Looking for some apologetics.

[_Mad Viking]

I am looking for some apologetics that deal specifically with the mistranslation of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, and the incorrect identification of individuals in Facsimile 3 (Book of Abraham). Thanks in advance.
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[_Mad Viking]

What... no one at FARMS has dealt specifically with Facsimile 3?

[_harmony]

Try searching for Paul Osbourne. Kevin has done quite a bit on the Book of Abraham too.

[_Mad Viking]

Try searching for Paul Osbourne. Kevin has done quite a bit on the Book of Abraham too.

I googled the following phrase "Paul Osbourne book of abraham". I found the following page.

Source http://feastupontheword.org/The_Book_of ... acsimile_3

Female figures
It has often been pointed out that figs. 2 and 4 in this vignette are clearly female (fig. 2 being Isis and fig. 4 being Maat), and the point has all too often been held over the head of Latter-day Saints as a sort of proof against Joseph's prophetic office. Interestingly, it is perhaps only with the recognition of this fact (that these two figures are female) that interpretation of this facsimile can begin. Joseph explains fig. 2 as Pharaoh, fig. 4 as the Prince of Pharaoh. In other words, all the females in the vignette are those who hold a position in the pharaonic genealogy, one--as Abraham himself points out throughout the first chapter of the book--that can only claim the priesthood through a matriarchal (and therefore illegitimate) lineage. Abraham (or whoever created the vignette) seems to have wanted to depict all of those who would falsely claim the priesthood as women.

Another interesting possibility for intepretation of this vignette also only emerges with the recognition specifically that fig. 2 is Isis, a goddess and the wife to Osiris (fig. 1, seated on the throne). With this detail, one might be led to recognize that the scene depicts a husband and wife receiving three messengers who bring further light and knowledge. Though this would in some respects function as a reversal of the common setting of such a vignette in Egyptian religion, such a violent reversal hardly seems uncharacteristic of Abraham!

This website agrees that figures 2 & 4 are indeed women. However, the author suggests that it is proper to depict Pharoah and the prince of Pharoah as women since they illegitimately claim the priesthood. The author of the vignette did this one purpose. This completely ignores the fact that these individuals were not depicted as just women. They were depicted as particular women. That being Isis and Maat. So, not only did Abraham want to depict Pharoah as a woman, but depict him as one of his (Pharoah’s) specific deities. To add further insult, Abraham depicts his son (Pharoah’s) as another female diety (Maat).

Then another possible (and conflicting) reason for Pharoah and his prince being depicted as women is suggested. However, for this one proposes that figure 2 really is Isis and figure 1 really is Osiris. In this interpretation, a husband and wife (Isis and Osiris) are receiveing further light and knowledge (a recognizable Mormon phrase for any endowed member) from three messengers. The author suggest that such a reversal of such a scene as commonly interpreted by an Egpytian is well within Abraham’s purpose in Egypt which was to overturn Egyptian religion. Not only does this overturn the Egyptian interpretation of this scene but it overturns Joseph Smith’s interpretation of the scene. Interesting strategy!