The Canaanites in the Iron Age and Biblical Narrative: A New Scientific Reading
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33977/0507-000-068-003Keywords:
Canaanite, Iron Age, Biblical narrative, Genetic studies, archaeological excavations, PhilistinesAbstract
Objectives:
This research aims to study the Canaanites and their civilization role during the Iron Age in Palestine. It also seeks to refute the biblical narrative related to that period, which employed unscientific methods to achieve political goals associated with the Zionist colonial project. Additionally, the research aims to present new scientific readings of that era, based on credible scientific standards.
Methodology:
The research adopts historical and descriptive analytical methods, analyzing historical narratives and scientific criticism to reveal biases and distortions, alongside a new methodology based on genetic studies and environmental and climate sciences, providing modern and neutral readings.
Results:
The research concluded that the Canaanites were not exterminated as stated in the biblical narratives, but rather continued in the Iron Age and preserved their culture, the collapse of the biblical narrative of the history of Palestine in the Iron Age, and the presentation of new readings based on modern scientific evidence.
Conclusion:
The importance of the civilization role of the Canaanites in the Iron Age and its continuity through their descendants, represented by the contemporary peoples of the Levant in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
References
إبراهيم، م. (2010). دراسات في آثار فلسطين. (ط2). الأردن: دار البركة للنشر والتوزيع.
اولبرايت، و. (1971). آثار فلسطين. (ترجمة زكي اسكندر ومحمد عبد القادر محمد)، (ط1)، مصر: المجلس الأعلى للشؤون
الإسلامية. (تاريخ النشر الأصلي 1949).
تومبسون، ت. (1995). التاريخ القديم للشعب الإسرائيلي. (ترجمة علي صالح سوداح). (ط1)، بيروت: بيسان للنشر والتوزيع،
(تاريخ النشر الأصلي 1992).
تومبسون، ت. ويلم، أ. (2019). الماضي العصي: دراسات في تاريخ فلسطين. (ترجمة رانية فلفل المبيض وجمانة كيالي
عباس). رام الله: دار الناشر، (تاريخ النشر الأصلي 2019).
حلايقة، ع. (2014). التراث اللغوي الكنعاني المكتوب من فلسطين. (ط1). رام الله: المكتبة الوطنية الفلسطينية.
ساند، ش. (2010). اختراع الشعب اليهودي. (ترجمة سعيد عياش)، رام الله: المركز الفلسطيني للدراسات الإسرائيلية. (تاريخ
النشر الأصلي 2010).
سواح، ف. (2002). أرام دمشق وإسرائيل في التاريخ والتاريخ التوراتي. (ط5). سوريا: علاء الدين للنشر والتوزيع والترجمة.
طه، ح. (1999). من هم الفلسطينيون؟. مجلة الكرمل. (5)، 189 - 206
طه، ح. (2000). العلاقات ما بين مصر وكنعان في العصر البرونزي. بحث مقدم إلى المؤتمر الخامس عشر للآثار والتراث
الحضاري في الوطن العربي، 2000- 27/آذار – 2 نيسان، المنظمة العربية للتربية والثقافة والعلوم في الجمهورية العربية السورية. دمشق شلو.
عبابنة، ي. (2003). اللغة الكنعانية: دراسة صوتية دلالية مقارنة في ضوء اللغات السامية.(ط1). عمان: مجدلاوي للنشر
والتوزيع.
فنكلشتاين، ، ن. أ. و أشر، ن. (2007). التوراة اليهودية مكشوفة على حقيقتها. (ترجمة سعد رستم)، سوريا: صفحات للدراسات
والنشر. (تاريخ النشر الأصلي 2001).
كفاف، ز. (2019). فلسطين خلال العصر الحديدي الأول (نحو 1000 -1200 ق.م): دراسة مقارنة بين الروايات التوراتية
والبيانات الأثرية. مجلة ادوماتو، (39)، 7 – 28.
كفاف، ز. (2011). بلاد الشام في العصر القديمة: من عصور ما قبل التاريخ حتى إسكندر المقدوني. (ط1). عمان: دار الشروق للنشر والتوزيع.
مرقطن، م. (2022). الأوبئة والجوائح في الشرق الأدنى القديم منذ أقدم العصور حتى طاعون عمواس: دراسة في تأثيراتها في العمران البشري، مجلة سطور،(15)، 72 – 99.
منى، ز. (2000). مقدمة في تاريخ فلسطين القديم. (ط1). بيروت: بيسان للنشر والتوزيع.
نجاجرة، غ. (2012). أنماط السكن في المرتفعات الجبلية الفلسطينية في العصر الحديدي الأول، 1200 إلى 1000 ق.م.،
رسالة ماجستير غير منشورة. جامعة اليرموك، الأردن.
وايتلام، ك. (1999). اختلاق إسرائيل القديمة: إسكات التاريخ الفلسطيني. (ترجمة سحر الهنيدي). (ط1). الكويت: المجلس الوطني للثقافة والفنون والآداب. (تاريخ النشر الأصلي 1996).
References:
Ababneh, Y. (2003). The Canaanite Language: A Comparative Phonetic and Semantic Study in Light of the Semitic Languages (in Arabic). (1st ed.). Amman: Majdalawi for Publishing and Distribution.
Olbright, W. (1971). The Archaeology of Palestine (in Arabic). (Translated by Zaki Iskandar and Muhammad Abd al-Qadir Muhammad). (1st ed.). Egypt: Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. (Original publication date: 1949).
Das, A., Wexler, M. & Elhaik, E. (2017). The origins of Ashkenaz, Ashkenazic Jews, and Yiddish. Frontiers in Genetics, Lausanne, (8). 232735. 1-8.
Feldman, F., Daniel, M., Master, R. A., Bianco, M. B., Philipp, W. S., Alissa, M. & Kruse, J. (2019). Ancient DNA sheds light on the genetic origins of early Iron Age Philistines. Science Advances, Washington, D.C., 5(7). 1-10.
Finkelstein, N. A., and Asher, N. (2007). The Jewish Bible Unearthed (in Arabic). (Translated by Saad Rustum). Syria: Safahat for Studies and Publishing. (Original publication date: 2001).
Grant, E. (1927). Beth Shemesh. Haverford, Pennsylvania: Biblical and Kindred Studies.
Haber, M., Doumet-Serhal, C., Scheib, C., Xue, Y., Danecek, P., Mezzavilla, M., & Tyler-Smith, C. (2017). Continuity and admixture in the last five millennia of Levantine history from ancient Canaanite and present-day Lebanese genome sequences. The American Journal of Human Genetics, Rockville, USA, 101(2). 274-282.
Hajjej, A., Almaw, Y. W., Arnaiz-Villena, A., Hattab, L., & Hmida, S. (2018). The genetic heterogeneity of Arab populations as inferred from HLA genes. PloS One, San Francisco, 13(3). 1-24.
Halaika, A. (2014). The Canaanite Written Linguistic Heritage from Palestine (in Arabic). (1st ed.). Ramallah: Palestinian National Library.
Harney, É., May, H., Shalem, D., Rohland, N., Mallick, S., Azaridis, I., & Sarig, R. (2018). Ancient DNA from Chalcolithic Israel reveals the role of population mixture in cultural transformation. Nature Communications, New York City, 9(1). 1-11.
Ibrahim, M. (2010). Studies in the Archaeology of Palestine (in Arabic). (2nd ed.). Jordan: Dar al-Baraka for Publishing and Distribution.
Kafafi, Z. (2011). The Levant in Antiquity: From Prehistory to Alexander the Great (in Arabic). (1st ed.). Amman: Dar Al-Shorouk for Publishing and Distribution.
Kafafi, Z. (2019). Palestine during the Early Iron Age (1000-1200 BCE): A Comparative Study of Biblical Narratives and Archaeological Data (in Arabic). Adumatu Journal, (39), 7-28.
Kenyon, K. (1978). The Bible and recent archaeology. UK: British Museum Publications Ltd.
Kenyon, K. (1957). Digging up Jericho. New York: Fredrick A. Praeger Inc.
Murqatan, M. (2022). Epidemics and Plagues in the Ancient Near East from the Earliest Times to the Plague of Emmaus: A Study of Their Impact on Human Civilization (in Arabic). Sotor Journal, (15), 72-99.
Mona, Z. (2000). An Introduction to the History of Ancient Palestine (in Arabic). (1st ed.). Beirut: Bissan Publishing and Distribution.
Najajra, G. (2012). Settlement Patterns in the Palestinian Highlands during the Early Iron Age, 1200 to 1000 BCE. Unpublished Master's Thesis (in Arabic). Yarmouk University, Jordan.
Nebel, A., Dvora, F., Brinkmann, B., Majumder, P., Partha, M., & Ariella, O. (2001). The Y Chromosome Pool of Jews as Part of the Genetic Landscape of the Middle East. The American Journal of Human Genetics, Rockville, USA, 69(5). 1095-1112.
Sand, Sh. (2010). The Invention of the Jewish People (in Arabic). (Translated by Saeed Ayash). Ramallah: Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies. (Original publication date: 2010).
Sawwah, F. (2002). Aram Damascus and Israel in History and Biblical History (in Arabic). (5th ed.). Syria: Alaa El-Din for Publishing, Distribution, and Translation.
Taha, H. (1999). Who are the Palestinians? (in Arabic). Al-Karmel Journal, (5), 189-206.
Taha, H. (2000). Relations between Egypt and Canaan in the Bronze Age (in Arabic). Paper presented at the Fifteenth Conference on Archaeology and Cultural Heritage in the Arab World, 2000 - March 27 - April 2, Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) in the Syrian Arab Republic. Damascus.
Thompson, T. (1995). The Ancient History of the Israelite People (in Arabic). (Translated by Ali Saleh Sudah). (1st ed.). Beirut: Bisan for Publishing and Distribution. (Original publication date: 1992).
Thompson, T., and Willem, A. (2019). The Intractable Past: Studies in the History of Palestine (in Arabic). (Translated by Rania Felfel al-Mubayyad and Jumana Kayali Abbas). Ramallah: Publisher House. (Original publication date: 2019).
Whitelam, K. (1999). The Invention of Ancient Israel: Silencing Palestinian History (in Arabic). (Translated by Sahar Al-Hunaidi). (1st ed.). Kuwait: National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters. (Original publication date: 1996).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Al-Quds Open University for Humanities and Social Studies
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- The editorial board confirms its commitment to the intellectual property rights
- Researchers also have to commit to the intellectual property rights.
- The research copyrights and publication are owned by the Journal once the researcher is notified about the approval of the paper. The scientific materials published or approved for publishing in the Journal should not be republished unless a written acknowledgment is obtained by the Deanship of Scientific Research.
- Research papers should not be published or republished unless a written acknowledgement is obtained from the Deanship of Scientific Research.
- The researcher has the right to accredit the research to himself, and to place his name on all the copies, editions and volumes published.
- The author has the right to request the accreditation of the published papers to himself.
_2.png)
_.png)
_2.png)
_1.png)
_.png)
