ISRAEL

The history of the Jewish people begins with Abraham. His story begins when G-d tells him to leave his homeland promising him and his descendants a new home in the land of Canaan (Genesis 12). This is the land now known as Israel after Abraham’s grandson whose descendants are the Jewish people.

The land is often referred to as the Promised Land because of G-d’s repeated promise (Genesis 12:7; 13.15; 15:18; 17:8) to give the land to the descendants of Abraham.

The land of Israel is central to Judaism. A substantial portion of Jewish law is tied to the land of Israel, and can only be performed there.

Some rabbis have declared that it is a mitzvah (commandment) to take possession of Israel and to live in it (Numbers 33:53)

The Talmud indicates that the land itself is so holy that merely walking in it can gain you a place in the World to Come.

Prayers for a return to Israel and Jerusalem are included in daily prayers as well as many holiday observances and special events.

Living outside of Israel is viewed as an unnatural state for a Jew.

The world outside of Israel is often referred to as "galut," which is usually translated as "diaspora" (dispersion), but a more literal translation would be "exile" or "captivity."

When Jews live outside of Israel, they are living in exile from their land.

Jews were exiled from the land of Israel by the Romans in 135 CE, after they defeated the Jews in a three-year war, and Jews did not have any control over the land again until 1948 CE.

Main cities in Canaan were fortified.

Trojan wars, Hittites invasions of Asia Minor. People sailing from Greece to coasts of Canaan, Phoenicia and Egypt. One of these groups Palasta, Philistines, who came and occupied Gaza

13th century, Hebrews took hold of these advantages and occupied areas in central highlands: Israelite.

Archaeologists uncovered pots, jars, houses of peasant farmers who were Canaanite which suggests that the setttlements were established peacefully.

Israel began as a social revolution within Canaan.

Letters in 14th century BCE written to Pharaoh in Egypt: complaints about groups causing turmoil in Canaan.

Marginal social group: Canaanites in revolt called Habbiru.

Some suggested that Israelites escaping from Egypt may have joined with these disaffected peoples to establish their own settlements rather than follow Pharaoh.

Israelites were Canaanites who developed a separate identity and settled in central highlands. No reasons given. They withdrew for some reason. They worshipped G-d of the Covenant.

Hebrews not united people at this stage.

Local foreigners – Midianites, etc., merged with the community. Not large-scale immigration or initiation of anything radically new.

Elements of the group may have brought the story of escape from Egypt and talked of YHWH.

Mixed group that would join together to become Israel accepted YHWH and would have adopted the national story of the Exodus as their own at some point.

Hebrew tribes themselves were still in formation

Tribal structure of Israelite society that would develop would be strengthened by the natural division of the land into these separate geographical areas.

Local tribes probably assimilated elements of local population

Ethnic mix e.g G-d as tent dweller ‘El’; Reminiscent of Ba-al; in the Book of Judges, the Temple is mentioned as ‘Ba-al Berit’ ‘El Berit’ describe the G-d of the covenant.

We can hypothesise a union of cultural religious and ethnic elements -

* Local Canaanite agriculturalists

* Semi-nomadic Hebrews of Exodus

* Escaped slaves

* Habbiru

- who would come together to make a new political and religious reality called Israel.

Joshua provides different accounts.

Outside conquest by means of war led by hosts of the Lord

Military skill is far less important than ritual preparation and purity (Jericho)

Conquest represented as miraculous victory by G-d

Decimation of the Canaanites – intense rivalry maybe between differentiations of Canaanites and Jews who were from Canaan.

Preserving distinct identity (Joshua 23 and 24)

One proper response to G-d is to observe the Torah by not inter-marrying because, in doing so, they would have to worship other gods.

Choose who they serve: YHWH or those whose lands they’re settling in.

Ban on inter-marriage has to do with religious purity.

Israel is to show undivided loyalty to G-d or G-d will take the gift of the land from Israel as he did from the Canaanites.