History of the Holy Land. Part 1.

I will go through the land-known-today-as-Israel's history.
The Holy Land.
 Land of Canaan.
 Southern Levant.
 Palestine.

Not even I know what to call this land exactly. Each name holds political overtones. So I will go with The Holy Land.

Then I will pull in anything from the Bible that was missed. Anything I think interesting and applicable.

I don't know that much about the Holy Land's history, so this will be fascinating to me.


1,500,000 BC

Remains of Homo Erectus, homonoid from Africa in the Pleistocene Era, were found just south of the Sea of Galilee, in the Jezreel Valley.

I am more interested in the past 4,000 years so we will just jump forward. And also, I am most interested in man's history in the Holy Land.


10,000 BC Neolithic Revolution

Jericho, ruins from 10,000 BC

Stone Age hunters abandoned nomadic life. This is called the Neolithic Revolution. Those smart guys domesticated animals, planted crops. We think this started globally in Mesopotamia. Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Holy Land.

They've found ruins of settlements from 10,000 BC near Jericho (north of Dead Sea.)  Small farming villages grew in this area.

The Egyptians ruled the Holy Land for 150 years

3,500 BC to 1,000 BC Canaanite/ Egyptian Period

Several of these small farming villages grew into independent city-states. Mud-brick defensive walls were their main defense.

As an aside, Jericho is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world. Trade was part of their life, with Egypt and Syria.

For 150 years of this time, the Canaanites were vassals to Egypt. That ended in 1178 BC when the Sea Peoples (including the Canaanites) defeated the Egyptians (under Ramses III) at the Battle of Djahy.

Honestly, "the Sea Peoples" has to be one of the best names for an ancient confederation. Or modern one, even. They were the inhabitants of the northeastern Mediterranean. Greece and Asia Minor. I think.



1,178 BC to 732 BC Israelite Period

Two groups of people invaded the Holy Land about the same time. 1,200 BC to 1,000 BC.

The Philistines came from Greece or Asia Minor, settled in the southwest part of the Holy Land. Right on the coast. They integrated with the native Canaanites.

The name "Palestine" means "land of the Philistines." You can see their kingdom on the map to the right, Philistia.

Goliath the Giant was a Philistine.

The Hebrews rose up in power to control the larger part of the Holy Land, the northern part, which they called the Kingdom of Israel.

Israel was Jacob's God-given name after he struggled with the angel (see prior post.) He was the father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. One of the big three Patriarchs (with his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac.)

For about one hundred years, 1030 BC to 930 BC, under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon these two were united as one Kingdom... we now call it the United Kingdom of Israel, to avoid confusion. It's in blue on the map to the right.

King David

In my mind, King David and King Solomon laid the foundation for the Jewish Nation.

Yes, God promised Abraham a nation, and Isaac, and Jacob.

He empowered Moses to save His chosen people from slavery in Egypt, gave us the 10 commandments through him, and also the concept of Passover.

I see your point.

But  it was David who truly ruled as a King anointed by God. He captured Jerusalem, wrote lots of Psalms. He slew the giant Goliath. Was really nice to King Saul, even when I would have given up. He did have an affair with an army officer's wife and then had that officer killed. So right, no one is perfect. Thank you David.

King Solomon

It was Solomon who built the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. When asked what gift he wanted from God, he asked for wisdom to rule. Not riches. And who anywhere isn't in awe of his decision on the two women, both claiming to be the mother of a baby. "Cut the child in half and share." What mother would do that? He was wise.

These two are so fascinating, I want to write on them in a future blog post. Back to the history, Jack.


There is much discussion and differing of opinions on the Holy Land's history in this era.  Wars are still being fought.  Many take the Bible or the Torah as fact. Many don't, and go to the opposite point of view.  This paragraph is a great understatement of the GINORMOUS chasm separating beliefs. Differing religious beliefs really matter when land and/or resources are involved. The concept of "you do your thing, I'll do mine" is followed much more easily when each side has their own land and money, separately.

Merneptah Stele, 1209 BC

From what I read, archeological evidence agrees with many of the biblical events. There is not evidence to support everything recorded the bible, but that is also the case in other civilizations when you are going back three thousand years.

Here's the Merneptah Stele, from 1209 BC in Thebes, Egypt.  Celebrating Egyptian battle victories. First it talks about fighting with the Sea People. (Again the Sea People!) Then a mention of the Egyptians fighting in Canaan, which they controlled. They "laid waste to Israel." This is the first archeological find using the word "Israel." Pretty cool.

King Solomon died about 930 BC.  The United Kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms.  Ten tribes of the Twelve Tribes of Israel broke off the northern two-thirds of the old United Kingdom from King Solomon's son, to establish the Kingdom of Israel.  Their first king was King Jeroboam I.

The remaining two tribes remained under King Solomon's son King Rehoboam, and became the Kingdom of Judah, the southern one-third of the old United Kingdom.

The Kingdom of Israel had 19 Kings until it fell to the Assyrians in about 730 BC.  The Kingdom of Judah had 20 Kings and many prophets (Isaiah, Daniel, Micah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah) until it fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC.

divided Kingdoms, after King Solomon's death

The Kingdom of Israel was comprised of ten of the Tribes of Israel.

If you are wondering why Ephraim and Manasseh are a Tribe of Israel even though they were Jacob's grandsons not his sons, you get a prize. I am smiling at you and nodding my head. Jacob gave these two sons of Joseph each status as independent tribes. Yes.

Their capital was Samaria.

Reuben
Simeon
Dan
Naphtali
Gad
Asher
Issachar
Zebulun
Ephraim
Manasseh

The Kingdom of Judah continued to be ruled by the house of David. David's grandson King Rehoboam. 
The Tribes comprising this southern kingdom had their capital at Jerusalem. Levi was the Priestly tribe, so they were allowed cities but not land.  

Judah
Benjamin
Levi (technically scattered in both Kingdoms, but mostly present in the Southern Kingdom)

More tomorrow.