The bible tells us that after escaping Egypt the Israelites go all whup-ass on the Canaanites taking over the “Promised Land.” However there is virtually nothing in the archeological record to support this. 

Here’s the bible’s take on how the Israelites got their god given land. 

Key Biblical Accounts of Conquests 

• Numbers 21:
  • Heshbon: Defeated King Sihon of the Amorites.
  • Bashan: Defeated King Og.
• Joshua 6-12:
  • Jericho (Joshua 6): Destroyed after the walls famously fell.
  • Ai (Joshua 7-8): Captured and destroyed.
  • Gibeon (Joshua 9-10): Becomes a vassal through a treaty.
  • Lachish, Hebron, Jarmuth, Eglon (Joshua 10): Defeated as part of a southern campaign.
  • Hazor (Joshua 11): Burned and destroyed during the northern campaign.
• Judges 1:
  • Describes partial conquests and failures to fully drive out the Canaanites in some areas.

Archaeological Evidence for Biblical Conquests

• Jericho:
  • Evidence: Excavations at Tell es-Sultan (ancient Jericho) show that the city was destroyed around 1550 BCE, well before the traditionally dated time of the Exodus (13th or 15th century BCE). The city was unoccupied during the supposed time of Joshua.
  • Conclusion: The Biblical story of Jericho’s conquest is not supported by archaeology.
• Ai:
  • Evidence: Identified with Khirbet et-Tell, this site shows no evidence of occupation during the time of Joshua.
  • Conclusion: The conquest narrative does not align with the archaeological record.
• Hazor:
  • Evidence: Hazor (Tell Hazor) was destroyed by fire in the 13th century BCE. This destruction aligns with the period some scholars associate with the Israelite entry into Canaan.
  • Conclusion: Archaeological evidence supports a destruction event, but it is debated whether Israelites were responsible.
• Other Cities:
  • Lachish, Hebron, and others have evidence of destruction layers, but attributing these to the Israelites versus other groups (e.g., Egyptians, Sea Peoples) is challenging due to overlapping timelines.

So if they didn’t come storming in from Egypt conquering the heathen Canaanites as depicted  in the Bible what’s the story? 

The big city cousins of the Israelites, the Canaanites were on their heels during the Bronze Age Collapse. The break down of their centralized city states along with collapses among the other great civilizations of the Bronze Age, the Egyptians, Mycenaean, Mesopotamia and others created a void that ole’ Snuffy Smithberg was able to establish a separate culture. 

The earliest textual mention in the archaeological record of Israel as a people is the Merneptah Stele (c. 1207 BCE). However it lists them socio-ethnic group rather than a political entity, implying a loosely organized, rural society.

So it wouldn’t be incorrect to think of Judah as some kind of Semitic Dogpatch. This raises the question of why the God of all humanity would choose this modest community to be His chosen people.