The Occupation of Canaan

1
The Occupation of Canaan

• How did the Israelites gain control of the
  central hill country of Palestine?

2
Types of Evidence

• Biblical
• Archaeological
• Textual

3
Biblical

• Joshua 1-4 and 6-8 Jericho and Ai
• Joshua 10-11 Other campaigns
• Joshua 9 Gibeonites
• Joshua 13 Land remaining to be possessed
• Joshua 23 Do not mix with foreign nations that
  remain
• Judges 1 Conquests by tribal groups

4
Archaeological Evidence

• Ruins of cities
• Jericho walled city destroyed 300 years before
  Joshua unwalled village during 13th century BCE
• Ai unoccupied 2400-1200 small settlement around
  1200 BCE
• Megiddo Canaanite city no evidence of Israelite
  destruction in 13th century

5
Archaeological Evidence

• Ruins of cities
• Debir no late Bronze Age destruction small
  village from 12th century
• Hazor major city, clear evidence of destruction
  by war and fire
• Others some cities little or no evidence some
  destroyed by Egyptians some not identified.

6
Archaeological Evidence

• New Settlements in the Central Hill Country
• New technology
• Limestone lined cisterns
• Terraced farming
• Improved tools
• Village structures
• Dwellings for 2-4 extended families
• Individual grain pits

7
El Amarna Letters

• Correspondence between Egyptian pharaohs and
  rulers of Canaanite city-states
• Found in an Egyptian palace dating to 14th
  century BCE
• Written in Akkadian on clay texts

8
El Amarna Letters

• Reflect Egyptian domination over Canaan
• Mention threats from Habiru outlaws
• Refer to Shasu herders who raid cities
• Payment of taxes to Egypt for protection
• Cities control land and villages
• Marked social stratefication
• Rivalries among city-states
• Deterioration of Canaanite culture due to
  conflicts with Egypt and Habiru and Shasu

9
Theories of Occupation

• Process of slow migration
• Various groups enter over extended period of
  time, gradually develop common identity
• Assimilation of groups already present in land
• Peaceful process
• Twelve tribes is later description

10
Theories of Occupation

• External Attack
• Israelites enter Canaan from the desert
• Conquer the land as a whole
• Under the leadership of Joshua
• Most of twelve tribes involved

11
Theories of Occupation

• Internal Uprising
• A small portion of Israelites escape from slavery
  and worship God of liberation
• Hebrews who are peasants in an oppressive
  Canaanite city-state system join the Israelites
• Over time these combined groups attack
  city-states, conquering some but not others and
  settling in some previously unoccupied areas