The Nimrod Hypothesis

2008-02-29

In ancient times, there was a king of whom we know little. His name was Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10; 1 Chronicles 1:10; Micah 5:6). It is interesting that this one man, who apparently was a great hero, was mentioned so briefly. He is also thought to be the one who was behind the Tower of Babel. But is history outside the Bible silent on this man?

In Akkad, there was a king, Naramsin, who came to power, in 2291 B.C. He considered himself to be the “king of the four corners of the earth.” Compare this with Genesis 10:10.

In Egypt, there was a king called Narmer, who united Upper and Lower Egypt, around the year 3100 B.C. He was the first to wear that double crown to signify this accomplishment.

I have thought for while that perhaps these three men were really one man. These cultures have a remembrance of a time when such a man united peoples together. When I studied Hebrew awhile back, I learned that the roots of words are determined by consonants; there are no written vowels. Though I have not looked into it, I would not be surprised if many of the languages of the Ancient Near East would be the same way. Notice these names all have many of the same consonants in them. Not only that, they also all serve as ancient heroic kings that do a form of “uniting.”

It is interesting to note that Naramsin’s and Narmer’s reigns were allegedly 800 years apart. The reign of the latter, however, must have been later if he were a real figure, because the Flood, as recorded in the Bible, happened approximately in the mid-third millennium B.C. What we know of Egyptian history and the continual dynasties in the early centuries must be incorrect, since there is no evidence of a global flood interrupting the reigns of kings. Egypt, or “Mizraim” of the Bible, is not an antediluvian people (Genesis 10:6).

Why is any of this important? One thing we need to remember is that the Word has the authority on what happened in history. Whether the above hypothesis is correct or not, we can know that any dynastic information of a culture that happened before the mid-third millennium B.C. is wrong, either in date, or is entirely myth.

Another thing to notice in the Bible, as opposed to other recorded history, is that the chosen people in the Bible are written about in a very objective way. For example, the Israelites are seen as many times losing battles or being humiliated in many ways. The God of the Bible does not show favoritism. In secular records, whether in Egypt, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, or elsewhere, the people are always seen as victorious in their endeavors, and their gods are always on their side.

This is why Nimrod was mentioned so briefly. God is not interested in the mighty man. He is interested in those who recognize that without Him they are powerless. He is interested in those who are humble to the point of recognizing their need for a Savior. Nimrod was mentioned briefly, but soon an obscure nomad named Abram will be mentioned at length.

That makes the Bible a very unique book, both in antiquity, and in the present time. Let the Word guide your steps, for the God of the Bible, who preserved His words for millennia, is able to do all things.