As Israel celebrates 77 years of independence this week, it bears exploring how the name "Israel" itself first came to be associated with the Jewish people. "Israel" is not just the name of a modern nation-state – it is a term laden with deep historical, religious, and symbolic significance.For another popular article on this question from a decade ago, see here. Not surprisingly, the Merneptah Stele also figures in it. For the implications of the terms Jew vs. Judean, see here and links.But when did Jews begin identifying themselves as "Israel"? The answer is more complex, and more revealing, than commonly assumed.
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Alder's reconstruction is thoughtful and takes into account the available evidence. Unfortunately, there are great gaps in that evidence, which makes any reconstruction speculative. One key question is whether there was an historical Davidic and Solomonic United Monarchy and, if so, to what degree the Deuteronomistic History describes it accurately.
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