Early Israelites: Two Peoples, One History

Seeing that this excellent book does not have any in-depth reviews, I thought I'd provide my own two (or more) cents here:Firstly, contra one of the reviewers, I did not stop reading the author after the introduction, but continued all the way to the end. Minor details do jump out as debatable: for instance, indeed, it is not known for certain what the main impetus for dispersal of proto-Indo-European peoples was, and it is debatable whether the expansion was due to extrinsic factors, like possible flooding of the Black Sea, or whether it was due to natural demographic growth and expansion achievable by immense advantages made possible by horse and wheel warfare. Also, we presently know that proto-Indo-Europeans were spread around the whole Pontic-Caspian steppe, not just around the Black Sea, certainly by around 5000 BC or so (e.g. the Samara culture). But Lipovsky's book is not at all about Indo-Europeans and their ancestors. For that, you'd have to read D Anthony's Magnum Opus "The Horse, the Wheel, and Language," as well as keep abreast of latest genetic evidence regarding the origin and spread of proto-Indo Europeans. Given that said hard evidence became available only circa 2014/2015, a couple of years after "Early Israelites" was written, the author should be forgiven for lack of precision on this topic.Either way, even for the arguable details, I did not find anything in this book to be either beyond the pale or explicitly wrong. The example given above is fully in line with Marija Gimbutas's steppe-origin theory, which, again, is confirmed by recent genetic findings of scholars like Prof. David Reich of Harvard and others.The emphasis of this book, as implied by its name, is the origin of Israelites. And here Lipovsky's main thesis shines and is nothing short of extraordinary: that there were, in fact, two exoduses from Egypt: one taking place during the 15th century, the other -- during 12th century BCE. Curiously, the book’s idea is echoed by the almost contemporaneous work of B. Sivertsen, who mounts a noble attempt to reconcile Bible with modern science in “The Parting of the Sea.” However, among other things, major difference is in the emphasis of supporting evidence and the actual dating of these events. Sivertsen gives 17th century BCE and the Minoan eruption as the date and cause of the first exodus, and 15th BCE and the Yali eruption as the cause of the second one, in contrast to Lipovsky’s 15th and 12th century BCE. He connects the first event with expulsion of the Hyksos (“Joseph” tribes) and the second with Moses (who led the tribe of Judah).Besides citing some contemporary historians’ ideas, Lipovsky mainly focuses on primary sources (which, personally, I prefer): among which is, obviously, the Bible. The other ones are: the Amarna letters, the writings of Josephus Flavius citing Manetho, and references to ancient inscriptions and archaeological finds in the Nile Delta, including recent ones in the vicinity of Tell El-Dab'a. Unfortunately, we don’t have much direct evidence other than the above sources, hence the need to try find corroborating linkages between them all, which Lipovsky does fabulously. While the work is written to be accessible to the general reader and the author explains things along the way, I think that some familiarity with Bible as well as, possibly, academic approaches to studying it, like being familiar of existence of the Documentary Hypothesis, would be helpful (Internet can be your friend here). Likewise, some flexibility and openness to the academic, less dogmatic interpretation thereof is assumed.Besides the idea of separate exoduses and conquests of Canaan, I am especially intrigued by his take on the ancestral beginnings of Israelites and different breakdown between what constitutes the northern and what constitutes the southern tribal groups. In particular, his derivations from the stories about the patriarchs Abraham, Jacob/Israel, and Joseph are non-orthodox: while other historians have noted and linked Amorites as ancestors of the Biblical Israelites, Lipovsky goes one step further by reconstructing the mythology of Abraham, Joseph and Israel as a story of two, rather than one, groups of Amorite tribes. Said tribal groups, Lipovsky writes, came into Canaan from northwestern Mesopotamia at slightly different times, and were likely related, although their relation to each other stretches to beyond Terah. Abraham is the ancestor of Jacob who is the forefather of *four* southern tribes, and Esau, the forefather of Edom. Israel is ancestral to Joseph. However, Lipovsky writes, Israel and Jacob, are not the same person: they were *made* into one person, as a later edition of the founding myths, by the scribes who unified the two oral traditions in the course of composing the Bible. I am presuming, these are all the way in the earliest written (and surviving) pre-Priestly sources, seeing that he refers to Davidic era.There are many other interesting bits and pieces that make this book a fascinating, and certainly, at least a worthwhile read. Lipovsky discusses inconsistencies within the various books of the Pentateuch and attempts to reconcile them, on one hand, without religiously homiletic intent and, on the other, weaving a unified and coherent account of the events that stretch back to the formation of the Israelites all the way down to the period of the First Temple. This I find to be rare and valuable, being a rationalist who also seeks historicity within disparate parts of ancient traditions. In summary, I find Lipovsky’s work to be one of the best Biblical scholarship books I’ve read in the last few years, and his blend of academic take and creativity reminds me of some other biblical scholars whose books and articles I’ve enjoyed very much: in particular, Shaye Cohen and Zev Farber.Again: a highly recommended book!

This is an interesting read. The author takes a very difficult subject matter and makes a good argument for his thesis. It gets convoluted at times and some charts and maps would help illustrate his points more but I found it very interesting.

The book has much interesting historical information, but the author should have had a more skilled editor. Paragraphs that run-on for more than a page are too common, and often the sentence structure makes the meaning difficult to understand. I recommend his newer edition -- with a slightly different title. The newer version of the book is much easier to read and understand as the structure of sentences and paragraphs are more :orderly." I think the newer edition also has the time-line of events explained more clearly.

This book is not for the average bible student. It will take an advanced scholar of Old Testament history to keep up with the author's detailed background of the many peoples and cultures who contributed to the Israelite tribes. However, for the person willing to work through the maze the garnered background is worth the effort. Just be prepared to think and do some organizing of your own.

If you are serious about Biblical or ancient Near Eastern history do not bother to read this book. I am not a credentialed scholar but have over the last a quarter century read the works of credible researchers in the area (Pagels, King, Baurer, Price, Ehrman, Brakke, Carrier and Finkelstein to name a few) and so, for an amiteur have a pretty good grasp of the subject and methods expected of scholarly work in this area. I was able to get through the introduction and half the first chapter before I have to put the book down as a total waste of time. Lipovsky begins by presenting as fact unsubstantiated speculation regarding the dispersal of Indo-European peoples with the flooding of the Black Sea ca. 5000 bce, then heads down a fantasy land of story-telling that depends on a literal interpretation of Genesis to build and support his thesis. This is not objective scholarly research; hell, it's not even a good story. It is junk science at it's worst. Amazon, I want my money back!

Very informative

I really liked this book and the author's theory on there being 2 groups of semi nomadic western Semites that became the 12 tribes of Israel. His theory makes a lot of sense and helps clear up the history of the early Israelites. Also, his theory about there being two exoduses, and the times when they happened is interesting. I think all others who study about ancient Israel should read this book. This book is awesome.

Have a favorite theory about the exodus? Moses ? Here's support for all of them - if there was more than one "exodus," then all the theories fit.