a DNA perspective...infancy

Hebrew University Archaeology Student — Israel (11/27/2008 1:38:17 PM)

Great article. If we accept the validity of studying modern Jewish populations to excavate for genetic artifacts of the Israelites then we can make some interesting observations. Generally, we believe - archaeology, biblical scholars, etc. - that the Semites were from Southern-Eastern Arabia. This is where Abraham's tribe is believed to have been located. There is some evidence to suggest based on YDNA and autosomal DNA studies that the United Arab Emirates may have preserved the source population of the ancient Semites from whom Abraham descended. BUT the people of Israel became a people in the Levant and this is exactly what we find when studying the recombining DNA (autosomal DNA) of Sephardic, Mizrahi, and also a core of Ashkenazi populations - in comparison to all world regions it shows a dominant region of Levantine origin, but retaining some more specific genetic similarity to the United Arab Emirates, and to a lesser extent Oman, and Yemen (Kuwait? Qatar?). This is based on very little data. We need more data and access to the ancient DNA preserved in ancient skeletal remains. In the next 20 years we will see go from “black-and-white” to "3D color" in understanding the ancient people groups of the Levant through archaeological application of DNA research.

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Good, but incomplete

Deane — South Africa (11/13/2008 3:04:19 AM)

Very interesting and thought provoking challenge to review the evidence. One does not, however, have to ascribe to the excesses of Mendenhall and Gottwald to regard the evidence of a high degree of cultural continuety as pointing to the possibility of an internal colonisation rather than an external infiltration. Consider Ezekiel 16, esp 45: "...your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite". Further regard to the archaeological evidence may clarify this. If settlement of the highlands proceeds from west to east, then internal colonisation, but if from east to west, then external infiltration. I have a hunch the latter will prove to be true.

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Where the Israelites came from

Sam — USA (10/24/2008 11:41:17 AM)

IF the scriptures are false there were no Israelites. IF the scriptures are true, then we know exactly who and where they came from. These other Asian/African tribes that existed before the first Israelite was born No one is a descendant of any particular ancestor but they are a composite of every ancestor they ever had. If the scriptures are true the Israelites were descendants of Chaldeans.. ancient Iraqis Canaanites Syirans Hittites Havites Philistines Moabites Ammoites Midianites Egyptians IF the scriptures the Israelites were nothing other than a composite of these and dozens of other Asian/African tribes/nations. I challenge any one who asserts other wise to respond to me in public where there is no censorship http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jews-Uncensored/

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Anson Rainey's article

Dallas C. Kennedy — United States (10/23/2008 9:23:37 PM)

Rainey's article is brilliant. I wish I had known his arguments when I was a student. I never thought Dever's ideas made much sense. But it's nice to see such a straightforward refutation.

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Anson Rainey's "Inside, Outside"

Jeanette McClannan — USA (10/22/2008 2:23:56 PM)

Mr Anson's article was most enlightening. I had never questioned the fact that the ancient Israelites immigrated from east of the Jordan,according to my understanding of Biblical Scripture. After reading the differing opinions on the Israelites origin,I feel Mr. Rainey's evidence far outweighs his opponents'opinions. Thank you BAR for giving me many pleasurable hours of exploring the past.

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