Merneptah Stele — "Israel is laid waste, its seed is no more"
אבן מרנפתח
Author: Pharaon Mérenptah (c. 1213–1203 av. J.-C.)
Date: c. 1208 av. J.-C.
Preservation: Musée égyptien du Caire
deposited on April 16, 2026 · History register · custodian, not owner
❧ Description
The Merneptah Stele, discovered in 1896 at Thebes, contains the first known historical mention of "Israel" outside the Bible: "Israel is laid waste, its seed is no more." The hieroglyphic determinative indicates Israel was perceived as an ethnic entity, not yet a territorial state, anchoring the existence of a group called "Israel" in Canaan by the late 13th century BCE.
In history
Critical research
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English
The Merneptah Stele, discovered in 1896 at Thebes, contains the first known historical mention of "Israel" outside the Bible: "Israel is laid waste, its seed is no more." The hieroglyphic determinative indicates Israel was perceived as an ethnic entity, not yet a territorial state, anchoring the existence of a group called "Israel" in Canaan by the late 13th century BCE.