By focusing on certain names, and the events associated with those names,  we can determine if scriptural references to these same names have an actual basis in reality. 

 

For example, there are two different 'origin' narratives for the formation of Israel as a house descended from a particular bloodline.  The 1st pertains to the 12 sons of Jacob,  whose name was changed to Israel c. 1906 B.C..

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The 2nd narrative is given by the prophet Ezekiel:

"Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan, thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite." (Ezek. 16:3).

 

The land (Canaan = X), and the peoples (Amorite = Y; Hittite = Z) have been confirmed by archaeology & other sources.  The task, therefore, is to determine if what Ezekiel said is or can be true.  If we can establish a time when X, Y, & Z intersected in actual recorded history, we will be able to assign [Hezekiel's] Israel to an absolute timeline.

 

According to archaeology and other historical sources (Encyclopedias, etc.), with further corroboration from the Amarna tablets, the Hittite empire began to expand into Syria and Northern Canaan around the mid 14th century B.C..  At that time, the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Akhenaten was the Great Lord of Canaan, and the king of the Amorites, Aziru, was one of his vassals.  Correspondences from this time, between the kings of Canaan and the Egyptian administration, informed Akhenaten that his [Canaan] lands were being overran by Hebrew hordes that were forcibly confiscating whatever they could.

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This marks the 1st time in actual history that extra-Biblical evidence is presented of a conquest of Canaan by a confederation (i.e., "mixed multitude") of hostiles which included Hebrews among them.  Eventually this confederation became allies with Aziru, who threw off his Egyptian yoke and defected to the side of the Hittites.  While Akhenaten was still Pharaoh, this confederation subsequently conquered Jerusalem.  This represents the convergence of those variables that prefigure Ezekiel's inter-marriage scenario.

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What makes Ezekiel's statement all the more significant is that it hearkens back to a time when Hebrews actually inhabited Jerusalem for the FIRST time --- more than 300 years BEFORE [the mythical] King David!

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And from whence did these militant Hebrews hail?  I'll let you marinate on that ....

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UNTIL I CONTINUE ....