The document provides an overview of the origins and early history of Israel based on textual and archaeological evidence. It discusses the multiple sources of the biblical narratives, including the J, E, D, and P documents, and debates around their dating and authenticity. Key areas of debate are highlighted such as the emergence of the Hebrews/Israelites, whether the conquest of Canaan was a military invasion or gradual settlement, and problems with inconsistencies in the biblical texts. Modern biblical scholarship is considered in evaluating this evidence.

1. History
Extension
Topic 2:
The Origins and Early History of Israel

2. History is a
PROCESS
At its most basic, history is an attempt
to record what has happened in the
past.
(Webb, p.1)

3. There are many processes for recording
history.....
Documentaries
Time Life’s Lost
Civilisations
Inscriptions
Artwork Tel Dan Stele
Mesha Stele
Merneptah Stele
Archaeological Process of Epigraphical
digs recording evidence
History Arad Lachish
letters
Modern
Films historians
The 10 Finkelstein &
Commandments The Silberman; Miller &
Hayes
Bible

4. KNOW
THE
HISTORIAN
E. H. CARR

5. The Origins & Early
History of Israel
Principal focus
Students investigate changing
interpretations of the evidence relating
to the origins and early history of Israel
(BOS p.15)

6. Origins & Impact of
naming archaeological
of evidence
Hebrews
Origins & Early Conquest or
settlement?
History of Israel
Areas of debate
Emergence of
Textual the monarchy
problems & kingdom of
of the Israel
biblical
narratives

7. Textual problems of the
Biblical narrative
sources dating authenticity inconsistencies

8. Textual problems of the
Biblical narrative
Biblical references to be considered for this case study are:
Genesis
The emergence of Abraham and the Jewish Patriarchs in the Land of Israel
Exodus, Numbers & Deuteronomy
Enslavement in Egypt, the Exodus and journeys in Sinai and Trans-Jordan
Joshua & Judges
Invasion and settlement in Canaan-Israel
Samuel, Chronicles & Kings
Detailed accounts of the emergence of the monarchies of the united Jewish
Kingdom and the successor states of Judah and Israel.

9. Sources

10. First 5 books of the Bible are considered to
be ‘divine’ – directly from the mouth of
God.
Moses is credited in the Bible as author.
Much of the Bible was developed through
oral traditions such as poetry, recitation
and storytelling.
Documentary Hypothesis: The 4 original
writers of the Pentateuch
• J (9th century BCE, Judah)
• E (8th century BCE, Israel)
• D (7th century BCE, Judah)
• P (5th century BCE, possible exile)

11. J&E
The oldest sources – sometimes difficult to separate. They often tell the
same or similar stories. Easiest way to differentiate is through the name used
for the deity. J uses YHWH. E first uses Elohim, and after the name is
revealed to Moses at the burning bush then moves to YHWH.
P
This source is more easily identifiable, as it tends to show a priestly interest.
The style is very formal and focuses on things like genealogies, numbers, cult
and religion, purity and holiness. Entire books such as Leviticus have been
assigned to P.
D
This has been suggested to be (by some scholars such as De Witte) the book
of law referred to in 2 Kings 22:8-13.

12. dating

13. Dates for the original oral sources cannot
be confirmed.
Dating of first written compilation
believed to be have been 1000 BCE and
650 BCE.
Reliance on fragments over a great
period of time.

14. inconsistencies

15. I am Abraham, I mean Isaac, and
this is my wife, ahh...
sister, Sarah, I mean, Rebekah...
Did Isaac try this trick too?

16. Genesis 1:27 Genesis 2:18-22
So God created man in his own And the rib, which the LORD God
image, in the image of God created had taken from man, made he a
he him; male and female he woman, and brought her unto the
created them . man.
(created simultaneously) (created man first)

17. How will
WE
decide
what constitutes
Authenticity
in regards to
the Bible?

18. Modern Biblical
Scholarship to be
considered for this area
of debate:

19. references
Bloch-Smith, E., ‘Israelite ethnicity in iron I: Archaeology preserves what is remembered and what is forgotten in Israel’s
history’ in Journal of Biblical Literature 122:3 (2003) pp.401-425
Bridge, E., HST155 Archaeology and the Early History of Israel, Macquarie University 2010, Lectures 1 & 3
Dever, W., ‘Archaeology and the emergence of early Israel’ in J. Bartlett (ed) Archaeology and Biblical Interpretation (1997)
pp.20-50
Finkelstein, I. & Silberman, N., The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology’s New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origins of Its Sacred
Texts (The Free Press, New York: 2001)
Fritz, V., ‘Conquest or Settlement? The Early Iron Age in Palestine’ in Biblical Archaeologist 50:2 (1987) pp.84-100
Ian Lacey, ‘The Origins and Early History of Israel’ in Teaching History 42:2 (2008) pp. 38-42
Miller, J. & Hayes, J., A History of Ancient Israel and Judah, 3rd ed. (John Knox Press, Westminster: 2006)
NSW Board of Studies, History Extension Syllabus, (NSW BOS, Sydney: 2009)
Rendsburg, G. ‘The date of Exodus and the conquest/settlement: the case for the 1100s’ in Vetus Testamentum 42:4 (1992)
pp. 510-527
Webb, K., Extension History: The Historians (History Teachers’ Association of NSW, Annandale: 2006)
Images
Anenberg, J., Ancient Bridge in the Eilat Mountains, retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/redsea_eilat/293183807/
Asquith, P., Moses in Myer’s Park Auckland, retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasabicube/3516719963/
Conger, S., Tel Dan022 Ancient Dan, retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/dukie1/3449591489/
Costa, E., [Israel] retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/edo-finelight/2394087158/
Cranach, L., Paradise, 1536, retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lucas_Cranach_d._%C3%84._035.jpg
Enos, J., Old Bible Text, retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/notjake13/2393304429/
jamestraceur, Arch, Dome of the Rock, Israel, retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/deivorytower/204735986/
LollyKnit, Uncovering Pottery shards at Beth Shemesh, Israel retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/lollyknit/425316237/
Patsy, Bible with Questions and Answers, 2011 http://patty-patcards.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
Smolianitski, A., bible text, retrieved from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/smolianitski/3908339519/