Ancient Israel and its Neighbors

1. HST 397 – Ancient History Prof. Marc Cooper Ancient Israel and its Neighbors

2. 1400 Egypt at height 1350-1250 Egypt & Hittites compete 1220 Merneptah Stele: earliest mention of Israel 1220-1180 Attacks of Sea People; end of Egyptian empire in Syria 1150-500 Era of small states 850-612 Assyrian domination of Syria 586 Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem 332 Alexander destroys Tyre and takes Judea General Timeline

3. Syria and Palestine • Neo-Hittites • Phoenician Harbor states • Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, Arvad • Aramaeans • Arpad, Damascus • Syro-Paelstinian kingdoms • Israel, Judah, Ammon, Moab, Edom

4. Neo-Hittites • Region in northern Syrian and upper Euphrates called Hatti by Assyrians • Inscriptions in Luwian language • Kings claimed descent from Hatti rulers of the age of Suppilulima • Cities forced to pay tribute to Assyria in the 9th century • Incorporated into the Assyrian empire in the 8th century • Lost power to the Aramaeans during the period of Urartian – Aramaean anti-Assyrian alliance • Probably the Hittites of the Bible were Neo-Hittites

6. Neo-Hittite Art

7. Phoenicians • Sidon, Tyre, Byblos, and Arwad were not destroyed during the violence ca. 1200 • Report of Wen-Amun ca. 1100 • fictitious report detailing how an Egyptian priest of Amun attempted to get cedars for the his temple • After being robbed he was unable to get credit to buy wood

8. Trade • Major trade routes along southern Mediterranean to Spain in search of metals particularly silver • Probably regularly circumnavigated the Mediterranean • Began establishing colonies in 10th century

10. Markets • Sold goods to Neo-Hittites • Later to the Assyrians • Assyrians demanded tribute but left Phoenician cities independent • Later made same deal with Babylonians • Persians used Phoenicians to build navies • Initially traded for raw materials in West • Finished goods created in Phoenician shops • Phoenicians competed with Greeks for same trade

11. Phoenician Ivories

12. Phoenician culture • Red dye from murex shell famous part of clothing industry • Dispersed alphabet to Greeks, Hebrews, Aramaeans, and through the Persians to India • Ivories famous in ancient world • Bronze work equally important

13. Syro - Palestine • Kingdoms of Israel, Judah, Moab, Ammon known mainly from the Bible and Assyrian sources • Some inscriptions starting in the 8th century • Source of Hebrew Bible • History very controversial

14. Using the Bible in History • Hebrew Bible contains historical accounts concerning the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, and their origins in the United Monarchy • Maximalists tend to accept accounts as long as they cannot be proven incorrect • Minimalists (the Copenhagen School) tend to reject accounts unless corroborated by contemporary evidence • Controversy is currently unimportant since all points have long since been made and historians of ancient Israel have become far more critical than previously • Political and nationalist agendas part of the controversy

15. Aramaeans • States referred to as House of N • Even Israel is called Bit-Omri in Assyrian sources • Ruler always a king even in city-states • Some rulers remained kings while accepting Assyrian titles • Sources generally Assyrian together with Bible and some inscriptions • History of the Aramaeans concerns their resistance to Assyrian rule.

17. Israel • History prior to 750 known only from Bible • According to tradition: • ~1400 Exodus from Egypt • ~1400 –1050 Judges • ~1050-950 United Monarchy • ~950-586 Split into Israel and Judah • 586-537 Babylonian Exile • 537-135 Persian/Seleucid Period • 135-4 BCE Hasmonean Period • 4 BCE-640 Roman/Byzantine Period

18. How did the Hebrew Bible come to be? • Hebrew prose tradition prior to the Exile. • Oldest work in Bible is possibly Deuteronomy. • Royal palace and temple kept accounts of the past and some records. • Little evidence for an oral tradition. • Tales developed around famous figures. • Authoritative copies of important books kept in temple during the Persian period. • A canon was created during the Hasmonean period. • Final set created at Yavneh Council 70-80 CE.

19. Alphabet

20. Early Hebrew Writing • Tell Dan inscription • Early historical narrative • Earliest mention of “House of David” • Other inscriptions • Letters • Seals

21. Ketif-Hinnom Amulet ca. 600 BCE • -h/hu. May be blessed h/sh- • -[e] by Yahw[eh,] • the warrior/helper and • the rebuker of • [E]vil: May bless you, • Yahweh, • keep you. • Make shine, Yah- • -[w]eh, His face • [upon] you and g- • -rant you p- • -[ea]ce.

22. Major ideas • Monotheism – Belief in one god • One law for all • One system of justice • One morality • Covenant between God and His People • God rewards and punishes corporately • Universal God – Jonah story • Classless society – equality before God • Revelation through text and prophets • Savior • End of times

23. Biblical law • Legal material found in many parts of the Hebrew Bible. • Most legislation found in the Pentateuch (5 books of Moses, the Torah) • Legislation often similar in form and content to Babylonian law codes • Babylonian law treats women as property • Hebrew law attempts to protect aliens • Hebrew law accepts but limits slavery • Hebrew law concentrates on ritual propriety • Private property in Babylonia vs. Hebrew natural property • Differentiates on the basis of gender, age, culture (native and alien)

24. Ten Commandments • Found in • Exodus 20:1-17 • Deuteronomy 5:6-21 • Popularized by donations of plaques to promote The Ten Commandments

25. Which law is more egalitarian? If a free man has struck the daughter of a free man and caused her to miscarry, he shall pay 10 shekels for what was in her womb. If that woman has died, they shall put to death his daughter. Hammurabi When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt her shall be fined according as the woman’s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judge determines. If any harm follows, you shall give life for life . . . Book of Exodus