Egypt and Canaan Research Papers (original) (raw)

Interpretation of symbols and glyphs found on 1st Dynasty BCE to 18th Century CE artifacts, are a means of tracing the transformational journeys of Bes, the Egypto-Nubian deity. The wanderings, which began in Nubia and Upper Egypt, continued north up the Nile into teeming markets and inns of port cities connected to the sea routes of the Mediterranean and Aegean and by land migrations west to Benin.
Beliefs based upon ancient Pygmy philosophy and tenets were incorporated into Bes as a divine representative. These views were spread by means of reciprocal gift systems, trade, migration and wars. The growing need for an accessible protector, healer and divine intermediary, spanning the distance from the Levant to the western Mediterranean was met by Bes, binding diverse communities into a common front against the external forces of disease and death.
As successive wanderings took place mostly in times of transition and upheaval, cultural contact between dissimilar populations malleably transformed images, names and myths associated with Bes and Pygmy ancestors. These complex results are comprehensively examined in this paper to help us successfully transition into a new era.

"Chronology is the backbone of history" is usually taught in schools but what is very disturbing is the total absence of reliable chronology to fix the Exodus because the date goes from 2100 to 650 BC (Sparks: 2015, 60); such a 1500-year gap is not at all serious. Furthermore, Exodus pharaoh identifications and theories (page 61) are absurd because the pharaoh of the Exodus died suddenly in the Red Sea according to the biblical text (Ps 136:15) and it is easy to see that the state of the mummy of Seqenenre Taa (Cairo Museum, The Royal Mummies CG 61051) proves that his body received severe injuries and remained abandoned for several days before being mummified. In addition Crown Prince Ahmose Sapaïr (Musée du Louvre, Paris: statue E 15682), who was the eldest son of Seqenenre Taa (1543-1533), died shortly before his father (Ex 12:29), who himself died on May 10, 1533 BCE. According to the biblical chronology based on absolute dates, not to the scholarly chronology of Edwin R. Thiele, the pharaoh of the Exodus died on May 10, 1533 BCE (exactly the same day). Consequently Seqenenre Taa was the pharaoh of the Exodus, according to absolute chronology.

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH: Egypto-Levantine relations have varied from the Neolithic through Persian periods, ranging from overland and maritime commerce, diplomatic missions, emigrants, imperial expansion, and alliances, while at other times Asiatics have traded, raided, pastured their flocks, infiltrated, taken refuge in, served as mercenaries, and sometimes controlled parts of Egypt. Although fluctuations occur in the intensity of contact, in general interactions have increased over time, with local adoptions and emulations of different aspects of each culture: language, literature, religion, art, and artifacts.

- by Gregory Mumford
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- Ancient History, Archaeology, Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology
- by Orly Goldwasser
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- Egypt and Canaan, Ancient Egypt, Alphabetic Writing, Egyptian Hieroglyphs
- by John C Franklin and +2
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- Philology, Religion, Ancient Egyptian Religion, Sumerian Religion
- by Joseph E . David
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- Jewish Studies, Medieval History, Biblical Studies, Jewish Thought

ABSTRACT: This lecture (subdivided into parts 1a-1b) provides a summary of the course requirements and information in general, plus a broad introduction to the re-discovery and evolving archaeological study of and approaches to Ancient Syria-Palestine (also termed the Levant and Canaan), which formed part of the Ancient Near East. It continues with an overview of the diverse topography, climate, fauna, flora, metals and minerals, and other resources in this and neighbouring regions. The course itself will focus mainly on the Neolithic through 586 B.C., and mainly upon "Palestine," but with some coverage of Egypt (e.g., Hyksos period), Arabia, Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, Southeast Anatolia (Turkey/Asia Minor), and the empires of Assyria and Babylonia. UPDATES: The course is offered every two years within a classroom setting, and is updated variously every two years. The revisions to the 2020 version are minimal. NEW: Aug. 2023 revisions.

- by Gregory Mumford
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- History, Ancient History, Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology

Ancient Israel did not emerge within a vacuum but rather came to exist alongside various peoples, including Canaanites, Egyptians, and Philistines. Indeed, Israel's very proximity to these groups has made it difficult - until now - to distinguish the archaeological traces of early Israel and other contemporary groups. Through an analysis of the results from recent excavations in light of relevant historical and later biblical texts, this book proposes that it is possible to identify these peoples and trace culturally or ethnically defined boundaries in the archaeological record. Features of late second-millennium B.C.E. culture are critically examined in their historical and biblical contexts in order to define the complex social boundaries of the early Iron Age and reconstruct the diverse material world of these four peoples. Of particular value to scholars, archaeologists, and historians, this volume will also be a standard reference and resource for students and other readers interested in the emergence of early Israel.

This chapter, written for Zeev Herzog’s publication of his Iron IIA-B excavations at Tel Beersheva, describes four Egyptian faience amulets, the rim of a vessel made of Egyptian blue, five Egyptian and locally-made Egyptian-style ceramic vessels, and a large sherd engraved with the name of the goddess Nephthys. Egyptian, and subsequently Nubian, interests in Judah in the late eighth century BCE may have led to a modest increase in trade between Egypt and Judah.

- by Aren M . Maeir and +2
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- Archaeology, Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Israel/Palestine, Biblical Archaeology

Parmi les thèmes surnaturels bibliques marginalisés par la théologie académique figure celui des Nephilim, êtres hybrides issus de l'union narrée par le Livre de la Genèse entre les mystérieux « Fils de Dieu » et les femmes humaines. Selon certaines traditions ce sont des Géants, et leurs pères étaient des Anges déchus. L'ufologie et les réseaux sociaux, dans les milieux chrétiens, notamment aux États-Unis, confèrent à cette thématique un regain d'intérêt dans une optique apocalyptique. Cet ouvrage présente les thèses actuelles de ces chrétiens, ainsi que la manière dont ils projettent cette croyance dans leur lecture du monde contemporain, et en cherchent des preuves dans des domaines comme la possession psychique, la voyance, ou les énigmes archéologiques.

- by Christophe Colera
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- Christianity, Sociology of Religion, Theology, New Testament

This article discusses the Mekal stele, a New Kingdom funerary stele from Beth-Shean (northern Palestine) depicting a certain Amenemopet and his son Paraemheb worshipping a god named "Mekal, god of Beth-Shean". Mekal is a most mysterious god, as he still lacks secure identification in other Egyptian and Levantine sources. This article offers a new edition of the stele, and a fresh discussion of the iconographic type of Mekal in relation to other Egyptian depictions of Asiatic gods, such as Baal-Seth and Reshef. It then offers a critical review of the main past attempts at identifying epigraphic and onomastic parallels to Mekal, and also discusses the dating of the stele, formerly set in Dynasty 18, but now provable to belong in Dynasty 19. It finally argues for the presence of a second funerary stele of Amenemopet in Beth-Shean, before offering a cautious conclusion regarding the god's identity.

This volume is a catalog of ivories recovered from the treasury of the early twelfth-century palace at Megiddo (modern Tell el-Mutesellim). The 382 ivory pieces are described briefly and illustrated at actual scale with photographs and... more

The article proposes a new translation of lines 8-14 of Amarna letter no. 255. The letter is a diplomatic protest by Mut-Baḫlu, the local ruler of Pella, against the pharaoh’s command that he relinquish his control over the local traffic of caravans. Mut-Baḫlu argues that to control the caravans is his hereditary right. Such an argument is well attested in the Amarna correspondence between the great powers. Its use in a vassal’s letter is a crafty attempt to exploit the diplomatic conventions of the Late Bronze Age.

- by Krzysztof J. Baranowski
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- Ancient History, Diplomatic History, Assyriology, Diplomacy

SUMMARY: Lecture-18 discusses the origins of the Israelites, including the first mention of "Israel" in Merenptah's "Israel" Stela, the current status regarding minimal to no archaeological evidence for an Exodus (also postulated as being a later remembrance of Hyksos expulsion), the state of evidence regarding the sojourn in Sinai (also minimal/no archaeological evidence), the "Exodus Papyrus" (noting the escape and tracking of two fugitives from Egypt), the conquest account (which also contains conflicting data in the archaeological record), the emergence of numerous, small, hill country and other settlements (i.e., typically small, agrarian enclosures with some terracing in areas, herding, semi-nomadic roots in settlement design, forest clearance in newly occupied terrain, simple pottery and other artefacts with clear Canaanite roots), and the emergence of a more complex, Israelite polity by 1000 BC. This lecture is designed mainly as an educational resource/aid for college students (i.e., normally posted only on my institution's course website), the public (e.g., people auditing my course), and interested colleagues from other disciplines (to whom I periodically provide copies privately). I am posting it here, both as a broader access, educational tool, and especially to promote the study of this region and its past societies. For further knowledge about this region and period, I refer interested parties to the textbooks and other sources from which the initial materials were extracted for this ppt. (see syllabus; e.g., initially Mazar, Archaeology of the Land of the Bible), and/or the bibliographies in these works and my online resource guides (see other files in my academia folders). Much of this and the other lectures summarize the pertinent materials in the course textbook(s), add in other data, including my own research materials, and furnish numerous images to clarify/illustrate the wealth of information encountered in the textbook(s). Some generic imagery (usually indicated as such) is posted to aid in transmitting various concepts visually, and/or when a specific image remains not located (temporarily). I update and revise such lectures each time, with such elective courses normally being taught once every two years. I try to cover the most current, mainstream views, and usually place summary notes at the end of each lecture (or in separate test study guides). Over time, each lecture is improved, errors rectified, and additional data placed within the lecture. These ppt. lectures take many hours to compile, but they have proved useful to many of my more serious students (who have since pursued graduate degrees), and a few colleagues, who, like me, often teach outside our main fields of specialty, and I hope they can be of benefit to others as well. My apologies for any errors I may have made (over time, as I teach this course every two years, I try to rectify any errors that might slip in inadvertently), and for my liberal usage of educational imagery from professional sources and vetted internet sources. UPDATED: Oct. 2023, re-formatting, and a new slide and text revisions.

- by Gregory Mumford
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- Ancient History, Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Phoenicians

This publication, in two parts, Text and Plates, is a catalog of the architecture and artifacts recovered from Megiddo (modern Tell el-Mutesellim), primarily in the seasons from 1935 to 1939. Pottery is grouped according to strata; other objects are grouped whenever possible according to functional classification and chronological order within each class in order to facilitate tracing the development of any single class of object.

- by Gordon Loud
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- Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Biblical Studies, Egypt and Canaan, Ancient Israel

ABSTRACT: This lecture focuses on the reigns of Amenhotep II and Thutmose IV, during which Egypt consolidates its empire in and administration of Canaan. The first half focuses on Amenhotep II, covering some issues of his co-regency with Thutmose III, some solutions, and the texts, translations, details, and discussion of Amenhotep II's campaigns in years 3, 7, and 9, including royal and private sources regarding these campaigns. The Tanaach Letters are noted in potential relation to Amenhotep II's campaigns into Canaan. Further coverage is given of the cessation of war with Mitanni and beginning of peace late in Amenhotep II's reign. The overview of his reign concludes with a look at domestic affairs, including some building projects (e.g., Karnak Temple), his legacy (especially in contrast to Thutmose III), and his royal burial complex (mortuary temple and tomb). The lecture concludes with an examination of Thutmose IV's reign: His parentage, an unexpected succession to the throne, his Dream Stela at Giza (Great Sphinx: Hormachis), legitimizing or explaining his succession, extra piety and patronage applied to the Memphite cults (including Harmachis: Great Sphinx), increased peaceful relations and marriage alliance with Mitanni, some repression of rebellions within Egypt's Canaanite empire, consolidation of Egyptian administration and control of vassal states in Syria-Palestine (i.e., 3 provinces: Canaan; Upe; Amurru), a campaign to Nubia to quell a rebellion, and relations with South Sinai (Serabit el-Khadim) and Punt. The lecture provides some coverage of his domestic works, such as the Memphite region, Karnak Temple, and his mortuary complex. A later lecture on New Kingdom royal tombs concentrates on Thutmose IV's tomb and surviving furnishings. UPDATED: new formatting, edits, and some new text (Feb., 2021).

- by Gregory Mumford
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- History, Ancient History, Military History, Archaeology

Despite a broad temporal presence in Egyptian records, the association of the Sherden with another ‘Sea Peoples’ group, the more well-known and better archaeologically attested Philistines, has led to several assumptions about this group, its members’ origin, and their role both in the events that marked the transition from the Late Bronze to the Early Iron Age and in Egyptian society as a whole. This study separates the Sherden from the Aegean migration and greater ‘Sea Peoples’ phenomenon of the Late Bronze–Early Iron Age transition in an effort to challenge long-held assumptions about their initial encounter with Ramesses II in the early years of his rule, their role in the famous land battle and naumachia of Ramesses III’s eighth year, their participation in the migrations that marked the end of the Late Bronze Age, and their status as foreigners to the Levant whose main function was to serve as mercenary soldiers and pirates. Through a close reading of the extant literary and pictorial evidence from the New Kingdom and beyond, this paper traces the role of the Sherden within Egyptian society from its adversarial origin, through a phase of combined military cooperation and social exclusion, to a final, multigenerational period that was marked by rapid and enduring acculturation and assimilation into Egyptian society.

- by Baruch Brandl
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- Pottery (Archaeology), Colonialism, Egypt and Canaan, ANE Cylinder Seals

(From the back cover) Egypt, Judaism, and the history of the alphabet intersect in Deciphering The Proto-Sinaitic Script. From its initial appearance, in around the 18th century BC, the origins of proto–Sinaitic writing can be traced back to Egypt’s Middle Kingdom period, when it was somehow derived from the hieroglyphs, its parent–system. The importance of proto–Sinaitic lies in the fact that it represents the alphabet’s earliest developmental period—a kind of ‘missing link’ between the hieroglyphs and these early Semitic alphabets from which our own Latin one descends, by way of the Phoenician and Greek. However, up until now, proto-Sinaitic has remained for the most part undeciphered. The intriguing possibility of giving voice to a lost culture or civilization from thousands of years ago is tantalizing. Representing one of the most enticing problems in modern archaeology, the enigmatic allure surrounding ancient languages and the undeciphered scripts in which they are encoded is truly vexing. In his bold and original research, LeBlanc argues convincingly to have solved the mystery and uncovers some incredibly enthralling information about the people who invented it: The epigraphic evidence suggests that the Egyptianized Canaanites who first devised the proto–Sinaitic script were surprisingly instrumental in the formation of early Israelite culture and proto–Judaism. (A preview of Introduction and Bibliography included in attached PDF)

Abstract
Since it is commonly held that Psammetichus II abstained from aggressive activity against Babylonia, I want to reconsider his policy (595-589 B.C.) toward the Levant and the Babylonian Empire.
1 No new data exists, leaving us only the (re)-
interpretation of the facts. In this article I shall review:
1. The Babylonian presence and activity in the Levant;
2. The anti-Babylonian conference in the fourth year of Zedekiah, King of Judah (most probably 593 B.C.);
3. Alleged Judean involvement in Psammetichus II’s campaign against Kush;
4. Psammetichus II’s campaign to Kush in his third year of reign (593 B.C.);
5. The Eﬀect of the Egyptian Campaign to Kush on the Levant;
6. The campaign of Psammetichus to the land of Kharu in his fourth regnal year.

- by Dan'el Kahn
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- Egyptian History, Late Iron Age (Archaeology), Kush, Egypt and Canaan

The Egyptian military activity in Canaan and Nubia was very significant during the reign of Merenptah (1213–1203 BC) and was an important part of the historical developments during the New Kingdom of Egypt as well as in the contemporary Late Bronze Age of the Ancient Near East. The Canaanite and Nubian wars of Merenptah reestablished Egypt’s influence in the Levant and Nubia after the massive rebellions that occurred in the territories of the Egyptian empire. This paper surveys and discusses some significant historical notes and perspectives on the Canaanite and Nubian wars of Merenptah, in order to shed some light on new military and political aspects of the Ramesside Empire.

In 2007 the Jaffa Cultural Heritage Project (JCHP) was established as a joint research endeavor of the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Among the project’s diverse aims is the publication of numerous excavations conducted in Jaffa since 1948 under the auspices of various governmental and research institutions such as the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums and its successor the Israel Antiquities Authority, as well as the Jaffa Cultural Heritage Project. This, the first volume in the Jaffa Cultural Heritage Project series, lays the groundwork for this initiative. Part I provides the historical, economic, and legal context for the JCHP’s development, while outlining its objectives and the unique opportunities that Jaffa offers researchers. The history of Jaffa and its region, and the major episodes of cultural change that affected the site and region are explored through a series of articles in Part II, including an illustrated discussion of historical maps of Jaffa from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Recent archaeological discoveries from Jaffa are included in Part III, while Part IV provides a first glimpse of the JCHP’s efforts to publish the Jacob Kaplan and Haya Ritter-Kaplan legacy from Jaffa. Together the twenty-five contributions to this work constitute the first major book-length publication to address the archaeology of Jaffa in more than sixty years since excavations were initiated at the site.

- by Aaron A Burke and +1
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- Cartography, Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Historical Archaeology
- by Rachael Sparks
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- Archaeology, Egyptology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Material Culture Studies
- by Ellen Morris
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- Egyptology, Egyptian History, History of Imperialism, Nubian-Egyptian Relations

The three Hyksos dynasties (XIV, XV, XVI) ruled Egypt approximately from 1750 to 1530 BCE and then disappear abruptly after the death of Pharaoh Seqenenre Taa. One can notice that Egyptian documents unanimously describe the departure of the Hyksos from Egypt to Palestine in a disaster. Modern Egyptologists pictured a ‘war of the Hyksos’, however no document speaks of war but only that Avaris, Hyksos' capital, was looted and vandalized after their departure. Moreover all accounts of former historians picture the Hyksos as the ancestors of the Hebrews, led into Palestine under the leadership of Moses. In addition both biblical and Egyptian chronologies date the Hyksos departure in 1533 BCE, which implies the coincidence of these two dramatic events. The only way to date the so-called “Hyksos' war” is: gathering all historical and archaeological documents about the Hyksos, establishing a relative chronology of the “Hyksos' war”, identifying who was Apopi and his links with the biblical Moses, determining from where came the Hyksos and where did they go, dating the Hyksos war according to the Egyptian chronology through synchronisms dated by astronomy and dating the Exodus according to the Israelite chronology (based on masoretical text) checked by absolute dates.
According to Egyptian accounts the last king of the XVth dynasty, named Apopi, "very pretty" in Hebrew that is Moses' birth name (Exodus 2:2), reigned 40 years in Egypt from 1613 to 1573 BCE. 40 years later Apopi met Seqenenre Taa the last pharaoh of the XVIIth dynasty and gave him an unspecified disturbing message. The eldest son of Seqenenre Taa, Ahmose Sapaïr, who was crown prince died in a dramatic and unexplained way shortly before his father. Seqenenre Taa died in May 1533 BCE, after 11 years of reign, in dramatic and unclear circumstances. The state of his mummy proves, however, that his body received severe injuries and remained abandoned for several days before being mummified (see Psalms 136:15). Prince Kamose, Seqenenre Taa's brother, assured interim of authority for 3 years and threatened attack the former pharaoh Apopi, new prince of Retenu (Palestine). In the stele of the Tempest he also blames Apopi for all the disasters that come to fall upon Egypt which caused many deaths."

- by Gerard GERTOUX
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- Ancient History, Archaeology, Egyptology, Phoenicians
- by Juan Carlos Moreno Garcia
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- Ancient History, Military History, Archaeology, Egyptology

(1) In the first part, I'm reviewing the well known problems of "biblical chronology," biased historical accounts, and way too great numbers of people coming out of Egypt. I'm rather progressively explaining these issues and suggesting that the exodus is an essentially elusive event. The story itself refuses to be read on any particular historical background. This is not to deny it's historicity. I just contend that our reading of the story requires a more flexible and complex approach.
(2) In the second part, I'm reviewing the main problems of 15th and 13th century theories. I find both of them problematic.
(3) In the third part, I'm utilizing thoughts of Na'aman, Hendel, and Bimson and proposing a new theory. I basically contend that the exodus happened in 16th century, right before or in the time of the expulsion of Hyksos. I would also say that Hyksos were the biblical Amorites, whose "iniquity" (Gn 15) was that they enslaved their Semitic cousins while ruling in Egypt.

- by Michael Buban
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- Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Minimalism, Egypt and Canaan

The appearance of the brailed rig and loose–footed sail at the end of the Late Bronze Age revolutionized seafaring in the eastern Mediterranean. The most famous early appearance of this new technology is found in history’s first visual representation of a naval battle, on the walls of Ramesses III’s mortuary temple at Medinet Habu. In this monumental combat scene, both Egyptian and Sea Peoples ships are depicted with this new rig, as well as top–mounted crow’s nests and decking upon which shipborne warriors do battle. The identical employment of these innovative components of maritime technology by opposing forces in this battle suggests either some level of previous contact between the invaders and those responsible for designing and constructing Egypt’s ships of war, or shared interaction with a third party, perhaps on the Syro–Canaanite coast. This article examines the evidence for the development of the brailed rig in the eastern Mediterranean, and explores the possibility that at least one group of Sea Peoples, who may have comprised a key part of the international economy of the Late Bronze Age in their role as “pirates, raiders, and traders” (Georgiou 2012: 527) – Artzy’s “nomads of the sea” (1997) – played a similarly integral role in the transference of maritime technology between the Levant, Egypt, and the Aegean.

- by Jeff Emanuel
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- History, Ancient History, Military History, Archaeology

The Merenptah (or Israel) stele is a fundamental and problematic datum affecting the biblical account of Israel's origins. The stele contains the first and only accepted reference to Israel in ancient Egyptian records and may suggest the... more

- by Larry Bruce
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- Archaeology, Egyptology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Archaeology of Ancient Israel

A survey of English translations of Zechariah 14:21 will yield two diverse interpretive conclusions of the text. This difference is founded on how the Hebrew word כְּנַעֲנִי is to be understood within the context. Some opt for the meaning of one who is “a merchant” while others maintain that the word is to be understood as referring to a “Canaanite.” The issue is not merely a lexical one but a theological one. The implications of the interpretive choice effect both the interpretation of the text itself and the theological emphasis of the book as a whole. This thesis will defend the view that “Canaanite” is Zechariah’s intended meaning. This view will be defended by a six-fold accumulative investigation of the text. The six investigative perspectives will be expositional, lexical, structural, chronological, typological, and Biblical Theology. The work will be divided into seven parts with the full Bibliography attached to the last section.

To be or not to be is a crucial question regarding Moses as well as the Exodus because, according to the Bible, the character related to that famous event forms the basis of the Passover which meant the Promised Land for Jews and later the Paradise for Christians. However, according to most Egyptologists, there is absolutely no evidence of Moses and the Exodus in Egyptian documents, which leads them to conclude that the whole biblical story is a myth written for gullible people. Ironically, if one considers that “truth” must be based on two pillars: an accurate chronology anchored on absolute dates (Herodotus’ principle) and reliable documents coming from critical editions (Thucydides’ principle), that implies an amazing conclusion: those who believe Egyptologists are actually the real gullible ones. According to Egyptian accounts the last king of the XVth dynasty, named Apopi, “very pretty” in Hebrew that is Moses’ birth name (Ex 2:2), reigned 40 years in Egypt from 1613 to 1573 BCE, then 40 years later he met Seqenenre Taa the last pharaoh of the XVIIth dynasty and gave him an unspecified disturbing message. The eldest son of Seqenenre Taa, Ahmose Sapaïr, who was crown prince died in a dramatic and unexplained way shortly before his father. Seqenenre Taa died in May 1533 BCE, after 11 years of reign, in dramatic and unclear circumstances. The state of his mummy proves, however, that his body received severe injuries, in agreement with Psalms 136:15, and remained abandoned for several days before being mummified. Prince Kamose, Seqenenre Taa's brother, assured interim of authority for 3 years and threatened attack the former pharaoh Apopi, new prince of Retenu (Palestine) who took the name Moses, according to Manetho (280 BCE), an Egyptian priest and historian. In the stele of the Tempest, Kamose also blames Apopi for all the disasters that come to fall upon Egypt, which caused many deaths.

- by Nadav Na'aman
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- Egypt and Canaan, Exodus, Moses, Mnemohistory

The land of Israel appeared after the conquest of Canaan and according to the Bible, which states that 480 years elapsed between the Exodus and Solomon’s 4th year (1Kings 6:1) when he began to build the temple (around 1000 BCE), this conquest had to occur around 1500 BCE. As the very name "Israel" appears for the first time in the Israel Stele (dated ca. 1200 BCE), archaeologists claim that from 1500 to 1200 BCE, called the "period of the Judges", Canaan was in fact a set of small Canaanite kingdoms vassals of Egypt and, consequently, Israel did not exist at that time! So there is a major contradiction between the biblical account, which would be a myth according to archaeologists, and historical interpretation derived from few archaeological remains.
The chronological examination of that period shows that archaeological interpretations are baseless and are just a modern version of story-telling for adults. There are five datable synchronisms between Egypt and Canaan over the period 1500-1200 BCE: 1) sudden collapse of the Hyksos Dynasties when Pharaoh Seqenre Taa died in c. 1533 BCE after his last meeting with Moses, 2) Jericho and Hazor are burnt by Joshua in c. 1493 BCE then sudden emergence of Shasu "Bedouins" in Canaan, 3) King of Hazor Jabin II and the ruler Sisera died in c. 1347 BCE when the ‘Apiru's war occurred (‘Apiru means "factious"), 4) War of Seti I against Amurru (defeated by Gideon) in c. 1294 BCE, 5) Askelon is taken and "Israel is laid waste" according to the Merenptah stele dated c. 1211 BCE (after Judge Jair's death).

- by Gerard GERTOUX
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- History, Sociology, New Testament, Archaeology of Ancient Israel

Las pruebas genéticas recién publicadas en la Revista Sciencie confirman la hipótesis del equipo de la 'Revista Argárica' de que entre los fundadores del Argar, además de los ya más que esperados esteparios, hubo gente procedente de las antiguas tierras de Canaán, concretamente gente con linaje paterno típico de ancestrías afroasiático-semíticas.

- by Georgeos Díaz-Montexano
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- Archaeogenetics, Canaanite Languages, Egypt and Canaan, Palaeogenetics
- by Ellen Morris
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- Egyptology, History of Slavery, Ramesses II, Ancient Near East

Recent archaeological research, especially advanced dating of the ceramic phases of the Iron Age thanks to radiocarbon studies, enables a better understanding of the impact the Sheshonq I campaign had on the southern Levant. The campaign was a "game changer" in the territorial history of the region: It brought about the collapse of an early territorial entity in southern Moab and an early Israelite polity in the central highlands and neighboring areas. These were replaced by new territorial formationsa Negev polity in the south and the Northern Kingdom in the Samaria highlands and the Jezreel Valley.

- by Israel Finkelstein
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- Archaeology of Ancient Israel, Egypt and Canaan

The Quarrel Story of Apophis and Seqenenre is a perplexing tale from ancient Egypt. On the one hand, it seems to be a form a popular social entertainment with its amusing images of bellowing hippopotami disturbing the sleep of a distant Hyksos leader hundreds of miles away. On the other hand, it appears to be a deadly serious political tale as the two protagonists are archaeologically verifiable people who were leaders of their respective peoples and at war with each other. This study seeks to resolve the mystery of the conclusion of the story and to suggest the motive for its composition. I will contend that The Quarrel Story should be understood as a powerful political narrative of considerable importance for reconstructing Egyptian history as perceived at the moment of its creation. The unfortunate loss of its ending has contributed to the diminished appreciation of its significance.

- by Peter Feinman
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- Egyptology, Egyptian History, Hyksos, Egypt and Canaan

Essential to an understanding of the early history of the Philistines is their relationship to Twentieth Dynasty Egypt. Egyptian texts, particularly Papyrus Harris I and the Great Inscription at Medinet Habu, have informed the debate over how and when the Philistines came to be settled in southern coastal Canaan. According to the traditional paradigm, the Egyptians forcibly garrisoned the Philistines in southern Canaan after 1174 BCE, which corresponds to the eighth year of Ramesses III’s reign. Increasingly over the past dozen years, however, both the circumstances and the date of the Philistines’ settlement have been called into question. An assessment of these revisionist theories, on the basis of an examination of both textual and archaeological data, is the subject of this paper.

In recent excavations conducted south of Kibbutz Gal’on in the Shephelah, a single-stratum isolated building was uncovered, dated to the twelfth century BCE (Late Bronze Age III/Iron Age IA). The building dubbed the “Gal’on Fortress” recalls structures commonly referred to as “Governors’ Residencies” supposedly associated with the Egyptian rule in Canaan during the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties. The resemblance is especially apparent compared to the “Governors’ Residencies” found at Tell el-Ḥesi and Tel Seraʻ that might have operated together with Gal’on as border sites of the Canaanite kingdom of Lachish (a.k.a. Lakhish). Gal’on itself was built on the northern border of the kingdom, perhaps in response to the Philistines’ settlement in the region.

- by Israel Finkelstein
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- Egypt and Canaan, Late Bronze Age, Petrography