The conquest of Canaan is a significant event in the history of the Israelites, and the story of this conquest is detailed in the Hebrew Bible. However, the question of when this story was invented is a matter of ongoing debate among scholars.huckelberry wrote: ↑Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:28 pmmopologist mpg,
I have over time found myself puzzling over when the story of a conquest of Canaan with extensive elimination of people was invented.
There is no definitive answer to this question, but there are several different theories that have been proposed. Some scholars argue that the story of the conquest of Canaan was invented during the Babylonian exile, a period of Jewish history when the Israelites were held captive in Babylon. During this time, the Israelites were cut off from their homeland and may have looked to their stories and traditions as a source of comfort and hope.
Other scholars argue that the story of the conquest of Canaan was developed during the period of the Judges, a time of political instability in ancient Israel. In this view, the story of the conquest served as a unifying narrative for the Israelites, helping to solidify their identity as a people and to promote a sense of national unity.
Still, others argue that the story of the conquest of Canaan was developed during the reign of King Josiah in the late 7th century BCE. According to this theory, the story was used to promote Josiah's religious reforms, which sought to centralize worship in the Temple in Jerusalem and to root out practices that were deemed to be idolatrous.
Regardless of when the story of the conquest of Canaan was invented, it is clear that it played an important role in shaping the religious and national identity of the Israelites. It continues to be a topic of fascination and study for scholars and believers alike.