Do the Amarna Letters Provide Evidence for Israel’s Conquests?

Of the 382 known Amarna Letters, over 150 were written from Canaanite kings to the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III around 1400 BC. In several of these letters, various Canaanite kings accuse Labayu, King of Shechem, of attacking them himself, and/or aiding the Habiru (or Hapiru) in their attacks. Some of the letters even accuse Labayu of giving some of the land of the Shechem city-state to the Habiru. In particular, Amarna Letter EA289 from Abdi-Heba of Jerusalem asks, “Are we to act like Labayu when he was giving the land of Shechem to the Habiru?” Amarna Letter EA287 similarly accuses the sons of Labayu of giving land to theHabiru.

Labayu defended himself and his actions in three of the Amarna Letters, notably in Amarna Letter EA252 where he vehemently denied association with the Habiru and denied any involvement in giving away the land of Shechem.

Most likely, Labayu was acting as a double-agent, working with the Habiru to weaken his political rivals in other Canaanite city-states while staying in favor with the pharaoh.

During the initial phase of the Israelite conquest, Joshua led a campaign against many cities in Canaan. Chapters 10 through 12 of the Biblical book of Joshua sets forth a long list of conquered cities and kings. Conspicuously absent from this list is Shechem. This is especially noteworthy because all of the Israelites,—and the local residents—gathered between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal at Shechem in a peaceful manner after Jericho and Ai have been destroyed, but before the attack on Hazor. This peaceful meeting happens again right after the initial campaign against the Canaanite city-states is over.

Archaeological excavations at Shechem have conclusively demonstrated that Shechem wasn’t destroyed until nearly 100 years after the time of Labayu and Joshua. The Amarna Letters record that Shechem was given to the Habiru (or Hapiru, or ‘Apiru), a derogatory nickname meaning, “the dusty ones.” This almost certainly refers to the Israelites and to their 40 years of desert wanderings.

Summary

In light of the Amarna Letters and excavations, it seems quite evident that Shechem was not conquered in battle. Evidence points instead to the likelihood of a peaceful agreement allowing the area of Shechem to be given gradually to the Israelites, rather than taken by force.