Lecture by Wolfgang Zwickel on "The Possible Earliest Reference to Israel and its Archaeological and Historical Background"

The Possible Earliest Reference to Israel and its Archaeological and Historical Background

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Zwickel
Seminar für Altes Testament und Biblische Archäologie Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Manfred Görg proposed to read the name Israel on a broken Egyptian inscription ÄM 21687, which is now kept in the storage facilities of the New Museum in Berlin. New research during the last number of years has confirmed this reading, although the writing of the name is different from that of the Merenptah inscription. Some characteristics appear to demonstrate that this inscription is older than the Israel Stela of Merenptah and may likely date to the 14th or earlier 13th century BCE. The lecture will present some ideas about an earlier beginning of the formation of what is generally called Israel and about the way in which this early Israel came about.

All are welcome.