Tidbits on Ancient Israel and the Early Bronze Age

Below I have pasted bits and pieces from a research paper I wrote on the Early Bronze Age and Israel. This is a time where there is so much that remains a mystery. Below I have attempted to piece together evidence from archeology and scholars to try and put together a time line of Israel and its early inhabitants. Early Bronze Age: 3300-2200 BC (Before the time of Abraham).

Egypt in the Early Bronze Age

Already by 3300 BC Egyptians had learned the art of writing from the Sumerians. The Egyptians adapted the Sumerian writing to their own culture and began writing with papyrus and ink. We have numerous inscriptions that reveal what life was like for the Egyptians; unfortunately, it does not mention ancient Mesopotamia. We also have stories from Manetho, an Egyptian priest who wrote down the basics of Egyptian history, including people, places, and customs. Though his work has been debated, various modern scholars have used his work to match up inscriptions leaving us with a rough estimate of Egyptian rulers and their times. Manetho tells us that once the Egyptian monarchy was established, Egypt went through 30 dynasties until around 2200 BC, the close of the Early Bronze Age. Understanding the life of the Egyptians is crucial because it gives us a glimpse into the very lives of those living close by who would have been influenced by the Egyptians.

Palestine in the Early Bronze Age

Settlements & Cultural Advancement

Around 3000 BC many abandoned villages that had previously existed in the regions of the land we will call “Palestine” during the Chalcolithic period had started to develop again. In fact, about 25 places around the country seemed to go up overnight. The towns were located on major routes, which allowed for local trade networks to be established. This was very important, especially in the trade and influence from Egypt. The towns were comprised of small houses that were usually surrounded by walls. The walls were built of rough stones or with unbaked mud brick, which varied in design and strength.

In Arad, walls were built with semicircular strongholds separated by a fixed distance. Semicircular towers, along with square towers were used to line walls at Jericho as well. By the end of the Early Bronze period some settlements were surrounded by double or triple lines of walls, making enemy attacks more difficult.[1] It is evident that the towns were thought out in advance and built accordingly. Remains at Arad and at Ai reveal that large artificial reservoirs were used to conserve water. At Megiddo and Tel-Farah the houses were arranged in blocks separated by narrow lanes, which suggested that builders followed a grid arrangement.[2]

Copper was the metal used in the Early Bronze Age, despite the name. The few tools and weapons that have been found were made from open moulds, though there is not a lot to suggest that the methods from the Chalcolithic period had been phased out. Pottery finds and a well-preserved Early Bronze kiln found at Tel Far’ah reveal the technological progress of this time period. Compared with earlier pottery, the use of the wheel and firing allowed for the clay to be prepared more carefully.[3]

Though their neighbors were advancing in writing and language, the lack of written archaeological evidence would suggest that the inhabitants of this land lacked the art of writing during this time. However, according to Gabi Barkay, a well known archeologist in Israel, there was writing during this time, but just on materials that did not last.

Political situation

“The number of times the fortifications of Jericho, Tel-Far’ah and Ai, were repaired and strengthened suggests that this was not a peaceful period.”[5] Inter-town rivalry could have contributed to the abandonment of many towns at the end of this period. In fact, Egyptian records reveal that there was military intervention that occurred from the country.[6]

However, it would appear that most Early Bronze towns, like Arad and Tel Far’ah were abandoned peacefully. What are the reasons? There are various indications that an established relationship between the inhabitants of “Palestine” and the Egyptians existed. In fact, at Arad, a symbol of the King of Egypt was found dating to about 3000 BC proving that some sort of trade interaction existed between the two regions. Pottery vessels made in Israel were also found in Egypt. If there was a large Egyptian trade decline, this could have caused the towns to be abandoned due to a severe economic decline. Unfortunately, we do not have a definite reason for this abandonment. Other artifacts continue to prove that some sort of interaction existed between the people living in Egypt and in “Palestine.” In Abados, a monumental palette of Narmer was identified revealing Narmer in Canaanite dress. At the bottom of the palette “sand dwellers,” stood in defensive poses.[7] A walled city is also seen on the bottom right side illustrating the current city structure of the people living in “Canaan”. Lastly, a desert kite can be depicted on the palette. These were hunting structures that were specific to Southern Israel. The only way the Egyptians would have known what they looked like was for them to actually be in contact with the people living there.

Additional Events within Ancient Texts

A commander of the army during the reign of Pharaoh Pepy I in 2300 BC took an expedition to the land of the “Antelope-nose,” otherwise known as Carmel. He writes, “I made a landing at the rear of the heights of the mountain range on the north of the land of the Sand-Dwellers. While a full half of this army was on the road, I arrived, I caught them all, and every backslider among them was slain.”[8] He describes the land as an area with 20-25 big cities. He also reveals that the language, along with the identity of the people is unknown.[9] Soon after the condition of these cities began to change. Some became bigger with large fortification walls while many became neglected or destroyed, leaving settlements abandoned and desolate. Perhaps with further excavations the mystery of those living in this land during the Early Bronze age will be uncovered.

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[1] James B. Prichard, ed., The Times Atlas of the Bible, ed. James B. Prichard (New Jersey: Crescent Books, 1996).

[2] Ibid, 28.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Dr. Yigal Levine, "Class Notes 9/07/09."

[5] Prichard, The Times Atlas of the Bible.

[6] Ibid, 29.

[7] Dr. Yigal Levine, "Class Notes 9/07/09."

[8] James B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts, ed. James B. Pritchard (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1955).

[9] Ibid.