Is this the earliest reference to the tribe of Judah?
By Christopher Eames • March 21

The Merneptah Stele is famous as the earliest confirmed inscriptional evidence for “Israel.” Dating circa 1205 b.c.e., the Egyptian victory stele proves that the Israelite nation was established in the Holy Land during the biblical period of the judges. Another damaged inscription—the Berlin Pedestal—almost certainly mentioning “Israel,” cannot be conclusively dated, but may predate the Merneptah Stele by 100 years or more.

Of almost as much significance as the national name Israel are the names of the individual tribes. The 12 tribes constitute veritable nation-states in themselves—the Bible describes fierce loyalties among the tribes. Devastating wars were fought among them. In Ephraim vs. East Israelites, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed (Judges 12). In Benjamin vs. Israel, 25,000 Benjamites were killed (almost wiping out the entire population), and 40,000 of the opposing 11 tribes (Judges 20). And virtually the entire monarchical period—from circa 925 b.c.e. to 720 b.c.e.—was defined by the split and constant hostilities between the independent northern 10 tribes of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah.

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