© Charles Chandler

 

The Bronze Age Collapse caused a famine in Canaan, prompting the hungry to attack Egypt in the delta. The combatants formed a coalition including Libyans, Sea Peoples, and tribes from northwest Canaan, including the Ekwesh, who were known to be circumcised, meaning that they were Hebrews.

 

 

Figure 1. Sea Peoples, from the Medinet Habu temple, courtesy The History Files. Note the knotted fringes on two of the robes, meaning that they were Hebrews.

 

 

The Israelites "enslaved" in the delta were thus prisoners of war in this conflict.