Historical Geographical Survey of the Jordan Valley in the Late Bronze Age

545 Pages·2012·20.13 MB·English

A HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SURVEY OF THE JORDAN VALLEY
IN THE LATE BRONZE AGE
by
James Mark Schaaf

submitted in accordance with the requirements
for the degree of
DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY
in the subject
BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
at the
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
Supervisor: PROFESSOR MAGDEL LE ROUX
Co-supervisor: PROFESSOR COENRAAD SCHEEPERS

AUGUST 2012

Student number:
41867041

I declare that:
A HISTORICAL, GEOGRAPHICAL AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE JORDAN VALLEY
IN THE LATE BRONZE AGE

is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been
indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.

___________________________
_____________________
SIGNATURE DATE
James Mark Schaaf

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ABSTRACT
This thesis is a multi-disciplinary survey of the Central Jordan Valley during the Late
Bronze Age (1500-1200 BC) illustrated with an abundant use of maps and tables. The
purpose is to determine how the Jordan Valley functioned as an economic unit
during the Late Bronze Age.
This thesis surveys the geographical, historical and archaeological records related to
the Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze Age. A chapter is devoted to each field,
geography (physical and human), history (Egyptian and Hebrew Bible) and
archaeology. The data from each discipline is used to individually answer two
questions:
1) was the Jordan Valley a single geographic/economic unit in the Late
Bronze Age?
2) to what extent was the Jordan Valley integrated/interacting with the
east-west highlands and the larger region in the Late Bronze Age?
The primary objectives are to 1) explore and model a historical geographic
hermeneutic for understanding the human experience of the Ancient Near East; and
2) lay a foundation for understanding the role of the Jordan Valley in affecting the
Biblical periods of the Israelite monarchy to the Roman period.
The answers from each chapter are then synthesized into a single geographic
historical archaeological picture of the Central Jordan Valley during the Late Bronze
Age. The Central Jordan Valley was divided into two sections: a fertile, populated,
well connected north-central section and an isolated, sparsely populated southern
section with limited agricultural zones. Trade with and between the eastern and
western highlands is well represented by artifactual parallels in and through the
Jordan Valley, the north-central section on a regional and international scale and the
southern section on a more local scale. The thesis concludes that there are more
artifactual points of connection between the Jordan Valley and the eastern highlands
than with the western highlands. An ‘early conquest’ model of the Hebrew Bible is
plausible within the historical records of the Egyptian 18th and 19th Dynasties and
the geographical and archaeological records of the Jordan Valley during the Late
Bronze Age.
Key words: Amarna Letters; ‘Apiru; Central Jordan Valley; Chocolate-on-White ware;
Climate of Jordan Valley; Early Conquest Model; Earthquakes in the Jordan Valley;
Egypt in the Jordan Valley; Emergence of Israel; Geology of Jordan Valley; Hydrology
of Jordan Valley; Israel in the Jordan Valley; Jordan River; Jordan River Floods;
Joshua; Judges; Late Bronze Age; Maps of Jordan Valley; Plains of Moab; Rain
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shadow of Jordan Valley; Shasu; Topography of Jordan Valley; Trade in the Late
Bronze Age; 18th and 19th Dynasties.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In completing a project of this magnitude, I must acknowledge and thank key
individuals, who have enabled me to rise above my own abilities in conducting this
research and succeeding in the submission of this thesis.
To be an Olympic marathoner, you must choose your parents well. My parents have
given me the confidence to tackle the challenges of life and to achieve my dreams by
nurturing a love for reading, exploration and adventure.
To Kathy, Michael, Sara and Kaitlyn who, after enduring many weekends of walking
through the valleys and hills of Jordan looking at ‘old rocks’, not only sacrificed time
and opportunities with their husband/father but picked up extra responsibilities to
allow me to complete this work.
To Richard Hart whose creative encouragement and enthusiasm spurred me forward
in investigating how the ‘Great Rift’ can actually bring us together.
To Edward Dawson who opened the wadis and hills of Jordan for me as an intrepid
navigator and fellow explorer.
I am indebted to the faculty of Jerusalem University College (1997-2000), especially
Wink Thompson, Jim Monson, Ginger Casseon and the late Anson Rainey who took
extra time and effort to coach their commuter student from ‘the other side.’
Professors Magdel Le Roux and Coenie Scheepers, my promoters at the University of
South Africa, whose direction and leadership matured and guided this project to its
submission.
To Barbara Shaw, I now understand why editors get so much attention from their
writers. This thesis would not have been completed without your expertise,
encouragement and deadlines.
With appreciation, I thank you all.

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1
1.1 HISTORY OF THE PROJECT......................................................................................................... 1
1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE THESIS........................................................................................ 2
1.3 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................... 4
1.3.1 Multi-disciplinary approach: A historical geographic hermeneutic ..................................... 4
1.3.2 Qualitative research methods ........................................................................................... 5
1.4 THE STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS ................................................................................................ 7
1.5 LITERARY REVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 8
1.5.1 Geography of the Jordan Valley ......................................................................................... 8
1.5.1.1 Data bases ................................................................................................................ 9
1.5.1.2 Map source and 0rientation ..................................................................................... 12
1.5.2 The History of the Jordan Valley ...................................................................................... 14
1.5.2.1 Primary sources ....................................................................................................... 14
1.5.2.1.1 The Egyptian sources ...................................................................................................... 14
1.5.2.1.2 The Hebrew Bible ........................................................................................................... 17
1.5.2.1.3 Assumptions in placing the Biblical narratives within the Late Bronze Age ....................... 20
1.5.3 Archaeology .................................................................................................................... 23
1.6 NOMENCLATURE .................................................................................................................... 24
1.7 DEFINING THE JORDAN VALLEY .............................................................................................. 25
1.8 DEFINITION OF THE LATE BRONZE AGE ................................................................................... 26
1.9 LIMITATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY ................................................................... 27
CHAPTER 2: GEOGRAPHY OF THE JORDAN VALLEY ................................................. 31
2.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 31
2.2 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 32
2.2.1 Regional location/survey of bordering regions ................................................................. 33
2.2.1.1 The Bashan .............................................................................................................. 36
2.2.1.2 The Golan ................................................................................................................ 36
2.2.1.3 Gilead...................................................................................................................... 37
2.2.1.3.1 Lower Gilead .................................................................................................................. 38
2.2.1.3.2 Upper Gilead .................................................................................................................. 38
2.2.1.4 Madaba Plateau ...................................................................................................... 39
2.2.1.5 The Lower Galilee .................................................................................................... 39
2.2.1.6 The Jezreel Valley and Harod Valley ......................................................................... 40
2.2.1.7 The western highlands ............................................................................................. 41
2.2.1.7.1 Samarian Hills ................................................................................................................ 42
2.2.1.7.2 Ephraim Hills .................................................................................................................. 42
2.2.1.7.3 The Wilderness .............................................................................................................. 42
2.2.2 Description of the Jordan Valley ...................................................................................... 43
2.2.2.1 Elevations ................................................................................................................ 46
2.2.2.2 Geology of the Jordan Valley (soils and minerals) ..................................................... 50
2.2.2.3 Key zones of the Jordan Valley ................................................................................. 56
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2.2.2.3.1 The Ghor ........................................................................................................................ 57
2.2.2.3.2 The Qattara.................................................................................................................... 58
2.2.2.3.3 The Zor .......................................................................................................................... 58
2.2.2.4 Ridges and valleys bordering the Jordan Valley ........................................................ 60
2.2.2.4.1 The Northern Jordan Valley ............................................................................................ 60
2.2.2.4.2 The Central Jordan Valley, ‘The Waist’ ............................................................................ 65
2.2.2.4.3 The Southern Jordan Valley ............................................................................................ 67
2.2.2.5 Climate .................................................................................................................... 71
2.2.2.5.1 Rain and temperatures ................................................................................................... 73
2.2.2.5.2 Disease .......................................................................................................................... 77
2.2.2.6 Hydrology of the Jordan Valley................................................................................. 77
2.2.2.6.1 The major rivers ............................................................................................................. 80
2.2.2.7 Flora and fauna ..................................................................................................... 107
2.2.2.7.1 Flora ............................................................................................................................ 107
2.2.2.7.2 Fauna........................................................................................................................... 109
2.3 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................... 110
2.3.1 Settlements .................................................................................................................. 110
2.3.1.1 Settlement Sites ..................................................................................................... 114
2.3.1.1.1 Northern section .......................................................................................................... 119
2.3.1.1.2 Central section ............................................................................................................. 123
2.3.1.1.3 Southern section .......................................................................................................... 126
2.3.1.1.4 Eastern highlands ......................................................................................................... 128
2.3.1.1.5 Western highlands ....................................................................................................... 131
2.3.1.2 Place names from historical texts in the Jordan Valley ............................................ 135
2.3.1.2.1 The northern section of the Jordan Valley ..................................................................... 139
2.3.1.2.2 Central section of the valley ......................................................................................... 144
2.3.1.2.3 Southern section of the valley ...................................................................................... 147
2.3.2 Transportation/road networks ...................................................................................... 152
2.3.2.1 Roads .................................................................................................................... 152
2.3.2.2 Routes ................................................................................................................... 158
2.3.2.2.1 Valley floor routes ........................................................................................................ 159
2.3.2.2.2 Routes into/out of the northern section ....................................................................... 161
2.3.2.2.3 Routes into/out of the central section .......................................................................... 165
2.3.2.2.4 Routes into/out of the southern section ....................................................................... 168
2.3.2.3 Travel time and modes of transportation ............................................................... 172
2.3.2.4 River crossings ....................................................................................................... 173
2.3.3 Economics..................................................................................................................... 175
2.3.3.1 Industry ................................................................................................................. 175
2.3.3.2 Agriculture ............................................................................................................ 177
2.3.3.3 Trade/commerce ................................................................................................... 181
2.4 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 182
CHAPTER 3: A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE JORDAN VALLEY IN THE LATE
BRONZE AGE....................................................................................... 189
3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 189
3.2 EGYPTIAN SOURCES ............................................................................................................. 190
3.2.1 The 18th Dynasty: Late Bronze Age I and II (15th and 14th century BC) .......................... 190
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