Beersheba

Introduction
Ancient Beersheba was a town in Canaan, inhabited first by various Canaanite tribes then by the ancient Israelites immediately following their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness of the Sinai Desert. For the Israelites, it was the southernmost border of the land promised to them by Yahweh [God]. The town of Beersheba was included in the total allotment, and was portioned out to the tribe of Judah.

(See Joshua 15:20-28).

Before the Israelites arrived on the scene, the Canaanites inhabited the whole region. Iron ([See Iron Age ) was the main metal in use and men made iron tools and weapons. This was also a time age when paganism and idolatry abounded everywhere.

During this time period, God [Yahweh] called Abraham, founding patriarch of the Israelites, from Ur, the land of the Chaldees [Mesopotamia], and instructed him to go to a land where "He would show him." Heeding God's call, Abraham left Ur and went to live in Canaan, the land that God promised to him and his people, the Israelites. The major amount of his time was spent living in the southern town of Beersheba as did Isaac and Jacob. A few centuries later, the Israelites, under Joshua, entered Canaan, uprooted most of the original inhabitants, and settled down to worship the one true God. Eventually, they succumbed to pagan influences, and, as prophesied by Yahweh's prophets, this subsequently led to their own uprooting by foreign powers.

Not very long ago, archaeologists made an astounding find in this very region, giving proof of the Israelite's existence and spirituality in the land. They unearthed a four-horned brazen altar that was a replica of the altar used by the Israelites in the sacrificial rites that were performed during their solemn assemblies (i.e., Passover, Day of Atonement), and prescribed for them under the Mosaic Law Covenant.

Today, most of ancient Beersheba lie beneath rubble and sand, but located nearby is modern Beersheba - a thriving city, but one that has recently come under terrorist attack..

The Canaanite Period

 * Culture and Political Heritage

The Canaanites originally resided in Mesopotamia. Biblical evidence says that they are the descendants of Noah's second son, Ham through his Canaan (See Genesis 10:6). . They were the "earliest known inhabitants of the land of Canaan whose settlement here goes back as far as the 3rd Millennium BC. It is further revealed that they lived in city-states such as Jericho after becoming urbanized. Since Canaan is located at the center of major routes that link it to three continents, it became "the meeting place for religious and cultural influences from Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Asia Minor.

The Philistines was another group that inhabited the region. During the reign of Pharaoh Ramesis III, Philistines and Tjekker, and possibly also Denyen, were allowed to resettle the cities of the coastal road. The five principal Philistine cities were Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath, and Ashkelon. Modern archaeology has suggested early cultural links with the Mycenean world in mainland Greece. Though the Philistines adopted local Canaanite culture and language before leaving any written texts, an Indo-European origin has been suggested for a handful of known Philistine words.

The ancient Egyptians played a large political role in Canaan, occupying and controlling it. Around 1150 BCE Internal troubles within Egypt, however, lead to the withdrawal of the last Egyptian garrisons at Beth Shean, the Jordan Valley, Megiddo and Gaza,. This was during the reign of Rameses VI. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah#Pre-history_of_Israel]


 * Religion

Canaan's religious heritage is even more interesting. The Canaanites were paganists. They worshipped and believed in many gods which made men idolatrous as well. Their major god was called "Baal," (ba'al) an ancient Mesopotamian deity whom worshippers associated with agriculture. The Canaanites believed that he was the giver and sustainer of life. This deity was also called the "son of Dagon" (controller of grain), and "Hadad" ( storm god who would provide plentiful rains).

According to one source, the Canaanites believed that Baal was in absolute control over nature and over people. They also held that he was the principal deity of the land, second only to his father El. In their religious ceremonies, base sex worship was also prevalent along with the commandment for religious prostitution. Human sacrifice was common and was often practiced in order to appease their gods. The pagan practitioners would kill young children and bury them in the foundations of a house or public building at the time of its construction. Joshua made comment on this activity. It is recorded at Joshua 6:26, and reads, "At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: "Cursed before the LORD is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: "At the cost of his [Hiel the Bethelite]firstborn son       will he lay its foundations;        at the cost of his youngest        will he set up its gates." 


 * Archaeological Discoveries

Many clay tablets have been unearthed from Ras Shamra the prehistoric city of Ugarit of the Amarna Letters, many of them revealing the myths told about the deities of the Canaanite pantheon including its chief male god Baal. One story reveals an interesting account about Baal's conflict with Mot, the powerful god of death, who was represented by drought and sterility. The Canaanites saw this conflict between Baal and Mot as ongoing. Mot demanded Baal, the life givers' surrender, and the cry when forth: "Baal is dead! What will return him to life; whereupon all nature blossomed again and El proclaimed: "Baal the conqueror lives; the prince, the lord of the earth, has revived." (from the article, "Baal the Life Giver," by Howard E. Vos).]


 * The Patriarchal Period

Historical evidence supports the fact that the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob began living in the land of Canaan during the Iron Age. . (Also see Genesis 15:18-21 (KJV): In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jews. The Biblical Amorites are considered synonymous with the Canaanites and occupied the same land. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greater_Israel_map.jpg