Jews originated as a national and religious group in the Middle East during the second millennium BCE, in the part of the Levant known as the Land of Israel. The Merneptah Stele appears to confirm the existence of a people of Israel, associated with the god El, somewhere in Canaan as far back as the 13th century BCE. The Israelites, as an outgrowth of the Canaanite population, consolidated their hold with the emergence of the Kingdom of Israel, and the Kingdom of Judah. Some consider that these Canaanite sedentary Israelites melded with incoming nomadic groups known as 'Hebrews'. Though few sources in the Bible mention the exilic periods in detail, the experience of diaspora life, from the Ancient Egyptian rule over the Levant, to Assyrian Captivity and Exile, to Babylonian Captivity and Exile, to Seleucid Imperial rule, to the Roman occupation, and the historical relations between Israelites and the homeland, became a major feature of Jewish history, identity and memory.
How long have people in Israel existed?
Where?
According to what?
Where did Jews originate?
When?
What kind of group were they?
What did they call their homeland?
What god did the first Israelites associate with?
What population did they grow from?
What group of people did they merge with?
Combined, what were they known as?
What was one of many historical events that influenced Jewish identity?
Is it referenced in detail within the Bible?
Were there any other major historical events that influenced the area?
How many groups of people were held captive and eventually exiled?
as far back as the 13th century BCE
as far back as the 13th century BCE
somewhere in Canaan
somewhere in Canaan
The Merneptah Stele
The Merneptah Stele
in the Middle East
 in the Middle East
during the second millennium BCE
during the second millennium BCE
a national and religious group
a national and religious group
Kingdom of Israel
 Kingdom of Israel
god El
god El
Canaanite
Canaanite
incoming nomadic groups
incoming nomadic groups
'Hebrews'
'Hebrews'
the Roman occupation
the Roman occupation
no
 few sources in the Bible
historical relations between Israelites and the homeland
historical relations between Israelites and the homeland
unknown
unknown