Introduction
The Egyptian Execration Texts, which are known from the 6th Dynasty through the New Kingdom (ca. 2345 – 1077 BC), provide archaeologists with an interesting if unusual method for identifying names of cities and names of peoples and individuals that were in use during the time of their recording.
Background
The execration texts were usually names of enemies of Egypt, which could include city names or personal names. The names were typically written on statuettes, bowls, or tablets which were then shattered. The ritual of breaking these objects inscribed with the names of enemies, and then burying or otherwise abusing them, was a type of symbolic or substitutionary magic intended to curse and destroy the people and places written on the texts.
Over 1,000 of these figurines and bowls have been excavated throughout Egypt, demonstrating how common the practice was over a period of several centuries. This practice was especially prolific during the Middle Kingdom, making the Execration Texts an important source of information about the names of cities and personal names that were commonly used in the Canaan region during that time. For example, excavations at Saqqara uncovered an enormous number of the broken execration figurines, which contained the names of more than 60 cities, tribes, and individuals in Canaan during the Middle Bronze Age from about 2000 – 1700 BC.
Many of the names of cities and people mentioned in these execration texts are also found in the book of Genesis narratives set in the Middle Bronze Age. These include Laish, Shechem, Jerusalem (Salem), Abraham (Aburahana), Zebulun, and even Job. Abram visited Salem (Jerusalem), Shechem, and Laish (Dan); Jacob visited Shechem.
Conclusion
City names often stayed the same for long periods, even centuries. In certain cases the names would be changed or modified by usage (Salem to Jerusalem) or by conquest (Laish to Dan). Likewise, the use and popularity of personal names constantly changed over time in the ancient world, just as it does today. This means that certain names were usually restricted to a particular time period, and might vary from region to region.
Consequently, because several personal names in Genesis are known archaeologically from Middle Bronze Age sources, and because place names mentioned in Genesis changed after the Middle Bronze Age, this strongly suggests that the stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Zebulun, and others are situated historically where the Bible claims they should be: in the period of approximately 2000 – 1600 BC.
