The Jewish Homeland: History That Won’t Be Erased

A historical rebuttal to superficial claims questioning the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel

Map Attribution: Edward Wells, D.D., An Historical Geography of the Old and New Testament. Oxford, 1809 (11001324716)

Simplifying a complex historical reality leads to many superficial conclusions, which ultimately result in a distorted perception of the truth. When it is said that the Jews were the first on the land of Israel, it refers to the period when they established an organized society there in the XIII century BCE in the form of a tribal confederation. This confederation later evolved into a fully-fledged state during the reigns of Kings Saul, David, and Solomon in the X century BCE. This occurred long before the Babylonian exile, the Roman occupation, or the arrival of other peoples.

The argument that this land was inhabited by others before the Jews conveniently ignores the most critical fact, which speaks for itself: Jewish culture, language, and religion were formed precisely on this land. It was here that the first ethnic, cultural, and religious identity emerged. Archaeological evidence, such as the Merneptah Stele, created during the reign of Pharaoh Merneptah (c. 1213–1203 BCE), which contains a reference to Israel, as well as inscriptions in ancient Egyptian texts, confirm that the Jews, as an organized people, had established themselves in Canaan during the Bronze Age. These are undeniable proofs that Jewish history has been intertwined with this land for thousands of years.

Furthermore, numerous archaeological findings further reinforce that the Jews, as a distinct and organized people, were firmly rooted in Canaan during the Bronze Age, creating their history on this land for millennia. Even setting aside biblical narratives—which, while not definitive, cannot be dismissed—the connection of the Jewish people to this land remains indisputable. It is crucial to recognize that the Jews maintained their bond with their homeland through a continuous presence, even during periods of exile, as well as through cultural and religious memory.

After the Bar Kokhba revolt was suppressed in 135 CE, the Roman Emperor Hadrian renamed the province of Judea to “Syria Palaestina” in an attempt to erase the Jewish identity of the region once and for all. The name “Palestine” derives from the Philistines, a people who inhabited the area of modern-day Gaza and had Aegean origins but ceased to exist as a distinct group after the 4th century BCE, merging with other peoples of the region.

Thus, any shallow judgments, grounded merely in personal beliefs about the order of things and lacking sufficient historical foundation, that seek to challenge the connection of the Jewish people to their land are nothing more than dust. This dust scatters the moment it is confronted by the weight of evidence and the force of logic.