Exodus Part Two: Population of the Exodus Group.

First of all, the Judges period clearly covers the 400+ years (actually 600+) years that would be between the Exodus and Monarchy.There were no stories of Egyptian opression and for good reason;the Egyptians werent the Israelites (main) problem during that period but the Canaanites were.2nd, the Patriarchal period could only fit into the time-period from 2000BCE to 1650 BCE. Detail after detail ONLY fits that period and and that period alone. If I had more time, I would cover this important period. (though my posts would be drowned out by substance-free disruptors, even some who have the audacity to carry a screen name after an important patriarch)One quick detail in the patriarchal narratives is the price that Joseph was sold into slavery for.It was 20 shekels of silver(Gen 37:28).Diverse ancient Near Eastern texts show that the universal price for slaves from roughly 1900BE to 1650BCE was 20 shekels of silver.After that, the price was 30 shekels till c1300 BCE.I wanted to wait till I had time to cover the Patriarchal period, but I will present links to complete Biblical Archaeology Review debates between Kenneth Kitchen and Ronald Hendel.The only problem is that Hendel got the first and last word (multi-month articles exchanges).Which is why I wanted to wait so I could respond to Hendel plus other articles I would link.(link coming up in few days when I have time).

I agree that the "Judges period" would have been somewhere between the "Exodus" and monarchy, roughly 1500 to 1050 BCE, not quite 600 years as you contend.I disagree with you concerning Israelite traditions of Egyptian oppression. The early Israelites were Canaanite in culture, and since we know that Canaan was Egyptian tribute for nearly 400 years, It would be hard to imagine these Canaanites forgetting their servitude to Egypt. It was only under a weakened Egypt that indipendant Kingdoms of Phoenicia, Philistia, Israel, Judah, Ammon, and Moab developed around at the beginning of the Iron age, 1200-1000 BC.I perfectly agree with you on the patriarchal timetable, approximately 2000 to 1650 BC, in the Middle Bronze age.

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nimrod
First of all, the Judges period clearly covers the 400+ years (actually 600+) years that would be between the Exodus and Monarchy.There were no stories of Egyptian opression and for good reason;the Egyptians werent the Israelites (main) problem during that period but the Canaanites were.

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There were hardly any canaanites post-Joshua; hardly any canaanite discoveries or canaanite writings exist post-Joshua. Six of the eight kingdoms were destroyed in the war, while the two canaanite kingdoms enjoined with the Israelites, living together till the Kings period (David negotiated for the Jerusalem hilltop with the Jebusites). The battles which prevailed for 150 years after this period related to other groups, namely the battles incurred with Deborah, and the last one being the Philistines, which marked the sovereign period of kings and the whole territory marked for Israel.

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2nd, the Patriarchal period could only fit into the time-period from 2000BCE to 1650 BCE. Detail after detail ONLY fits that period and and that period alone. If I had more time, I would cover this important period. )

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Moses was not a patriachal figure, which ended with Jacob.

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(though my posts would be drowned out by substance-free disruptors, even some who have the audacity to carry a screen name after an important patriarch

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Shall I change my birth name? Was Nimrod your patriachal father or birth name: I usually do not like getting personal, but you do?

Actually there were many Canaanites and Philistines up until the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks conquered them. Wealthy cities like Sidon, Tyre, Zarephath, Kanah, Hammon, and Gebal. The Philistines at Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ashdod, were living there as late as the 600's BC until Nebuchadrezar's conquest.By 1200 BC, Israel was settling in the central hills of Canaan, south of Beth-shean and Megiddo, but north of Gezer and Jerusalem, as teh Mernepta Stele indicates.By 1000 BC, this territory had expanded greatly under king David.

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Actually there were many Canaanites and Philistines up until the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks conquered them. Wealthy cities like Sidon, Tyre, Zarephath, Kanah, Hammon, and Gebal.

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I'm not sure what 'many' means, but there were only possible remnants here; two of the eight canaanite kingdoms remained, and the texts show these two were living with the Israelites. The remnants would be in a state of disipitation: we have no writings or historical identities here of canaanites, not from Babylon or any of the surrounding areas; there were no 'arabs' at this time, but there were kurds and then coptics. The ancient Egyptians too were not around when Greece conquered Persia. This was a time of a breakdown of the region, first with the fall of Babylon (the entire Mesopotamia block), which was under attack from Persia, and then Europe. After 1000 BCE, the only philistines remaining were iron-smiths, and this was not a force anymore. The name Palestinians surfaced again when Rome invaded Judea in 70 CE and Jews became Palestinians till 1965. 80% of the Jews were now dispersed in Arabia and Europe, when christianity emerged as a force, and a church was erected where now stands the Al Aqsa mosque, destroyed again when Islam emerged. I know of no canaanite books or a history of his peoples, by themselves or from any other source - aside from the Hebrew writings.

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The Philistines at Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ashdod, were living there as late as the 600's BC until Nebuchadrezar's conquest.
By 1200 BC, Israel was settling in the central hills of Canaan, south of Beth-shean and Megiddo, but north of Gezer and Jerusalem, as teh Mernepta Stele indicates.

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By 1000 BC, this territory had expanded greatly under king David.

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Which says Egypt's stele reported a falsehood: Israel was not destroyed at this time. This is in keeping with Egypt's history of erasing any negative factors, and embellishing it with a false glory. Egypt was over-taken in 500 BCE by the newly emerging arab force, which infiltrated the copts under the guise of protection from the invading Greeks.

I understand that inland Canaan was under Israelite control from before 1200 to 720 BC. The large population centers were concentrated near the coast, in what would be called Phoenicia--an ally to monarchic Israel.The Merneptah stele was likely exaggerated, I agree. But it indicates from a south to north geographic approximation, the enemies of the state: Ashkelon, Gezer, Yano'am, and Israel--distinct coalitions Egypt either met in battle or claimed to have. Israel of course, did not become extinct and became a successful kingdom just 175 years later.Early Israel generally controlled hilly inland territory of deserts and highlands. Canaan and Philistia controlled the coastal commercial centers, which Israel never fully gained.

None of the semite nations were able to defeat the Philistines for a 1000 years, and for two main reasons:1. They operated as a terrorist organisation, fortifying their strongholds in complicated, underground cities, with a maze of tunnels, designed to trap any adversaries attacking. The tunnels in Gaza today represents the original Philistine HQs. Here, they even built a huge underground temple with their diety called Dagon. Figures like Samson caused them damage and destroyed the temple, but was not able to eliminate them. The philistines operated as pirates of the sea before settling in the M/E.2. They introduced 'iron' in the M/E, and wore fortified irom masks and carried iron weaponry, which was a formidable new weapon at this time.They were finally defeated by King David at Gaza, and were never a force again. In 70 CE, the Romans dumped this name on the jews and their homeland, which held for 2000 years. In the recent period after the Ottomon Empire collapsed, in the midst of chaos when the Brits replaced the Ottomons, Egypt illegally assumed control of Gaza, and Jordan of the west bank, which were never recognised by the UN. This was originally part of Israel, regained back following the war in '67. At this time, under Arafat, the name Palestinian (latinised from Philistine) was again resurrected, but is unrelated to the philistines.