Tel Gezer
This Monday, Kitat Arava had the opportunity to venture outside Kibbutz Tzuba and into the lives of people who lived around four thousand years ago. As we drove West, we experienced for ourselves some of the varied topography that makes Israel so unique. This topography, as well as Israel’s central placement in the fertile crescent, shaped the society and trading patterns that developed there throughout history.
Canaanites were one of the peoples, dependent on alliances with larger rulers, that developed on Tel Gezer. Relatively speaking, the Canaanites had an advanced culture. They had all of the elements essential for survival in ancient times in surplus. This freed up members of their society to become thinkers, engineers, even hydrologists. Complex methods of water collection and defense utilized by the Canaanites demonstrated their technological capabilities. The casemate wall system of defense was an ingenious and versatile solution for a civilization that needed much more protection in times of war.
Despite all that the Canaanites had to offer in terms of ancient survival, Avraham did not choose to settle on or near Tel Gezer. It is easy to wonder, “why not?” One possible answer to this question is that Avraham was strove to create a society that was new and different from those that already existed. While it is true that he did not always succeed in his quest to set himself and his nation apart, the intention is there. Avraham chose not to settle on Tel Gezer, or on a settlement like it, because he did not want to partake of human sacrifice. Human sacrifice was part of the status quo at this time in history. We were able to see archaeological suggestions that this was the case ourselves. Near the monoliths where the Canaanites came to worship was a basin, built into the stone, presumably for catching the blood of those used for sacrificial purposes. While animals were likely sacrificed here as well, evidence of the sacrifice of human children was made clear through bones and small jars for human remains. Today, we propose that Avraham made the conscious decision to set himself a step apart from many other cultures by rejecting human sacrifice.
Tel Gezer was important as a settlement not only to the Canaanites, but to about twenty-five different cultures. Included in this group were the ancient Israelites; specifically those who lived in the time of King Solomon. Important archaeological evidence was found in Tel Gezer concerning the existence and values of the Jewish people in this geographical location. An astracon, or a piece of pottery etched with writing, was found from a time in which ordinary Israelites were reading and writing. Surprisingly, the astracon found did not seem to belong to someone highly ranked, but, rather, it was a simple agricultural calendar. This evidence of Jewish emphasis on learning and literacy was the most interesting archaeological finding at Tel Gezer.
Fourteen other tablets were found at Tel Gezer, with both Hebrew and Greek writing on them. What do you think they might have said, and what might they have revealed about the culture of the Jewish people at this time?
I think this really shows how much learning is a big part of jewish culture now and in the past. It demonstrates ldor vdor strongly as well and how that was mostly likely valued because these teachings went beyond one group and type of people and learned through time. I think some of the things on these tablets would include something about the Sabbath due to the importance of it now that goes back to creation.
ReplyDeleteI believe from what was found at Tel Gezer shows how things last and are preserved. If there were 25 completely different civilizations there and given that the Jews were still the most advanced. We had our own form of language and belief system which was a large step from the more primitive methods of religion and praise. Not to mention the system we had for water and many other crucial resources seemed more productive and advanced than many of the other cultures. I think this is an important sign as to how the Jews were back then better off and in some cases the same today given all we've been through.
ReplyDeleteOur explorations at Tel Gezer were really eye-opening and important because of the amount of history that actually happened where we were standing. We got to see thousands of years later how advanced these people, who are our people as well, really were. They were literate, had advanced water systems, and walls prepared for war. It's important that we remember and value how much the Caananites and all the other ancient ciciliztions did while they lived in Tel Gezer.
ReplyDeleteDespite the hypothesis that Avram did not settle in Tel Gezer because of its history of human sacrifice, it is arguable from biblical evidence that such a thing was not taboo to the Israelites, even hundreds of years later in Egypt. Early on it is established that Hashem places distinctive value in moral relativism; Noah was spared because he was "righteous in his time."
ReplyDeleteLater in Exodus, Moshe warns the Egyptians of the oncoming Mekhad Bekhorot, but does not argue with Hashem in the spirit that Avraham did in Lech Lecha, or even as he did at the Burning Bush, asking Hashem “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?". Instead, he simply accepts the word. In Sh'mot, it is written that
"The Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) (11:1-3). Moshe simply accepts, and in his acceptance he and the Jewish people are complicit in the death of every firstborn in the nation, though the last plague is physically executed by the Angel of Death.
This may seem unrelated to Avram in Gezer but what I see is the Jewish people performing (or not abhorring to the idea of performing) a sacrifice normal in its time. Because of this I think that the idea that Avram passed Gezer because of human sacrifice lacks weight; we need a better reason and more evidence to support that claim.
Noah Arnold
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteNoah,
DeleteYou make an interesting point regarding the first born sons of Egypt. However, the comparison is difficult due to the fact that it's not quite a ritual sacrifice in the same sense.
If you would like to find other comparisons, and question whether or not Jews continued to sacrifice children despite the laws against it, you should check out Isaiah 57 and Jeremiah 7.
Then we really have some questions regarding the morals of our ancestors!
As for Gezer, rejecting human sacrifice is definitely not the only reason for Avraham not settling there, just a possibility. (It is especially interesting in relation to the story of Akedat Yitzhak).
We came up a few other reasons for Avraham not settling in the Canaanite cities. Can you recall them?
It is interesting that you hypothesized that Avram chose not to settle in part due to the tradition of human sacrifice because in the story of the binding of Isaac, Avram is willing to spare his first born son to prove his loyalty to God. Though that act was likely driven by fear, it still appears slightly hypocritical of Avram (should the theory about his objection to human sacrifice be true).
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that the several other tablets showed evidence of the many different aspects beyond just farming. The tablets found show an extremely admirable early Jewish precedent to teach your children in the practice of Ldor Vdor, from generation to generation. The elites in society were not the only ones worthy of an education or literacy. This is evident, too, as the Jewish people are the only group that survived with relatively consistent traditions and morals. While other civilizations, such as ancient Egyptians or Greeks changed structure several times under different leadership or simply by being overtaken, the Jewish people have ideals that are still relatively similar to those we had in ancient times.
The artifacts found at Tel Gezer show how advanced the town was for its time. The Gezer Calendar is an example of an advanced writing system and is also hypothesized to be an example of the Jewish value of education as it appears to be written by children. This however is merely circumstantial and cannot be proven. The fact that more tablets were found with both Hebrew and Greek writing serves as evidence that the people who lived at Tel Gezer were Jewish and lends more evidence to the claim that the Gezer Calendar was written as a writing exercise. The Hebrew and Greek tablets were most likely warnings or notices because at the time when Jewish people and Greeks would have been in the same area, they would not have been on friendly terms. Thus these and other examples of writing that were found serve to showcase the relationships that the residents of Tel Gezer had with each other and the surrounding villages.
ReplyDeleteI think that going to a place like Tel Gezer and being able to walk where some people in the past couldn't was truly amazing. I think that the other tablets could of had a bunch of amazing other clues to what life was like 4 thousand years ago. For me personally I always enjoy being somewhere where I know theres so much history to. To think that one of my ancestors could have been standing in the exact same place as I was 300 years before or even further back was incredible. I can't wait for our future tiyul's and to become more involved in the lives of my ancestors.
ReplyDeleteI thought that our trip to Tel Gezer was a wonderful experience and also very eye-opening to see what life was like for Canaanites- along with other cultures- around four thousand years ago. The fact that one of the fourteen tablets found at Tel Gezer was a farmer/agricultural calendar was interesting because it showed, and still shows, the importance of education and passing on knowledge in the Canaanite and Jewish culture. I think the other tablets were probably similar to the calendar found and had something to do with instructions or rules on different tasks the Canaanites had to accomplish. Also, I think the tablets would show the advancement in education and technology in the Jewish culture and other cultures around Tel Gezer at the time.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed our first Tulim to Tel Gezer. I found it fascinating that over four thousand years ago, Canaanites were so technologically advanced. It is honestly brilliant the way that they had set up the double wall around the town to prevent intruders during times of war. Finding a slab of stone with both Hebrew and Greek writing on it from that time period was so amazing. It shows just how sacred our religion is and that we have a strong connection between the past present and future Jews.
ReplyDeleteTel Gezer was an exciting beginning to our many intriguing trips that Kitat Arava will partake in. Walking on the same ground that people from so long ago survived and thrived in was thrilling. For me, one of the more captivating aspects of our trip was learning about the tablets that have been discovered at Tel Gezer. It was surprising to me that the tablets discovered were in both Hebrew and Greek. But, as we continued learning about how the ancient civilizations at Tel Gezer lived, it became more clear to me that there may be a connection between the Canaanites and the Greek speakers native to ancient Greece. The Canaanites were significantly more advanced then the other ancient civilizations in the region. As this insightful blog has stated, the Canaanites had advancements such as effective war defense methods. The Canaanites were higher thinkers. This is something they had in common with the ancient Greeks. The ancient Greeks left an outstanding legacy of higher thought. Tis includes systems and theorems still used today such as the Pythagorean Theorem created by mathematician, Pythagoras. Another recognizable higher thinker in Greek history is Archimedes, the credited father of modern calculus. As for the other tablets discovered at Tel Gezer, I believe they may contain information thought to be the start, or end products, of the immeasurable higher thought in the time of the Canaanites and other ancient civilizations that thrived at Tel Gezer.
ReplyDeleteLana Kolchinsky
Shalom Kitat Arava!!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, excellent post Daniella!! Thanks for getting us off to such a good start!
I have been enjoying all your comments, and would like to add that there are a few other reasons why Avraham may have chosen not to settle in a Canaanite city...
Also, please note that the advanced engineering of the water and security structures was completely Canaanite and had nothing to do with the Israelites!
Also, the tablets about Shabbat that were found in Hebrew and Greek were from a later time period, the Greco-Roman period.
You guys have some very interesting interpretations. I look forward to reading the rest!!
I think that the other tablets also contained information about everyday tasks. This could have been more calendars, signs, lists of rules, or even maps. The fact that everyday things, helpful to almost all people in society of all ages and social classes, was written down, says a lot for this society. Not many people in that time period could read let alone write. If these were useful to such a broad spectrum of people, then one could infer that all of those people could read. This is big for a civilization in this time period because it shows equality that was never really seen before.
ReplyDeleteLexi Czulewicz
To just imagine the cumulation of all the lives and cultures of the people that lived there for the hundreds or thousands of years is just terrifying! How amazing they became at engineering. They were a powerhouse of brilliance. For crying out loud, instead of not going to get water because it was in a different city's domain, they figured out how to carve out a cave going through the ground to an underwater source in that domain! Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that they killed one another so the gods would smile upon them, I'd love to visit.
ReplyDeleteMax Lenett.
Tel gezer was amazing experience. It was so cool to see how advanced the cannites were. their well must have taken years and their walls were brilliant. they had such a great understanding of the seasons and agriculture that they could make a small calendar telling farmers when/how to tend to their crops. the concept of the wall being filled with ruble during war was genius. It kinda makes you wonder why they were conquered so many times. overall it was a great time and i can't wait to see more of Israel!
ReplyDeleteI think the visit to Tel Gezer was amazing. It was really cool to be walking where so many Jews before me had been walking. I think it's amazing that some of the traditions we still have today were found in what was left behind by the people living in that time. I have a feeling that the other tablets were farming calendars like the tablet that we saw while at the Tel. I believe this showed that the culture of the Jewish people at this time was open and simple. I think that there wasn't enough distinction between social classes that even simple farmers were unable to read. To me, this proves even more the idea that we need to always be teaching and learning with each other, even if it means reading a farming calendar.
ReplyDeleteThe other tablets could have held a multitude of things. The fact that the astracon was detailed with the basic months according to farmers, essentially makes anything possible. The other tablets could have held laws, a deed, or just a family tree. The fact that we don't know what the rest of the tablets say means that we don't have any idea about any more of the culture of the ancient Jews. This mystery is one of many about the culture of the ancient Jews, and because of that we don't know more about them.
ReplyDelete