The Bible For Normal People Episode 65: Kent Sparks - Where Did the Israelites Come From?
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Oct 29, 2018 Expert Kent Sparks dives into the origins of the Israelites, discussing challenging historical issues, archaeological impacts, and theological interpretations. Topics include the Exodus story, theories on Israelite origins, conflicts between historical evidence and biblical records, and the evolution of the deity El into Yahweh in Israelite history.
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Murky Israelite Origins
- The history of Israelite origins is murky, especially before the mid-9th century BCE.
- Historians and archaeologists try to piece together the puzzle, but interpretations vary.
Theories of Israelite Origins
- Three main theories explain Israelite origins: conquest, peaceful infiltration, and Canaanite origins.
- The conquest theory posits violent takeover, while peaceful infiltration suggests gradual settlement.
Early Israelite Religion
- Early Israelite religion differed from both Canaanite and later Jewish monotheism.
- Yahweh, likely originating outside Canaan, played a central but not initially exclusive role.