the second cataract. Fourteen strongholds had been built during 12th dynasty times, however, click here for another view. "A low wall and ditch served as the outer ring of defense; then came a forewall with bastions, inside which was a narrow passageway. The innermost wall was very high and thick, built of mud brick strengthened with timber insertions, and supported by towerlike projections at intervals. A narrow street ran around the inside of the wall. Within the defenses was the garrison town itself, with a big house for the commandant and smaller ones for the soldiers. There were also store houses and a treasury, plus a small temple." [500]

It need not be that Thutmose I/David himself led out in these campaigns. He could have sent his able general Joab in command of the troops carrying out these southern conquests. The native people were the `Kushites' who in time became also known as the `Medjay' by the Egyptians. They formed the backbone of armies. So many Kushites were engaged in law enforcement in Egypt itself that medjey became the term used to describe policemen.

Nubia was now a new province for Egypt. [But see Here] Two viceroys were appointed to govern this vast, remote region known as Wawat and Kush. It was their responsibility to make sure all the tribute was received by the crown.

Somewhere along the line the artisans of the king also carved an inscription on a 25 foot tall rock on what is today known as the Island of Tombos near the 3rd Cataract. This inscription is now known as the great stela of Thutmose I and it was photographed by the University of Chicago team in 1906. [600]

The Kings Titulary

The Egyptian concept of the `kha' (to rise) has to do with sun worship but this concept applies not only to the sun but was also used as imagery on the accession of the new king and to all appearances of the king, and even to the way he decorated himself on those occasions. This connection between the sun and the king using the imagery of it came especially to the forefront during the reign of Thutmose I:

Turi, viceroy of the southern province of Kush for Thutmose I, recorded on this inscription the first words addressed to him from the throne by the new ruler.

"This royal [decree is brought] to inform you that My Majesty, may he live, prosper and hale, as arisen (kha) as He of the Sedge and Bee upon the Horus throne of the living, with no equal in eternity. My titulary has been composed as:

`Horus Mighty Bull, Beloved of Truth, He of the Two Ladies, Risen (kha) with the fiery serpent, Great of Strength, Horus of Gold, Perfect of Years. He who makes hearts live, He of the Sedge and Bee Aakheperkara Son of Ra [Thutmose] living forever and eternity.'

Now you are to have divine offerings presented to the temples of the Southern Reach of Elephantine in doing what is praised upon the life-prosperity-health of He of the Sedge and Bee Aakheperkara given life, and you are to have oaths and taken by the name of My Majesty, may he live, prosper and hale, born of the King's Mother Seniseneb, in health. This is sent to inform you on this, and that the Royal Domain flourishes and prospers.
Year 1, month 3 of winter, day 21, day of the feast of the coronation (kha)."

Thutmose I here proclaims his full titulary as king of Egypt and commands all oaths and temple offerings to be made in his name, setting his fourth titled name, `He of the Sedge and Bee Aakheperkara', at the heart of the entire religious and judicial structure of the country. In his royal decree can be seen the reasons for persistent recurrence of royal names throughout the monuments of Egypt. The names underpinned the order of the world by identifying the king at the offerings from man to the gods, and at the oaths of individuals before society. The king, expressed in his names, provides the guarantee of harmony by acting as linchpin between heaven and earth. [700]

Pagan Representations
While some aspects between Thumose I and King David seem intriguing, others, like pagan ceremonial reliefs and inscriptions seem to make such a comparison impossible. While, in essence, we agree to that caution, we would suggest that these inscriptions and representations were not necessarily commissioned directly by the king but may be quite automatically executed by the Egyptian priesthood for the current potentate without his knowledge in all the details to such work. And so it is we are told, that in ancient times there was such an office as a `chief ritualist (hry-tp), a biblical hartummim.[800] David may not have been able to read hieroglyphic writing or even ever seen this art work since his presence in Egypt may have been at the most short occasions over a given time span or it may have been entirely by proxy [850]. (From the experience of Joseph we know that in Egypt foreigners could be rulers.)

Marriages of Pharaoh Thutmose I

The question naturally arises, if Thutmose I was King David, who was `Queen Ahmose' in the life of David? We know, according to some indications that David also married the eventual widow of King Saul, Ahinoam by name, an Egyptian woman. Did David marry two Egyptian royal women? We cannot prove he did but may be he did marry or have a short liaison with a second Egyptian woman.

A relief carving exists which shows Thutmose I with the King's Sister' and Great Wife of the King, Ahmose, together with the `king's daughter' Neferubiti as deceased members of the Ahmoside royal house.

Who was lady Sitdjehuty whose exquisite, gilded cartonage funerary mask is exhibited at the British Museum's Egyptian collection and who is dated by some to the 17th Dynasty and by others to the reign of Thutmose I? For the purposes of this account she would only be of some interest if in fact she can be dated to the time of Thutmose I. [900]

A List of Relevant Images on Thutmose I. [1000]

1. A drawn image of the post mortem deified king Amenophis I and his mother Ahmose-Nefertari.
2. A drawn image of Seniseneb, (featured as) mother of king Thutmose I.
3. A drawn image apparently belonging to the same panel as 2) of Thutmose I, (described as) father of Hatshepsut..
4. A drawn image of king Thutmose I and the king's sister and `Great Wife of the King' Ahmose together with the `King's Daughter' Neferubiti as deceased members of the Thutmoside Royal House.
5. A drawn image of the in his youth deceased and post mortum honored `King's Son' Wadjmose on the knees of his tutor's Puheri.
6. A drawn image of Thutmose II, half-brother and husband of Hatshepsut together with his `Ka'.
7. A photo of a relief showing the `King's Sister' and `Great Wife' Ahmose, wife of Thutmose I and mother of Hatshepsut.
8. A drawn image of Hastshepsut as pharaoh before an offering table.
9. A drawn image of Queen Hatshepsut and her co-regent Thutmose III together with the`King's Daughter' Neferure, daughter of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I.
10. A drawn image of the throne name of Thutmose I, the deified father of Hatshepsut, between Hatshepsut and the god king Amun.
11. A drawn image of the proclamation of deification toward the `Great Royal Wife' Ahmose, mother of Hatshepsut, by the god Thoth.

Some authors will state that Thutmose I's origins and assumption of royal powers are unaccounted for and that he disappeared just as suddenly.

Thutmose I and Hatshepsut

Thutmose I and Hatshepsut erected the most grandious dual pair obelisks at Karnak in Egypt. Thutmose's measures some 64 feet (19.5 m) tall, Hatshepsut's measures 97 feet (29.5 m), the tallest obelisk, in height. One of each of these pairs is still standing at Karnak. [1100] The exquisitely executed straight and curving lines of the hieroglyphics cut into these stones are truly astonishing and reveal a level of artistry competing with achievements of many other civilisations.

Thutmose I is of course regarded as the father of Hatshepsut (See David Abishag). Are there any reasons, besides the mummy identified as his, which make it difficult to see King David in the role of Thutmose I? The architect of the king was one named Ineni who excavated his king's tomb known today as KV20. Thutmose III, John Romer concluded, made a new secondary tomb KV38 for Thutmose I and Hatshepsut. The difference of opinion between Carter and John Romer as to what happened between KV20 and KV 38 makes Romer the winner. The interesting last sentence in Reeve's book says, "The burial of Hatshepsut was abandoned, alone, within KV20; her first kingly sarcophagus, which she had surrendered for the use of Thutmose I, was left empty within the burial chamber." [1200]

That last phrase seems intriguing, but the mummy of Thutmose I itself, is still advanced, even though also questioned, as his. If David was Thutmose I he would have had, in the eyes of the Egyptian priesthood, rights to his own tomb and we should not be surprised that a tomb was made for him (KV20), in which was also found his name on a foundation stone. But on the subject of his secondary tomb (KV38) we read:

"The two wooden coffins of Thutmose I ... were appropriated for Pinudjem I's own use; they were found, redecorated and newly inscribed for Pinudjem as `king', in their Deir el-Bahri cache in 1881. Their dimensions suggest that Thutmosis I had originally been provided with an innermost coffin of precious metal, which had `disappeared' - presumably melted down for bullion - at the time KV38 was finally abandoned.
The fate of the mummy of Thutmose I is not known, the attribution of the body found within the coffins usurped by Pinudjem I being quite uncertain." [1300]

Tombs and all funerary equipment of necessity must have been prepared at the start of a monarch's reign to be ready when needed. Therefore, we ought not to be surprised on such finds for Thutmose I. But is the mummy No. 61066 found in the replacement coffin No. 61013 in the Royal Mummies Cache (DB320) that of Thutmose I? [1400] For, if he was King David he would of course not have been buried in Egypt.

Like Egypt's kings would have a cabinet of ranking officials so King David also had a cabinet which included:

[01] Ahithophel, the king's counsellor 2.Sam. 15:12, who conspired against the king, 2.Sam 15-17.

[02] Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, as the `Recorder' (2.Sam. 8:15-18; 1.Chr. 18:14-17; 2.Sam. 20:23-26),

[03] Seraiah/Shavsha/Sheva, the `Scribe'. Jewish king's also had another official, a Nabi, or court orator [1500],

[04] Zadok, the `Priest',

[05] David's sons and Ira, the Jairite, the `Chief Rulers',

[06] Joab, the son of Zeruiah, `Over the Host (Army)',

[07] Adoram `Over the Tribut' (forced labor, Hebrew mas)',

[08] Benaiah `Over the body-guards of the Cherethites and Pelethites',

[09] Hushai, the king's `friend' (royal advisor), (2.Sam. 15:37; 16:16; 1.Chr. 27:33). This position was held only by one person at a time, It appeared only under King David and Solomon; there is no mention of it in later centuries. In addition to the court officials with this title, David's sons were his chief advisors. We do not know the relationship between his official advisor and his sons. Minor officials during the reign of David included a

[10] `saris' (translated as `eunuch' 1.Chr. 28:1). The pharaohs of Egypt had such men, who served as trustees of royal property (Genesis 37:36; 39:1), the Assyrian's called them `sha-reshi'. The scripture indicates that the saris of Israel were much like those of Egypt and Assyria. (2.Kings 24:15)

[11] `The king's servant' or `the servant of the king' was another title which may have been more general in that it included the entire group of officials and royal household, from the royal guards to the highest office (1.Ki. 1:33; 11:26); in fact, all those who "stood before" the king (1.Sam. 16:21) - that is, the courtiers in the royal palace (1.Ki. 12:6). Sometimes it may have been used as a special title, as in the case of David's uncle, Ahithophel (2.Sam. 15:12).

[12] Gad, David's seer, an extra-canonical prophet, 1.Chronicles 21:9 (other non-canonical prophets are named in 1.Chr. 29:29 - Read theological implication.).

[13] David's mighty men, (a) Adino the Eznite, the Tachomite, that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; (b) Eleazar, the son of Dodo the Ahohite; (c) Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite; 2.Sam. 23:8-39.

Of these the office of the royal scribe was particularly significant by virtue of it overseeing correspondences and records, the annals of the events during the king's reign.

Artifacts Relating to the King

The mummy described as that of Thutmose I has not been definitely verified. In fact most likey the mummy is not that of Thutmose I. KV 42 was one of the first tombs discovered in the Valley of the Kings. It was considered to be the tomb of `Thutmose I', Thutmose III and Amenhotep II. [KMT, Fall 1999, p. 20-36.]

A drawing by C.E. Loeben of the image of a partial reconstruction of the original decoration of the outer coffin of Thutmose I (Cairo CG 61025) can be seen in P. der Manuelian & C. Loeben, `New Light on the Recarved Sarcophagus of Hatshepsut and Thutmose I in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston' in JEA, Vol. 79, 1993, p. 121-(128)-155.

An exquisitely made scarab of Thutmosis I pursuing a foe holding a drawn bow and arrow piercing an Asiatic figure can be seen in P. Clayton's, `Chronicle of the Pharaohs', p. 101.

According to information provided by D. Redford in the `Journal of Near Eastern Studies', Vol. 25, 1966, p. 113-121 there is a Year 8 and 9 inscribed on a block from Karnak. Traditionally he reigned for ca. 6 years according to a stela.

A. Fortier & C. Loeben, `Un nouveau fragment d'une colonne de la salle-wadjyt', Cahiers de Karnak IX 1993, Paris, �ditions Recherche sur les Civilisations, 1993; at head of title: Centre Franco-�gyptien d'�tude des Temples de Karnak. *(21 x 30 cm; XX, 262 p., maps, plans, fig., ill., pl.). ISBN 2-86538-227-3; Pr. FF 267 p 133-143. (pl.).
Publication of a new column fragment from the Wadjyt-hall, situated between the IVth and Vth pylons at Karnak. It belonged for a long time to a private collection in France, and is proved to be part of the Wadjyt by its inscriptions, one of which bears the name of Tuthmosis III. However, the inscriptions on the columns in situ mentioning Tuthmosis I make it probable that he was responsible for the first construction, to which also the fragment under discussion belongs. Comparative table presenting some data on the columns of the Wadjyt-hall at Karnak.

Notes & References

[0010] For a very good image of Thutmose I see KMT, Summer 1996, Vol. 7, p. 12. The image of the Hildesheim, Germany, museum is from a limestone relief from Deir el-Bahari. The king is wearing a rather peculiar, even unique, crown of a sun-disk, tall plumes, horns and several uraeii, one of the latter exceptionally oversized.
[0100] Alfred Grimm & Sylvia Schoske, `Hatshepsut', M�nchen, 1999, p. 4; This publication also presents a full figure image of Seniseneb and Thutmose I as well as facial image of Ahmose, mother of Hatshepsut on page 6. The sources for these images are given as Edouard Naville, `The Temple of Deir el Bahari', Tafel XIII, XIV, LXVII.
G. Maspero, `Notes Au Jour Le Jour - IV' in Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology', Part 1-Vol. XIII, p. 525ff; Part 2-Vol. XIV, p. 170-204.; Historical articles in French.
[0130] At 18th Dynasty Karnak, the East, `Asia', was personified in the person of `Qedem' - `the East'. [See Donald Redford, `Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times', Princeton, 1992, p. 151, Pl. 16.]
[150] Stephen Quirke, `Who were the Pharaohs', N.Y., 1990, p. 13.
[0200] Redford, D.B., `Akhenaten the Heretic King', Princeton, 1984, p. 17. There is also evidence cited that the king (was it Thutmose I. or another king? We think it was the Syrian king.) set up a boundary stela on the banks of the Euphrates River. [See D. Redford, `Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times', Princeton, 1992, p. 154; Basing this info on Urk, IV, 607; A.J. Spalinger. JNES 37 (1978), p. 35ff.
[0300] Compare 1.Chronicles 19; 2.Samuel 8:3ff.
[0400] The British Museum, `A Guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian Antiquities', London, 1908, p. 178.; A place called `Ruttum' is mentioned in a Babylonian cylinder BM# 107 (1908). "Deed recording the lease of a piece of land by Taribum from Ruttum." Open cit. p. 170.
[0500] B. Mertz, `Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs', N.Y. 1964, p. 133.
[0600] See KMT, Vol. 14, Winter 2003/04, p. 77; For the contents see J.H. Breasted, `Records', Vol. II, Sec. 67-73.
[0700] Steven Quirke, `Who Were The Pharaohs?', pp. 11-13.
[0800] Genesis 41:8, 24; Daniel 1:20; 2:2; See also Kim Ryholt, `A Parallel to the Inaros Story', JEA, Vol. 84 1998, p. 151-169.
[0850] The question, `How a major imperialist ruler of one country, such as David, whose history is given to us in considerable detail, could find time to rule so many states', we suggest, would lie in his `cabinet' form of government ruling by proxy through appointed military officers. In Egypt shipping on the Nile was an important route of communication. In general, we understand rulers to make ranking members of their government resposible for their realm as the EA letters illustrate. If Egypt could communicate with Aphek and even Mesopotamia, so could David communicate with the length of Egypt.
[0900] KMT, Fall 1999, Vol. 10, p. 60.
[1000] Translated from the German original by CIAS: Alfred Grimm and Sylvia Schoske, `Hatshepsut - K�nigIN �gyptens', M�nchen, 1999; Sources of drawings: C.R. Lepsius and E. Naville.
[1100] For a detailed two page color image of Thutmose's Karnak obelisk see `Egypt Revealed', Fall 2000, p. 66, 67 and a closeup on p. 70.
[1200] Nicholas Reeves, `The Complete Valley of the Kings', p. 91.
[1300] Ibid., p. 96.
[1400] KMT, Vol. 15, Fall 2004, p. 58.
[1500] See PSBA, Feb 1, 1881, p. 60.

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