http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-ar ... 1350bc.htm
http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/dail ... of-israel/
I have provided a few links above, but just became aware of the "Berlin Pedestal" which supposedly has "Israel" on it- and can be dated possibly before the Merneptah Stele? Has anybody else heard or read about this? Would it make any difference in the Exodus stories if Isreal existed as a community like Canaan in the 1300's? Some bible scholars are trying to state that it would.
I tend to believe that there was a slow evolution of folks out of Egypt over time, including those who would eventually call themselves Israelites-- but it didn't go down exactly as the OT says it did. Would this discovery of the Berlin Pedestal make any difference?
earliest reference to Israel?
Re: earliest reference to Israel?
Interesting, Kris. I'd never heard of it before. I did manage to find this article on the subject, which is worth a read.