Answer · confidence: partial
Do old Egyptian name-rings from Berlin mention a group called Israel?
Research question: What do the Berlin pedestal name-rings and other Late Bronze Egyptian texts show about an earlier group named Israel?
The records show that a fresh look at the Berlin Statue Pedestal Relief 21687 led scholars to ask whether Israel was in Canaan well before Merenptah 5. The Israel Stela's list of Canaanite places and peoples probably refers to an earlier Merenptah campaign 1. The Merneptah reference is taken to show that a people called 'Israel' already existed in Canaan by 1207 BCE 2. The facts do not state what the Berlin pedestal itself shows, so this answer is only partial. The newest fact is from 2019, roughly seven years before October 2026 25.
Checked 2026-10-19. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
The Israel Stela's list of Canaanite places and peoples, including Israel, probably refers to an earlier campaign of Merenptah in his second, third, or fifth regnal year.
"The reference to Canaan, Ashkelon, Gezer, Yanoam, Israel and Palestine probably alludes to an earlier campaign of Merenptah, which took place either in the second, third or the fifth year of his reign."Mercenaries or refugees? the evidence from the inscriptions of Merenptah on the ‘Sea Peoples’ (2017)
[2] supported
By 1207 BCE, a people called 'Israel' already existed in Canaan, according to the Merneptah reference.
"Sabe-se que em 1207 aEC já havia um povo de nome “Israel” em Canaan1"ESCAVANDO O INÍCIO DA DIVINAÇÃO ISRAELITA (2019)
[3] supported
The bibliography cites a 2010 study by van der Veen, Theis and Görg that asks whether Israel was in Canaan well before Pharaoh Merenptah, based on a fresh look at the Berlin statue pedestal relief.
"Israel in Canaan (Long) Before Pharaoh Merenptah? A Fresh Look at the Berlin Statue Pedestal Relief 21687"¿Cuándo comienza la historia de Israel en la antigua Palestina? apuntes para una discusión (2015)
[4] supported
The Israel Stele claims that the Israelites were temporarily 'desolated' by the Sea Peoples (or by Merneptah), though the document treats this as a claim rather than established fact.
"even if they had been temporarily 'desolated' by the Sea Peoples (or Merneptah) as the Israel Stele' claims."Mercenaries or refugees? the evidence from the inscriptions of Merenptah on the ‘Sea Peoples’ (2017)
[5] supported
Scholars have asked whether Israel was in Canaan well before Pharaoh Merneptah, based on a fresh look at the Berlin Statue Pedestal Relief 21687.
"Israel in Canaan (long) before pharaoh Merenptah? A fresh look at Berlin Statue Pedestal Relief 21687"ESCAVANDO O INÍCIO DA DIVINAÇÃO ISRAELITA (2019)