Conquest of Ancient Palestine: Historical Perspectives

Objective Reporting

Modern historians aim for unbiased event documentation.

Ancient Histories

Did not prioritize strict objectivity in accounts.

Hermeneutic of Suspicion

Approach questioning the truth of biblical texts.

Sympathetic Reading

Interpreting texts without modern biases.

Conquest

Displacement of indigenous groups by military defeat.

Book of Joshua

Describes Hebrew dominance through conquest in the Levant.

Swift Subjugation

Rapid military victories leading to territorial control.

Yahweh's Promise

God's assurance of land to Joshua and Hebrews.

Book of Judges

Illustrates gradual dominance through settlement, not conquest.

Provisional Dominance

Unstable control Israel had in Jerusalem.

Archaeological Evidence

Findings complicate historical narratives of conquest.

Tel (Tell)

Layered archaeological feature from long-term habitation.

Stratum

Layer of debris assigned a specific date.

Destruction Layers

Indicate shifts in city occupation and rebuilding.

Battle of Jericho

First major city defeated by Joshua's forces.

Marching Around Jericho

Joshua's strategy involving seven days of procession.

Conquest Theory

Book of Joshua reflects accurate historical core.

Peaceful Infiltration Theory

Suggests gradual settlement rather than military conquest.

Peasant Revolt Theory

Prioritizes archaeological evidence over biblical texts.

Proto-Israelites

Canaanite peasants rising to power for economic reasons.

Theology of Conquest

Joshua's message emphasizes faith in God's rule.

Message of Judges

Loyalty to God ensures national success; disloyalty leads to disaster.