Israel Stela

carving

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June 29, 2026

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The "Israel Stela" is a carving that contains the earliest known reference to Israel. It is one of four commemorative texts ordered by the Egyptian king Merneptah after he successfully defended Egypt against an invasion from Libya around 1209 BCE.1

The stela also mentions Merneptah's suppression of a revolt in Palestine, listing Israel among the peoples he defeated. This inscription is significant as it provides an extra-biblical mention of Israel, with scholars suggesting the events align with the biblical periods of late Exodus to Judges. The Moabite alphabet, closely related to the early Hebrew alphabet, is exemplified by the Meshaʿ, or Moabite, Stone, which dates to the mid-9th century BCE.12

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Merneptah
…of these, the famous “Israel Stela,” refers to the suppression of the revolt in Palestine. It contains the earliest-known reference to Israel, which Merneptah counted among the peoples that he defeated. Hebrew scholars suggest that the circumstances agree approximately with the period noted in biblical books from late Exodus…
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…of these, the famous “Israel Stela,” refers to the suppression of the revolt in Palestine. It contains the earliest-known reference to Israel, which Merneptah counted among the peoples that he defeated. Hebrew scholars suggest that the circumstances agree approximately with the period noted in biblical books from late Exodus…
Read More