![\"Marko](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Marko-Marina-Author-Bart-Ehrman.png\" "\\"Marko")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Written by Marko Marina, Ph.D.<\/a><\/p>\n Author | \u00a0Historian<\/p>\n Author |\u00a0 Historian | \u00a0BE Contributor<\/p>\n Verified! \u00a0See our guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n Verified! \u00a0See our editorial guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n\nDate written: June 17th, 2025\n\nDate written: June 17th, 2025\n Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. – Dr. Bart D. Ehrman<\/p>\n Have you ever heard of the Merneptah Stele?<\/strong> Every time it comes up, I can\u2019t help but think of archaeology, which, inevitably, brings to mind images of Indiana Jones. I know, I know\u2026Real archaeologists probably cringe when their serious and meticulous work gets associated with Hollywood escapades involving whips, ancient curses, and booby traps.<\/p>\n Still, for many of us, it’s hard to shake the connection. Yet, as thrilling as the movies are, the true work of archaeology is even more fascinating<\/strong>, not because it\u2019s full of adventure, but because of the profound insights it gives us into ancient worlds.<\/p>\n Archaeology isn\u2019t just about digging up old objects. Rather, it\u2019s about uncovering stories. It provides physical evidence that helps us piece together the lives of people who left few written records, or none at all. For those interested in the Bible and the ancient Near East, archaeology plays a vital role, as it offers clues that either illuminate or complicate the narratives found in Scripture.<\/p>\n In this article, we\u2019ll explore how archaeology contributes to our understanding of biblical history, with special focus on one particularly intriguing discovery: the Merneptah Stele<\/strong>. We’ll begin by briefly examining how archaeology works and why it matters for historians of ancient Israel.<\/p>\n Then, we\u2019ll turn to the Merneptah Stele itself: what it is, how it was found, and why it has become such an important piece of the historical puzzle. Finally, we’ll consider what this inscription can (and cannot) tell us about the earliest appearance of Israel on the historical stage.<\/p>\n In case you are really interested in the Biblical world of the Old Testament from a purely scholarly perspective, you might want to check out Bart Ehrman\u2019s new course<\/strong>, In the Beginning: History, Legend, or Myth in Genesis<\/a>. Over 6 in-depth lessons, Bart explores the Book of Genesis with a historian\u2019s eye, separating historical realities from ancient legends<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Before we delve deeper into the issue of the Merneptah Stele, let\u2019s step back and introduce the meaning and importance of biblical archaeology.<\/p>\n Biblical archaeology is often misunderstood, sometimes even caricatured as a discipline driven by the goal of “proving” the Bible<\/a>. However, most practitioners today would firmly reject that characterization.<\/p>\n As Eric Cline aptly explains in his book Biblical Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction<\/a>:<\/p>\n (Affiliate Disclaimer: We may earn commissions on products you purchase through this page at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!<\/em>)<\/p>\n Most biblical archaeologists do not deliberately set out to either prove or disprove elements of the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament through archaeology. Instead, they investigate the material culture of the lands and time periods mentioned in the Bible, and the people, places, and events discussed in those ancient texts, in order to bring them to life and to reconstruct the culture and history of the region.<\/p>\n In other words, biblical archaeology isn\u2019t about affirming or challenging faith<\/strong>. It\u2019s a branch of Near Eastern archaeology focused specifically on the ancient societies that are also described in biblical literature.<\/p>\n Through the study of material remains (such as pottery, architecture, inscriptions, tools, and everyday artifacts), scholars aim to reconstruct the historical, cultural, and social realities of the ancient Near East, particularly in the regions corresponding to modern Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria.<\/p>\n The importance of this work cannot be overstated. Texts alone rarely tell the full story. Archaeology provides an independent line of evidence that can complement, complicate, or sometimes even contradict the narratives preserved in ancient writings.<\/p>\n It helps us better understand the contexts in which the biblical texts<\/a> were written: the daily lives of people, the political and economic systems they lived under, their religious practices, and their interactions with neighboring cultures.<\/p>\n Moreover, biblical archaeology has been instrumental in clarifying the broader historical framework within which the events described in the Bible took place.<\/p>\n It situates biblical traditions within the rich and complex tapestry of the ancient Near East, shedding light on connections between Israel and other ancient civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Canaan.<\/p>\n As we turn to the Merneptah Stele, it\u2019s precisely this archaeological lens that allows us to appreciate why a simple inscription on a weathered stone slab can have such profound implications for our understanding of ancient Israel\u2019s earliest historical footprint.<\/p>\n What is the Merneptah Stele? The Merneptah Stele, sometimes called the \u201cIsrael Stele,\u201d is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries related to the ancient Near East, but not for the reasons one might first expect.<\/p>\n Before diving into why it matters so much, it\u2019s important to understand what exactly it is, when it was discovered, and what it says.<\/p>\n The stele was uncovered in 1896 <\/strong>by the renowned British archaeologist Flinders Petrie <\/strong>during his excavations at Thebes, in Upper Egypt. Petrie, already a towering figure in the emerging field of Egyptology, was surveying the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Merneptah when he stumbled upon a large, inscribed slab of granite over 10 feet tall.<\/p>\n Recognizing its historical importance, Petrie and his team carefully documented and published<\/a> the find, quickly drawing scholarly attention to its intriguing contents.<\/p>\n Physically, the Merneptah Stele is a classic example of a commemorative monument. In the ancient world, stelae like this one were typically erected by rulers to celebrate military victories, proclaim royal achievements, or assert divine favor.<\/p>\n Carved from black granite, the stele is covered with hieroglyphic text praising the military exploits of Pharaoh Merneptah, who ruled Egypt during the late 13th century B.C.E.<\/p>\n The inscription is primarily a piece of royal propaganda, detailing Merneptah\u2019s campaigns against foreign enemies. As Carol A. Redmount<\/a> succinctly summarizes:<\/p>\n The stela tells us that it was carved in the fifth year of Merneptah (whose name is also rendered Merenptah), a pharaoh of Dynasty 19 who ruled approximately 1213-1203. The long text of the stela primarily glorifies Merneptah\u2019s military victory over Libyans and their Sea People allies, but its last two lines refer to a prior military campaign into Canaan, in which Merneptah says that he defeated, among others, Ashkelon, Gezer, Yanoam, and Israel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n These concluding lines are what have captured the imagination of historians and archaeologists alike. Israel is mentioned among the list of defeated cities and peoples.<\/p>\n How should we understand it? What does the Merneptah Stele say about Israel, and how does this reference help us understand early Israelite history? Let\u2019s take a look at these intriguing questions together!<\/p>\n NOW AVAILABLE!<\/p>\n Finding Moses: What Scholars Know About The Exodus &\u00a0 The Jewish Law<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/u><\/b>Riveting and controversial, the “FINDING MOSES” lecture series takes you on a deep dive into the stories of Moses, the exodus, and a whole lot more…<\/p>\n __CONFIG_colors_palette__{“active_palette”:0,”config”:{“colors”:{“62516”:{“name”:”Main Accent”,”parent”:-1}},”gradients”:[]},”palettes”:[{“name”:”Default Palette”,”value”:{“colors”:{“62516”:{“val”:”rgb(255, 133, 34)”,”hsl”:{“h”:26,”s”:0.99,”l”:0.5667}}},”gradients”:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__ LEARN MORE<\/strong> <\/a> The final two lines of the Merneptah Stele have garnered considerable scholarly attention because they contain what is widely regarded as the earliest extrabiblical reference to a people known as \u201cIsrael.\u201d But what does this mention tell us about its ancient origins?<\/p>\n The question has led to ongoing debates <\/strong>about the identity, nature, and historical context of the group named in the inscription.<\/p>\n First, what is significant about the reference itself? In the Egyptian text, \u201cIsrael\u201d isn\u2019t marked with the determinative typically used for foreign city-states, but rather with a different determinative: a seated man and woman above three plural strokes.<\/p>\n This suggests that Israel was perceived by the Egyptians not as a city or a land, but as a people or socioethnic group<\/a>. They were, in other words, a recognizable entity <\/strong>based on kinship, culture, or language rather than a fixed geographical polity.<\/p>\n This distinction has important implications. It suggests that, by the late 13th century B.C.E., \u201cIsrael\u201d had already developed a recognizable collective identity, distinct enough to be singled out alongside prominent city-states like Ashkelon, Gezer, and Yenoam.<\/p>\n Moreover, the text boasts that \u201cIsrael is laid waste; his seed is not,\u201d a statement that may point to agricultural devastation, which indicates that this group was already settled and engaged in farming.<\/p>\n The geographic location of this \u201cIsrael\u201d has also been the subject of considerable scholarly inquiry. Since Merneptah\u2019s campaign narrative groups Israel alongside other Canaanite cities, most scholars agree that they were located somewhere within Canaan.<\/p>\n Roland de Vaux<\/a>, analyzing the geographical sequence of the Stele, suggested that Israel lay between Ashkelon and Yenoam, placing it in the northern or central hill country. Later, James Hoffmeier proposed a similar reconstruction, arguing that the sequence moves from south to north, with Israel situated primarily in the central hill country and Upper Galilee.<\/p>\n William Dever<\/a> famously identified these early Israelites with the \u201cproto-Israelite\u201d settlements that began to emerge in the central highlands during the Late Bronze-Iron Age transition.<\/p>\n Taken together, these reconstructions strongly suggest that the Israelites were already present in the heartland of Canaan by the time of Merneptah\u2019s 5th regnal year<\/strong>, around 1209 B.C.E.<\/p>\n The chronological implications are no less important. The Merneptah Stele serves as a firm terminus ante quem. It seems that Israel existed as a distinct socioethnic group in Canaan by the end of the 13th century BCE. This has repercussions for several competing theories about Israel\u2019s origins, from models of conquest and infiltration to theories of indigenous emergence.<\/p>\n Not all scholars, however, accept the Merneptah Stele at face value. A group of so-called \u201cminimalists,\u201d including figures such as Thomas L. Thompson and Ingrid Hjelm<\/a>, have argued that \u201cIsrael\u201d on the Stele may not refer to a historical people at all, but rather to a literary or metaphorical construct.<\/p>\n However, this interpretation faces serious challenges<\/strong>. As Michael G. Hasel<\/a> has pointed out, the Stele is not a work of literature or myth but a campaign report carved in stone, meant to commemorate real military achievements.<\/p>\n It lists tangible city-states, including Gezer and Ashkelon, which we know archaeologically to have existed at the time. To suggest that Israel alone among the listed entities was metaphorical stretches credulity.<\/p>\n Moreover, the inscription uses \u201cIsrael\u201d without special markers, in the same way it lists its other targets. There is no indication that the Egyptian scribe viewed Israel differently from other conquered groups.<\/p>\n If Ashkelon, Gezer, and Yenoam are understood as real entities, it follows that \u201cIsrael\u201d must also have been a real, identifiable people <\/strong>known to the Egyptians. Hasel argues convincingly that to dismiss Israel as merely a literary invention ignores both the Egyptological context and the external corroboration of other names on the Stele.<\/p>\n In sum, the Merneptah Stele offers a rare and invaluable glimpse into the historical realities of the ancient Near East. It provides hard, contemporary evidence that a group called Israel existed in Canaan in the late 13th <\/strong>century B.C.E.<\/p>\n While the Merneptah Stele may not offer the same thrills as an Indiana Jones adventure (there aren\u2019t any hidden temples or lost arks; I\u2019m sorry), it\u2019s, in many ways, far more exciting for historians and archaeologists.<\/p>\n This weathered slab of stone, inscribed over 3 millennia ago<\/strong>, provides something far rarer and more valuable: direct, contemporary evidence for the existence of Israel in the ancient Near East.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t settle all debates or answer every question, but it firmly anchors the name \u201cIsrael\u201d in the historical record by the end of the 13th century B.C.E.<\/p>\n Finally, the stele reminds us that archaeology\u2019s true power lies not in spectacular discoveries, but in the patient, careful reconstruction of the past. You may think that\u2019s not exciting, but every archaeologist I know would disagree!<\/p>\n As you can see, the history of ancient Israel is sometimes even more intriguing and complex than anything in the Indiana Jones franchise. If you’d like to dive deeper into the rise of Israel, its kings, and its eventual fall (and examine how the biblical texts both report and interpret these events), check out Joel Baden\u2019s course <\/strong>The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel<\/a>. In eight compelling lectures, he unpacks what the Bible says and what the historical evidence suggests really happened.<\/p>\n NOW AVAILABLE!<\/p>\n Finding Moses: What Scholars Know About The Exodus &\u00a0 The Jewish Law<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/u><\/b>Riveting and controversial, the “FINDING MOSES” lecture series takes you on a deep dive into the stories of Moses, the exodus, and a whole lot more…<\/p>\n __CONFIG_colors_palette__{“active_palette”:0,”config”:{“colors”:{“62516”:{“name”:”Main Accent”,”parent”:-1}},”gradients”:[]},”palettes”:[{“name”:”Default Palette”,”value”:{“colors”:{“62516”:{“val”:”rgb(255, 133, 34)”,”hsl”:{“h”:26,”s”:0.99,”l”:0.5667}}},”gradients”:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__ LEARN MORE<\/strong> <\/a> Merneptah Stele: Proof of Ancient Israel\u2019s Existence? Written by Marko Marina, Ph.D. Author | \u00a0Historian Author |\u00a0 Historian | \u00a0BE Contributor Verified! \u00a0See our guidelines Verified! \u00a0See our editorial guidelines Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. – Dr. Bart D. Ehrman […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":20609,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","tve_updated_post":" Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman<\/p><\/div> Have you ever heard of the Merneptah Stele?<\/strong> Every time it comes up, I can\u2019t help but think of archaeology, which, inevitably, brings to mind images of Indiana Jones. I know, I know\u2026Real archaeologists probably cringe when their serious and meticulous work gets associated with Hollywood escapades involving whips, ancient curses, and booby traps.<\/p> Still, for many of us, it's hard to shake the connection. Yet, as thrilling as the movies are, the true work of archaeology is even more fascinating<\/strong>, not because it\u2019s full of adventure, but because of the profound insights it gives us into ancient worlds.<\/p> Archaeology isn\u2019t just about digging up old objects. Rather, it\u2019s about uncovering stories. It provides physical evidence that helps us piece together the lives of people who left few written records, or none at all. For those interested in the Bible and the ancient Near East, archaeology plays a vital role, as it offers clues that either illuminate or complicate the narratives found in Scripture.<\/p> In this article, we\u2019ll explore how archaeology contributes to our understanding of biblical history, with special focus on one particularly intriguing discovery: the Merneptah Stele<\/strong>. We'll begin by briefly examining how archaeology works and why it matters for historians of ancient Israel.<\/p> Then, we\u2019ll turn to the Merneptah Stele itself: what it is, how it was found, and why it has become such an important piece of the historical puzzle. Finally, we'll consider what this inscription can (and cannot) tell us about the earliest appearance of Israel on the historical stage.<\/p> In case you are really interested in the Biblical world of the Old Testament from a purely scholarly perspective, you might want to check out Bart Ehrman\u2019s new course<\/strong>, In the Beginning: History, Legend, or Myth in Genesis<\/a>. Over 6 in-depth lessons, Bart explores the Book of Genesis with a historian\u2019s eye, separating historical realities from ancient legends<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div> Before we delve deeper into the issue of the Merneptah Stele, let\u2019s step back and introduce the meaning and importance of biblical archaeology.<\/p> Biblical archaeology is often misunderstood, sometimes even caricatured as a discipline driven by the goal of \"proving\" the Bible<\/a>. However, most practitioners today would firmly reject that characterization.<\/p> As Eric Cline aptly explains in his book Biblical Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction<\/a>:<\/p> (Affiliate Disclaimer: We may earn commissions on products you purchase through this page at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!<\/em>)<\/p><\/div> Most biblical archaeologists do not deliberately set out to either prove or disprove elements of the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament through archaeology. Instead, they investigate the material culture of the lands and time periods mentioned in the Bible, and the people, places, and events discussed in those ancient texts, in order to bring them to life and to reconstruct the culture and history of the region.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div> In other words, biblical archaeology isn\u2019t about affirming or challenging faith<\/strong>. It\u2019s a branch of Near Eastern archaeology focused specifically on the ancient societies that are also described in biblical literature.<\/p> Through the study of material remains (such as pottery, architecture, inscriptions, tools, and everyday artifacts), scholars aim to reconstruct the historical, cultural, and social realities of the ancient Near East, particularly in the regions corresponding to modern Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria.<\/p> The importance of this work cannot be overstated. Texts alone rarely tell the full story. Archaeology provides an independent line of evidence that can complement, complicate, or sometimes even contradict the narratives preserved in ancient writings. <\/p> It helps us better understand the contexts in which the biblical texts<\/a> were written: the daily lives of people, the political and economic systems they lived under, their religious practices, and their interactions with neighboring cultures.<\/p> Moreover, biblical archaeology has been instrumental in clarifying the broader historical framework within which the events described in the Bible took place. <\/p> It situates biblical traditions within the rich and complex tapestry of the ancient Near East, shedding light on connections between Israel and other ancient civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Canaan.<\/p> As we turn to the Merneptah Stele, it\u2019s precisely this archaeological lens that allows us to appreciate why a simple inscription on a weathered stone slab can have such profound implications for our understanding of ancient Israel\u2019s earliest historical footprint.<\/p><\/div> What is the Merneptah Stele? The Merneptah Stele, sometimes called the \u201cIsrael Stele,\u201d is one of the most significant archaeological discoveries related to the ancient Near East, but not for the reasons one might first expect. <\/p> Before diving into why it matters so much, it\u2019s important to understand what exactly it is, when it was discovered, and what it says.<\/p> The stele was uncovered in 1896 <\/strong>by the renowned British archaeologist Flinders Petrie <\/strong>during his excavations at Thebes, in Upper Egypt. Petrie, already a towering figure in the emerging field of Egyptology, was surveying the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Merneptah when he stumbled upon a large, inscribed slab of granite over 10 feet tall.<\/p> Recognizing its historical importance, Petrie and his team carefully documented and published<\/a> the find, quickly drawing scholarly attention to its intriguing contents.<\/p> Physically, the Merneptah Stele is a classic example of a commemorative monument. In the ancient world, stelae like this one were typically erected by rulers to celebrate military victories, proclaim royal achievements, or assert divine favor.<\/p> Carved from black granite, the stele is covered with hieroglyphic text praising the military exploits of Pharaoh Merneptah, who ruled Egypt during the late 13th century B.C.E.<\/p> The inscription is primarily a piece of royal propaganda, detailing Merneptah\u2019s campaigns against foreign enemies. As Carol A. Redmount<\/a> succinctly summarizes:<\/p><\/div> The stela tells us that it was carved in the fifth year of Merneptah (whose name is also rendered Merenptah), a pharaoh of Dynasty 19 who ruled approximately 1213-1203. The long text of the stela primarily glorifies Merneptah\u2019s military victory over Libyans and their Sea People allies, but its last two lines refer to a prior military campaign into Canaan, in which Merneptah says that he defeated, among others, Ashkelon, Gezer, Yanoam, and Israel<\/strong>.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div> These concluding lines are what have captured the imagination of historians and archaeologists alike. Israel is mentioned among the list of defeated cities and peoples.<\/p> How should we understand it? What does the Merneptah Stele say about Israel, and how does this reference help us understand early Israelite history? Let\u2019s take a look at these intriguing questions together! <\/p><\/div> The final two lines of the Merneptah Stele have garnered considerable scholarly attention because they contain what is widely regarded as the earliest extrabiblical reference to a people known as \u201cIsrael.\u201d But what does this mention tell us about its ancient origins?<\/p> The question has led to ongoing debates <\/strong>about the identity, nature, and historical context of the group named in the inscription.<\/p> First, what is significant about the reference itself? In the Egyptian text, \u201cIsrael\u201d isn\u2019t marked with the determinative typically used for foreign city-states, but rather with a different determinative: a seated man and woman above three plural strokes.<\/p> This suggests that Israel was perceived by the Egyptians not as a city or a land, but as a people or socioethnic group<\/a>. They were, in other words, a recognizable entity <\/strong>based on kinship, culture, or language rather than a fixed geographical polity.<\/p> This distinction has important implications. It suggests that, by the late 13th century B.C.E., \u201cIsrael\u201d had already developed a recognizable collective identity, distinct enough to be singled out alongside prominent city-states like Ashkelon, Gezer, and Yenoam.<\/p> Moreover, the text boasts that \u201cIsrael is laid waste; his seed is not,\u201d a statement that may point to agricultural devastation, which indicates that this group was already settled and engaged in farming.<\/p> The geographic location of this \u201cIsrael\u201d has also been the subject of considerable scholarly inquiry. Since Merneptah\u2019s campaign narrative groups Israel alongside other Canaanite cities, most scholars agree that they were located somewhere within Canaan.<\/p> Roland de Vaux<\/a>, analyzing the geographical sequence of the Stele, suggested that Israel lay between Ashkelon and Yenoam, placing it in the northern or central hill country. Later, James Hoffmeier proposed a similar reconstruction, arguing that the sequence moves from south to north, with Israel situated primarily in the central hill country and Upper Galilee.<\/p> William Dever<\/a> famously identified these early Israelites with the \u201cproto-Israelite\u201d settlements that began to emerge in the central highlands during the Late Bronze-Iron Age transition.<\/p> Taken together, these reconstructions strongly suggest that the Israelites were already present in the heartland of Canaan by the time of Merneptah\u2019s 5th regnal year<\/strong>, around 1209 B.C.E.<\/p> The chronological implications are no less important. The Merneptah Stele serves as a firm terminus ante quem. It seems that Israel existed as a distinct socioethnic group in Canaan by the end of the 13th century BCE. This has repercussions for several competing theories about Israel\u2019s origins, from models of conquest and infiltration to theories of indigenous emergence.<\/p> Not all scholars, however, accept the Merneptah Stele at face value. A group of so-called \u201cminimalists,\u201d including figures such as Thomas L. Thompson and Ingrid Hjelm<\/a>, have argued that \u201cIsrael\u201d on the Stele may not refer to a historical people at all, but rather to a literary or metaphorical construct.<\/p> However, this interpretation faces serious challenges<\/strong>. As Michael G. Hasel<\/a> has pointed out, the Stele is not a work of literature or myth but a campaign report carved in stone, meant to commemorate real military achievements. <\/p> It lists tangible city-states, including Gezer and Ashkelon, which we know archaeologically to have existed at the time. To suggest that Israel alone among the listed entities was metaphorical stretches credulity.<\/p> Moreover, the inscription uses \u201cIsrael\u201d without special markers, in the same way it lists its other targets. There is no indication that the Egyptian scribe viewed Israel differently from other conquered groups.<\/p> If Ashkelon, Gezer, and Yenoam are understood as real entities, it follows that \u201cIsrael\u201d must also have been a real, identifiable people <\/strong>known to the Egyptians. Hasel argues convincingly that to dismiss Israel as merely a literary invention ignores both the Egyptological context and the external corroboration of other names on the Stele.<\/p> In sum, the Merneptah Stele offers a rare and invaluable glimpse into the historical realities of the ancient Near East. It provides hard, contemporary evidence that a group called Israel existed in Canaan in the late 13th <\/strong>century B.C.E.<\/p><\/div> While the Merneptah Stele may not offer the same thrills as an Indiana Jones adventure (there aren\u2019t any hidden temples or lost arks; I\u2019m sorry), it\u2019s, in many ways, far more exciting for historians and archaeologists. <\/p> This weathered slab of stone, inscribed over 3 millennia ago<\/strong>, provides something far rarer and more valuable: direct, contemporary evidence for the existence of Israel in the ancient Near East.<\/p> It doesn\u2019t settle all debates or answer every question, but it firmly anchors the name \u201cIsrael\u201d in the historical record by the end of the 13th century B.C.E.<\/p> Finally, the stele reminds us that archaeology\u2019s true power lies not in spectacular discoveries, but in the patient, careful reconstruction of the past. You may think that\u2019s not exciting, but every archaeologist I know would disagree!<\/p> As you can see, the history of ancient Israel is sometimes even more intriguing and complex than anything in the Indiana Jones franchise. If you'd like to dive deeper into the rise of Israel, its kings, and its eventual fall (and examine how the biblical texts both report and interpret these events), check out Joel Baden\u2019s course <\/strong>The Rise and Fall of Biblical Israel<\/a>. In eight compelling lectures, he unpacks what the Bible says and what the historical evidence suggests really happened.<\/p><\/div>![\"Merneptah](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Merneptah-Stele.png\" "\\"Merneptah")
<\/p>\nBiblical Archeology: A Brief Contextualization<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quote-down.png\" "\\"quote")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quote-up.png\" "\\"quote")
<\/p>\nThe Merneptah Stele: Discovery and Context<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Finding-Moses-PBS-4x3-1.jpg\" "\\"Finding")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Merneptah Stele: Debates, Significance, and Scholarship<\/h2>\n
![\"What](\"https:\/\/www.bartehrman.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-is-the-Merneptah-Stele.png\" "\\"What")
<\/p>\nConclusion<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t__CONFIG_colors_palette__{\"active_palette\":0,\"config\":{\"colors\":{\"62516\":{\"name\":\"Main Accent\",\"parent\":-1}},\"gradients\":[]},\"palettes\":[{\"name\":\"Default Palette\",\"value\":{\"colors\":{\"62516\":{\"val\":\"var(--tcb-skin-color-0)\"}},\"gradients\":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__<\/div>\n\t\n\t\tOld Testament<\/span><\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>Merneptah Stele: Proof of Ancient Israel\u2019s Existence?<\/h2><\/div>
__CONFIG_post_symbol__{\"id\":\"17827\"}__CONFIG_post_symbol__<\/div><\/div>\t<\/span><\/div>Biblical Archeology: A Brief Contextualization<\/h2><\/div>
\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\tThe Merneptah Stele: Discovery and Context<\/h2><\/div>
\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\t__CONFIG_post_symbol__{\"id\":\"11757\"}__CONFIG_post_symbol__<\/div><\/div>The Merneptah Stele: Debates, Significance, and Scholarship<\/h2><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>Conclusion<\/h2><\/div>
__CONFIG_post_symbol__{\"id\":\"11757\"}__CONFIG_post_symbol__<\/div><\/div>\n