Illustrations of the Ox-carts of the Exodus (using Neo-Assyrian exemplars)
07 Jan 2006
The Bible portrays several ox-carts being dedicated to the service of the Tabernacle (Yahweh's tent-shrine) at Mount Sinai with teams of oxen (Nu 7:1-8). Apparently the "dedicated carts" would carry the sacred Tabernacle and its accoutrements in the 40 years of wanderings in the wilderness.
The below bas-relief shows an ox-cart from the palace of the Neo-Assyrian king Tiglathpileser III (crica 745-725 BCE) showing the exile of defeated people. The below cart appears to be "fully laden" with a protective tarp covering upon which ride two women and a young child. This cart with its protective tarp (?) rather resembles the three oxcarts portrayed in the tent encampment of Rameses II (ca. 1279-1212) near Qadesh on the Orontes in Syria (for the below pictures cf. p. 204. Barthel Hrouda. Editor. Der Alte Orient, Geschichte und Kultur des alten Vorderasien. Munchen. C. Bertelsmann Verlag. 1991. ISBN 3572-00867-0)
Below from the same above bas-relief, another ox-cart. However this cart does not appear to be fully laden, it carries only three people, a woman and two children. This cart is very different from the above cart as it does not possess a high wall to carry goods in. Its wall is very low with a platform for the feet to rest on. Apparently this was a lighter "riding" cart intended to hold only people rather than a baggage-carrying cart. These defeated people are being deported into exile by the Assyrians. (cf. p.239. Werner Keller. The Bible As History, Archaeologists Show the Truth of the Old Testament. Oxford, England. A Lion Book. 1991 ISBN 0-732405262)
Below, a laden Ox-cart with women and children departing Lachish in Judah, the defeated inhabitants going into Exile under Sennacherib of Assyria (8th century BCE). (cf. p.253. Werner Keller. The Bible As History, Archaeologists Show the Truth of the Old Testament. Oxford, England. A Lion Book. 1991 ISBN 0-732405262)
