The oldest known reference to a city in Israel is in the Execration Texts, originating in ninteenth century BCE. The Execration Texts are clay tablets carved with the names of Pharaoh’s enemies. The tablets would be smashed and otherwise desecrated. Then they would be buried – a representation of the destruction of the enemies. Some towns in Canaan were mentioned on some of the tablets.

Execration Texts. Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Execration_texts

Another collection of Egyptian texts, called the Amarna Letters, mention cities in Canaan. These fourteenth century documents were letters written by Amenhotep to other rulers of Syria, Turkey, and Iraq as well as to his own appointed mayors in districts like Canaan. They are filled with information about Canaan at the time of Egyptian rule.

Amarna Letter tablet. Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarna_letters

The first mention of Israel as a land is in the Merneptah Stele. This is a large rock placed as a monument of the Egyptian king Merneptah, who ruled in 1203 BCE. It has a text inscribed on it which enumerates his fabulous conquests. At the end of the inscription, are a few lines about Canaan. Translated by Miriam Lichtiem, they say:

The princes are prostrate saying: “Shalom!” Not one of the Nine Bows lifts his head: Tjehenu is vanquished, Khatti is at peace, Canaan is captive with all woe. Ashkelon is conquered, Gezer seized, Yanoam made nonexistent; Israel is wasted, bare of seed, Khor is become a window for Egypt. All who roamed have been subdued. By the King of Upper and Lower Egypt…

Merneptag Stele: Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merneptah_Steleo

Notice that all of these ancient references are about the defeat of Canaan. The Bible was written as a way to cope with the changes that occurred during and after defeat. They are a way to remember how things came to be, and a guide of how to rebuild when conquest is over.

• Wright J. L. Defeat and the Response to Defeat. The Bible’s Prehistory, Purpose, and Political Future. Emory University. Coursera. Spring 2018.

• Wright J. L. The Oldest Reference to Israel. The Bible’s Prehistory, Purpose, and Political Future. Emory University. Coursera. Spring 2018.

My friends.

The one

my strength.

The other

imperfect other

who loves me

in my imperfection.

They have not left me behind

with Procrastination.

Despite my doubt, 

they have dragged me

under the Gate

to Fear.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate! I thought this picture matched the season perfectly. Today I will be celebrating Easter with my parents, nephew J, fiance A, step-children D and M, and A’s mother and sister. I’ll be cooking ham, au gratin potatoes, corn bread, string beans, and zucchini squash mix. Should be yum!

I just got back from a week in Oklahoma and Texas. I visited my cousin K, and we went to San Antonio to see the Alamo and to Waco Mammoth National Monument to see fossils.

That’s a mammoth doing the splits.

Acquired

I think I’ll take the kids geocaching as a summer activity. It will get them moving around.

Currently Reading

I decided to switch to the audio version of this because it’s easier for me to finish long books that way.

I’m reading this indie fantasy that the author provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Still working on anxious children.

And still working on Don Quixote

Bible Reading Project

I am going to try a literary/historical reading of the Bible again this year. I tried last year, but set my goals too stringently and stressed out. This time I have no goals other than to educate myself on Biblical literature. This week I’m starting introductory chapters in:

My skin tears

breaks

separates from my flesh.

The left side of my face

my palms

gone. 

I know this

though I can’t see.

But I am too cold to bleed.

Blood freezes in ruptured capillaries.

Face

Hands 

Frozen to the ice

cemented by filth

I pull

My skin is weaker

than my stubbornness.