Actually, the Merneptah stele uses the word "Ysirir" in Egyptian. The word appears no where else in Egyptian literature and no one really knows what it means.
Flinders-Petrie who found the stele in 1896 said that "Ysirir" means "Israel" based on....... well they sounded similar. Not a very solid reason.
Further, the word appears at the very end of the stele. The entire beginning s a victory hymn to the Merneptah's prowess in battle over the Libyans and their Sea People allies. This, in itself, is humorous as Merneptah was probably in his 60's when he came to the throne and was more likely a doddering old man than the "strong arm of Ra."
In any case, xtians who are so quick to jump on the Ysirir bandwagon then ignore the rest of the line which indicates that they were obliterated.
I'd ask "why is that" but I already know the answer.
Flinders-Petrie who found the stele in 1896 said that "Ysirir" means "Israel" based on....... well they sounded similar. Not a very solid reason.
Further, the word appears at the very end of the stele. The entire beginning s a victory hymn to the Merneptah's prowess in battle over the Libyans and their Sea People allies. This, in itself, is humorous as Merneptah was probably in his 60's when he came to the throne and was more likely a doddering old man than the "strong arm of Ra."
In any case, xtians who are so quick to jump on the Ysirir bandwagon then ignore the rest of the line which indicates that they were obliterated.
I'd ask "why is that" but I already know the answer.
