The Amarna Letters: A Window into Canaan Before Israel

Discovered in 1887 in Egypt, the Amarna Letters are a collection of diplomatic correspondence from the 14th century BCE—just before the Bronze Age Collapse. These clay tablets reveal a Canaan divided among squabbling city-states, all pleading for Egyptian military support against threats including the mysterious 'Habiru.' While scholars debate the connection between 'Habiru' and 'Hebrew,' these letters unmistakably depict a land in turmoil, ripe for transformation. They show us the political chaos that preceded Israel's emergence and confirm the Bible's portrayal of Canaan as a land of many kings and fortified cities.