“In Search of Ancient Israel: Historical Roots of the Biblical Narrative” with Gary Rendsburg, Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies and History, Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair in Jewish History, Rutgers University
A century and a half of archaeological exploration in Egypt and Israel has revealed more and more information about the origins of ancient Israel. Key elements include: the word ‘Israel’ inscribed on the Merneptah Stele (c. 1210 B.C.E.);an Egyptian papyrus which refers to nomads from southern Canaan settling in the city of Pithom to escape famine in their land; small settlements in the central hill country of Canaan with a striking lack of pig bones; and much more. Join us as Professor Rendsburg weaves all of this documentation together, along with the relevant Biblical texts, in an effort to reconstruct earliest Israel in the historical and archaeological record.