Lecture 4-4/8

Today focused primarily on Jerusalem before David as well as an introduction of David's intrusion and set-up of the City of David. In the discussion of Canaanite Jerusalem, one of the main topics was the dispute over Joshua's role in Jerusalem as it comes out through Joshua 10 and Joshua 15. Also discussed was the role of pottery in dating Jerusalem's development prior to David as well as the importance of execration texts and the Amarna letters in showing that the city had a prominent role in the Egyptian empire of Canaan.

With so much tension and violence continuing to stem from biblical disputes such as that which continues over the role of Joshua, I cannot understand why modern civilization cannot simply put history aside and move on? As a person of the Jewish faith myself, it truly makes no sense why our faith continues to engage in violent struggle over a city with merely religious importance and a shaking historical background. Without attempting to appear more informed than anyone else on the realities behind such biblical disputes, it still makes no sense to me why my faith isnt willing to just say "fine, youre right" and move on. Death and destruction is simply not worth a fight over literary significance.