How were the Canaanites different from the Israelites?
http://www.history-world.org/canaanite_culture_and_religion.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites
The Canaanites and Israelites were ancient peoples who inhabited the region of Canaan, which corresponds to present-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria. While there were similarities between these two groups, significant differences can be identified in various aspects:
1. Origins: The Canaanites were considered indigenous to the region of Canaan, while the Israelites were believed to have migrated from Egypt into Canaan in the 13th century BCE.
2. Religion: The Canaanites were polytheistic, worshiping a pantheon of deities associated with various aspects of nature, such as Baal (storm god) and Asherah (fertility goddess). In contrast, the Israelites were monotheistic, worshiping Yahweh (God) as instructed by their religious texts, such as the Hebrew Bible.
3. Governance: The Canaanites were organized into various city-states, each governed by local kings or rulers. The Israelites, on the other hand, established a centralized form of governance led by judges, followed by a monarchy.
4. Cultural Practices: The Canaanites had a distinct culture with their own language, customs, and artistic traditions, which were influenced by the wider Mesopotamian and Egyptian cultures. The Israelites had their own cultural practices, including religious rituals, dietary laws, and social customs, which were heavily influenced by their religious beliefs and texts.
5. Conflict: The Canaanites and Israelites were often in conflict due to their territorial and religious differences. The Hebrew Bible portrays numerous instances of warfare between the Israelites and Canaanites as the former sought to establish their own presence and territory in Canaan.
To gather more detailed information on these differences, you can refer to scholarly works, history books specifically covering the ancient Near East, and primary sources such as the Hebrew Bible and ancient Canaanite texts. By studying the historical context and various sources, you can gain a deeper understanding of the Canaanites and Israelites and the factors that differentiated them.