SESOSTRIS, a King of Egypt. We should not have mention’d this Prince here, since his Name is not to be found in Scripture; but that several have pretended that he is the same as Shishak, or Sesac, who came to invade Rehoboam, Son of Solomon King of Judah; wherefore it is proper to speak a Word or two of him in this Place. Herodot. l. 2.This is what Herodotus informs us of him. This Author says, that from Maris till Sesostris, there was no King whose Actions deserved any Notice. When this Prince had reduced the People which were beyond the Gulph of Arabia, or the Red-sea, he turn’d his Arms against those Nations that dwelt upon the Continent, and brought them under his Obedience. But those whom he found to be warlike, and valiantly to fight for their Liberties, he distinguish’d from others by honourable Inscriptions, which he set up in their Countries, that made mention of their Valour and brave Resistance. But those, on the contrary, who did not gallantly defend themselves, he set a Mark of Infamy upon, by erecting Monuments in their Country, which shew’d they had behaved themselves like Women. And this was expressed upon the Monuments after a manner that was equally shameful and ignominious, not only by Letters, but also by Figures engraven thereon.
He was not satisfied with subduing the Nations of Asia, but he passed into Europe, and conquer’d the Thracians and Scythians; and what made it believed that he went no farther, was, that none of Sesostris’s Monuments are found beyond these Countries. Herodotus thinks, that from thence they pass’d into the Country of the Colchians, of which he has no certain Proofs, except that the Colchians, as well as the Egyptians, received Circumcision; that their Tongue is the same, and that they make Linen after the same manner. Herodotus assures us, that in Palestine he had seen these Inscriptions and Monuments of Sesostris, with disgraceful Figures, shewing the small Resistance, and little Generosity he had found among those People. The Inscriptions bore these Words; I have won this Country by my Shoulders.
While he was absent, his Brother usurped the Government of Egypt; and when Sesostris return’d, he was invited by his Brother to enter into a House, where he was immediately surrounded by Flames, which proceeded from Wood placed round about. On this Occasion Sesostris follow’d the Counsel of his Wife, who had kept him Company in all his Expeditions. He cast two of his six Sons upon the lighted Wood, and thus making himself a Passage through the Flames, he step’d over their Bodies with his other Sons, and so escaped the Danger. He severely punish’d his Brother for what he had done against him, and employ’d a Multitude of Captives, which he had brought along with him, to perform several great Works in Egypt. His Successor was Pheron. This is the Substance of what Herodotus informs us concerning Sesostris, wherein he mentions but one Word about the Conquests of this Prince in Palestine; yet this is all the Foundation that they have, who make Shishak to be the same as Sesostris.