Early Israel

2. Early Israel

The Jacob clan of Genesis becomes the nation of Israel in Exodus (see Chapter 3). The account of early Israel before the conquest of Canaan is found in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Joshua, Judges, and the early chapters of 1 Samuel provide accounts of Israel's initial efforts to secure possession of Canaan.

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Anthropoid Sarcophagi, that is, human-shaped burial containers, in this case made out of pottery. From the Cemetery at Deir el-Balah, late bronze period: 14th-13th century B.C.E. These sarcophagi show Egyptian influence. Palestine was largely controlled by Egypt in the Late Bronze age. Egyptian influence weakened in the thirteenth century allowing for both Israelites and Philistines to enter the land.