Archeology, Identity, Bible Midterm

Identity

A sense of self and belonging; can be individual or collective.

In the Hebrew Bible, identity is often tied to lineage (ancestry), covenant with God, and relationship to the land of Israel.

Collective Identity

Shared sense of belonging to a group (nation, tribe, etc,)

In the Hebrew Bible, the primary collective identity is the people of Israel, defined by their shared history, religious beliefs, and laws.

Material culture

artifacts resulting from practices

Archeological evidence of material culture helps us understand the daily life, technology, and interactions of people in the biblical world.

Practices (Habitus)

Learned behaviors and customs, often reflected in the use of objects.

Biblical laws and narratives reveal practices related to worship, social interactions, and daily life.

Ethnicity

A social group sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like, often linked to a geographic location and shared origin stories.

The Hebrew Bible describes various ethnic groups (ex: Canaanites, Philistines, Moabites and their interactions with the Israelites.

Etic

Perspective from OUTSIDE the social group.

Emic

Perspective from WITHIN the social group.

WEIRD

Western

Educated

Industrialized

Rich

Democrat

TANAKH

The Hebrew Bible

Torah (Law): The first of 5 books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

Neviim (Prophets): Books that narrate Israel’s history from a prophetic perspective and contain prophetic oracles.
Ketubim (Writings): A diverse collection of books including poetry, wisdom literature, and historical accounts.

6th Century BCE

Time period associated with the Deuteronomistic History (DtrH) and King Josiah.

A crucial period for the formation and editing of many biblical texts, particularly during the Babylonian exile.

Deuteronomistic History (DtrH)

A collection of books within the HB; Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, and 1-2 Kings.

A theological interpretation of Israel’s history from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.

Josiah

King of Judah in the late 7th century BCE.

His reign is a key setting for the development of the Deuteronomistic History.

Known for his religious reforms, which included centralizing worship in Jerusalem and destroying pagan shrines.

Charter Myth

A story that explains, legitimizes / justifies a practice, law, or social order by connecting it to divine origins or ancient authority.

Imagined community

Concept describing a nation as a socially constructed community, imagined by the people who perceive themselves as part of that group.

This concept helps us understand how the ancient Israelites developed a sense of national identity despite being scattered and diverse.

Etiology

Origin stories; explanations of how things came to be.

The Hebrew Bible contains many etiological narratives explaining the origins of names, customs, and geographical features.

Eponymous ancestors

Ancestors who give their names to groups (ex: Jacob being renamed Israel).

These figures serve to connect the people of Israel to a shared lineage and heritage.

Factionalism

Internal conflict or division within a group.

The Hebrew Bible narrates instances of factionalism within Israel, such as the division of the kinddom after Solomon’s reign.

Cultural memory

The collective memory of a group, passed down through generations.

The Hebrew Bible preserves and shapes Israel’s cultural memory through its narrative, laws, and traditions.

Primeval narrative

Gen 1-11

Stories about the creation of the world, the fall of humanity, the flood, and the Towel of Babel.

Explains diversity and linguistic geography.

Noah (ark)

Figure in the Primeval narrative; chosen by God to survive a global flood that would wipe out a corrupt and violent world.

Babel

City in the Primeval narrative; associated with the Tower of Babel and the confusion of languages.

This story explains the diversity of languages and the scattering of peoples.

Patriarchs

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

Ancestral figures who are considered the founders of the Israelite nation.

Abrahm

First patriarch; considered the father of the Israelite nation.

Faith and obedience is tested by God when he is asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Originally named Abram; his name was changed to Abraham, meaning “father of multitude,” as part of God’s covenant with him.

Made a pivotal covenant with God, which is a central theme in the Hebrew Bible. This promise included:

• A promise of numerous descendants

• The promise of the land of Canaan.

• The promise of blessing to all nations through him

Isaac

Second patriarch; son of Abraham.

His birth was miraculous, as his parents were elderly.

He is a figure of continuity, carrying on the covenant that God made with Abraham. So he inherited the covenant.

Jacob (Israel)

Third patriarch; the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the twin brother of Esau.

His name was changed to Israel, and his name became the name of the Israelite nation. He wrestled a divine being, who turned out to be God, and that’s who changed his name.

12 sons of Israel (12 Tribes of Israel)

Ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. These sons were born to Jacob.

Covenant

A sacred agreement of promise, especially between God and his people.

Key covenants in the Hebrew Bible include the covenants with Abraham, Moses (at Sinai), and David.

Bronze Age

Historical period (c.3300-1200 BCE); Amorites and Canaanite traditions form the backdrop.

The cultural and religious practices of these people influenced the development of Israelite religion and culture.

Amorites and Canaanites

Groups living in the land of Canaan before the Israelites.

The Hebrew Bible portrays a complex relationship between the Israelites and these groups, including conflict and cultural exchange.

Exodus

The departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

A foundational event in Israelite history and theology, signifying God’s deliverance and the establishment if the covenant at Sinai.

Joseph of Egypt

Son of Jacob; his story explains how the Israelites came to be in Egypt.

Favorite son of Jacob, was sold into slavery by his brothers out of jealousy.

Moses

Leader of the Exodus; received the Torah (the five books that compile the HB) / (The Ten Commandments).

He was called by God to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

The central figure in the Torah, mediating the covenant between God and Israel.

He was found by Pharaoh’s daughter in a river, she adopted him, and named him Moses. He was raised as an Egyptian prince.

Egyptian New Kingdom empire

Late Bronze Age period (1550-1070 BCE); empire that ruled Egypt and influenced the region.

The New Kingdom followed the expulsion of the Hyksos, a foreign Semetic people who ruled parts of Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period.

With Egypt reunited under native rule, pharaohs launched an era of empire building and religious reforms.

Jacob blesses his sons

Jacob, nearing death, gathers his twelve sons to speak to each of them individually where he blesses them.

These blessing often foreshadowed the future of the tribes and explains the origins and characteristics of the twelve tribes.

Thutmose III battle @Megiddo

One of Egypt’s greatest warrior pharaohs, during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom.

Led the Battle of Mediddo and was a major military victory.

His battle at Megiddo is a significant event in the Late Bronze Age, demonstrating Egyptian power in the region.

Ramessides

Dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs (19th and 20th Dynasties).

Ramesses II and Ramesses III are known for their military campaigns, monumental architecture, and efforts to restore Egypt’s empire and prestige after earlier religious turmoil.

Ramesses II- Jafa gate

Egyptian pharaoh; (1279-1213 BCE); associated with the story of the Jaffa gate, which highlights Egyptian military tactics.

Archeological excavations have uncovered parts of a fortress, including a gateway bearing instructions with Ramesses II’s royals titles, indicating the city’s importance within Egypt’s imperial network.

Ramesses III battle with the Seas Peoples

Egyptain pharaoh (1186-1155 BCE); his battle with the Sea Peoples is important for understanding the Philistine origins, as the Philistines were part of this confederation.

Sea Peoples

Mysterious group of seafarers who attacked Egypt and other Eastern Mediterranean lands; associated with the Philistines.

Their arrival marked a period of upheaval and change in the region.

Philistines

People who settled on the southern coast of Canaan.

A major rival of the Israelites in the early Iron Age.

Known in Egyptian records as Pelset.

Lived in Pentapolis.

Merneptah Stele

Egyptian inscription (1207 BCE) carved with hieroglyphs and features a poem glorifying Merneptah’s victories.

Contains the earliest known reference to “Israel” outside of the Bible.

1207 BCE

Pharaoh Merneptah was ruling Egypt.

Merneptah claimed to defeat several cities and peoples, including “Israel”, in what became the Merneptah Stele.

Provides evidence for the existence of Israel in the late 13th century BCE.

Late Bronze Age

End of the Late Bronze Age empire (c. 1200 BCE); a period of widespread societal collapse in the Eastern Mediterranean.

This collapse allowed new groups, including the Israelites and Phlilistines to emerge.

Emergence of Early Israel

Early Iron Age (1200-1000 BCE)

A period of settlement and formation of Israelite identity in the land of Canaan.

This group would eventually develop into the kingdom of Israel and Judah.

Joshua- conquest

Successor to Moses, who led the Israelites into Canaan (the Promised Land) after Moses’ death, and took over the land.

The Book of Joshua describes the conquest of Canaan.

Hazor (destroyed!)

Canaanite city destroyed during the conquest narrative (in the Book of Joshua, who is said to have burned it)

The Book of Joshua attributes its destruction to Israelite conquest.

Jericho- falls (Rehab)

the first city attacked by the Israelites after they crossed the Jordan River into Canaan. It eventually fell the the Israelites.

Rehab, a Canaanite woman and outsider (described as a prostitute) helped the Israelite spies on their mission to scout the land before the attack.

Judges

tribal leaders chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from their enemies

Septuagint

Greek translation of the Bible

The Southern Levant

Canaan in the Bible

Dead Sea Scrolls

Oldest scrolls of Bible texts that were discovered in the Dead Sea

Masoretic Text

Oldest copies of codex

Orignal Texts

Hebrew (Dead Sea Scrolls)

Aramaic

Translations

Greek (Septuagint)

Latin

Arabic “Tell” / Hebrew ‘Tel”

A visible mound from super imposed layers of occupation.

Comes from the Arabic or Hebrew word tilu —> “destroyed city”

Habitus (practice theory)

People’s understanding of how the world operates

Amorites

inhabitants of Amurru (North Levant, Bronze - Iron Ages)

Genesis

A book of ancient Israel’s culture

Links God’s promise to Abraham with Israel’s right to Canaan.

Mnemohistory

the historical study of the workings of cultural memory.

Patriarchs

Males, said to derive from:

Abraham, (Reception of the covenant)

Isaac, (Commitment of the covenant)

and Jacob/Israel, (Beneficiaries of the covenant)

They made up God’s covenant (Contract/agreements with Israel).

Patriarchal narratives

Frames the origins of the people of Israel and their relationships to their neighbors.

Eber

eponymous ancestor of Hebrews (‘ibiri)

Samson

Judge known for his strength and his conflicts with the Philistines.

His story illustrates the themes of divine power and human weakness.

Samuel

A Judge and prophet; annoited Saul and David.

A transitional figure between the period of Judges and the monarchy.

Early kingship

Saul, David, Solomon

The establishment of the monarrchy marked a significant change in Israelite political and social organization.

Saul (1st king)

First King of Israel

His reign was marked by struggles against the Philistines and internal conflicts.

David (2nd king)

Second king of Israel; known for uniting the kingdom and establishing Jerusalem as the capital.

Solomon (3rd king)

Third king of Israel; known for building the temple in Jerusalem and for his wisdom.

His reign also saw the expansion of trade and royal power.

Rehoboam / Jeroboam

Kings whose reign led to the division of the kingdom into Judah (south) and Israel (north)

The division had significant political and religious consequences.

Tel Dan Stele

Erected by Hazel of Damascus

Inscription that mentions the “House of David”

Intended as a “victory stele” mentioning that Hazel defeated the kings of “the house of David” and Israel (divided monarchy period).

The Amarna Letters

Letters from Levantine rulers to Egyptian Pharaohs

‘Apiru / Habiru

social identity: outlaws, refugees, displaced.

Mentioned in Amarna letters; perceived as a threat to Egyptian control.

Jephthah

Judge of Israel (talked about in the Book of Judges).

When the Amorites threatened Israel, the elders of Gildead sought his help, who agreed to help them in battle, but on the condition that he would become their head if they were victorious.

The Book of Joshua

Describes the Isrealites conquest of Canaan, lead by Joshua.

Part of Deuternomistic History.

Tel Qasile

Northernmost Philistine site with late 11th-centruy BC destructions.

The destruction at Tel Qasile associated with Philistine presence.

Sons of Samuel

Were made Judges. But they were corrupt, which led the Israelites to demand a king.

Sites with 11th century destructions

Tel Qasile X

Megiddo

Migration of the Tribe of Dan

Philistines forced the migration of The Tribe of Dan.

Lost their territory, migrated north from Jaffa to Tel Dan.

City of Leshem was captured and renamed Dan by the Tribe of Dan.

Tribe of Dan

Dan was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), and therefore one of the twelve tribes.

Covenant Law Code

Legal codes given by God to Moses as part of the Sinai Covenant with the Israelites.

Destruction of Egyptian fortress @ Jaffa (port/fortress)

Late Bronze Age; Canaanite resistance to Egyptian rule.

The Israelite conquest of Canaan

The Israelite conquest of Canaan involved the destruction of

Jericho

Ai

Hazor (Joshua burned)

Khirbet Qeiyafa

An early Hebrew text from the late 11th century BC was found there.

Shaaraim?

Philistines

Emerged after the Late Bronze Age collapse; settled on the Southern coast of the Canaan.

Enemies of the Israelites.

Known in Egyptian records as “Pelset”.

Philistine Pentapolis

Gaza

Ashkelon

Ashdod

Ekron

Gath

Canaan

Ancient name for the land that God promised Abraham and his descendants.

Corresponds to the area of modern-day Israel.

Philistia

This region, located on the southwestern coast of Canaan, was the territory of the Philistines.

Phoenicia

This was a coastal region N. of Israel, roughly corresponding to modern-day Lebanon.

The Phoenicians were known for their seafaring trade and cities like Tyre and Sidon.

Judah

One of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after Jacob’s son Judah.

Judah became the name of the southern kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Beth Shean

Mentioned to be in connection with the Israelite conquest of Canaan.

After the death of King Saul in battle against the Philistines at Mount Gliboa, the Philisitines hung his body and the bodies of his sons on the walls of Beth Shean.

Bethel

Became an important religious center, sometimes competing with Jerusalem, especially in the northern kingdom of Israel after the kingdom divided.

Jericho

Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Bethal

Bethal

Ashkelon

Ashkelon

Hazor

Hazor

Beth Shean

Beth Shean

Tel Dan

Tel Dan

Jaffa

Jaffa

Tel Qasile

Tel Qasile