THE MERNEPTAH STELA

 In 1896 in an Egyptian funerary temple, archaeologist found what has been called the Merneptah Stela. This black granite pillar boasts of the achievements of Egyptian King Merneptah, believe to have reigned in the late 13th century B.C.E. Inscribed on the stela is a hymn, which reads, in part: "Israel is laid waste, his seed is no more." This is the only known reference to Israel in ancient Egyptian texts and the earliest reference outside the Bible.

The stela was made during the Biblical period of the Judges, an era documented in the Bible book of that name. However, unlike the self-applauding chronicles of the pharaohs, the book of Judges sets out both the exploits and the failures of Israel.  Concerning the failures, Judges 2:11, 12 states "the sons of Israel fell to doing what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah and serving the Baales [Canaanite gods]. Thus they abandoned Jehovah . . . , who had brought them out of the land of Egypt." Such candor characterizes the entire Bible.

Next time: A Book You Can Trust - Part 2 -Assyria in Bible History

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