The Book of Heston

In “The Week” of National Review’s February 8 edition, the editors write that “people came to think that foreign slaves built the pyramids” because they were “influenced by the Book of Exodus.”

The Book of Exodus clearly states that the Hebrew slaves built the grain-storage houses of Pithom and Ramses in the Nile Delta out of bricks. The only source that suggests that slaves built the stone pyramids of Egypt is the movie The Ten Commandments. The editors seem to watch too many movies, read too little Bible, or both.

Ivan M. Lang

Glendale, Wis.

The Editor’s reply: The relevant sentence reads: “In later centuries [than that of Pharaoh Cheops], perhaps influenced by the Book of Exodus (which, however, deals with events a millennium later), people came to think that foreign slaves built the pyramids.” It does not imply our belief that Exodus says the slaves built the pyramids. Indeed it anticipates Mr. Lang’s point; note its “however.” Of our sinful ways, we will nonetheless strive to repent.

Blood and Gore

Is my conservative bias showing, or does the caricature of a vampire in John J. Miller’s “Defanged” (February 8) bear a striking resemblance to Al Gore?

Gary Simmers

Dublin, Ga.