Pharaoh (Book of Abraham)

In the Latter Day Saint scripture the Book of Abraham, Pharaoh is the proper name of the first king of Egypt.^[1] According to the story, all Egyptians descended from him.^[2] He was the eldest son of Egyptus, who was the daughter of Ham and Egyptus. Pharaoh was a descendant of the Canaanites,^[2] a race of people who according to Latter Day Saint theology had been cursed with black skin.^[3] Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have taught that he inherited the curse of Cain through his grandmother, Egyptus, so that the devil might have representation upon the earth.^[4]

Anachronism

Main article: Criticism of the Book of Abraham § Anachronisms

The use of the name Pharaoh is considered anachronistic during Abraham's time by virtually all scholars, including LDS Scholars.^[5] Most LDS Scholars who adhere to the historicity of the Book of Abraham point to a Jewish redactor who replaced original words with wording that would have been more understandable to his day.^[6]