What was the length of time for Israelites to reach Promised Land?

Answer 1

It is authoritatively reported that most scholars believe there was never a military conquest of Canaan. And there is no archaeological evidence of a sudden conquest, or even that the hinterland that would become Israel was more than quite sparsely populated before 1250 BCE. Evidence that the story of Joshua's conquest was not really historical can be found in the clear inconsistency of some accounts of the conquest. For example:

• Joshua 10:33 says that King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, leaving him no survivors, Then Joshua 16:10 talks about 'the Canaanites who lived in Gezer'.
• Joshua 10:36-37 reports that Joshua went up with all Israel to Hebron, took it and killed every person in it, leaving no one remaining, but Judges 1:10 claims that Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron.
• Joshua 10:38-39 reports the conquest of Debir, when they 'utterly destroyed every person in it' and left no one remaining, but Judges 1:11-13 reports that Debir was not even captured until after Joshua was dead.

Scholars and archaeologists have long recognised facts like the cities of Jericho and Ai not even existing at the time of the supposed conquest. The Deuteronomist was simply patching inconsistent ancient legends together and inventing his history of Israel. And so it is not possible to estimate the duration of an event that really did not happen.

Answer 2

According to Jewish tradition the conquest of Canaan was a very long process. The first blow at the Canaanites was when Joshua conquered vast parts of the land mainly around the Judian and Sumerian Mountains. this took about 14 years.

(Some scholars argue the historical credibility of the book of Joshua but see the related link to learn about a major altar discovered on Mount Ebal related to Joshua Chapter 8, 30-35).

After this first blow there was a long period in which the Israelites where not able to finish the conquering of the land. Only in the days of King David and his son Salomon some 400-500 years after the conquering had been completed.

Answer 3

Tradition states that the conquest of Canaan (Israel) took seven years. God promised Israel (Canaan) to the Israelites (Genesis ch.28, Exodus ch.3), and commanded them to take the land (Deuteronomy ch.1 and many other passages).

Note:

1) The Canaanites were exceptionally wicked (Leviticus ch.18, Deuteronomy ch.18).2) Israel (Canaan) originally belonged to the Semites (after the Flood) and was gradually seized from them by the Canaanites (Rashi commentary, Genesis 12:6). This was one of the reasons why God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis ch.13), since he was a Semite (Genesis ch.11).
3) The Israelites did not simply slaughter the Canaanites. They fought them in proper battle (Joshua ch.10) with miraculous assistance from God (Exodus ch.23).
4) They warned the Canaanites concerning God's command to take Canaan (Jerusalem Talmud, Shevi'it 6:1), and gave them a chance to leave the land (ibid). The Girgashites took the warning seriously and departed to Africa (ibid.), while the Gibeonites made a treaty with the Israelites (Joshua ch.9). The rest of the Canaanites insisted on fighting, and attacked the Israelites with a massive army (Joshua ch.11).
5) Whenever fighting, the Israelites never completely surrounded any town. They offered conditional peace, and then (if peace was rejected) left one area open for escape so that whoever wanted to flee could do so (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of kings and war ch.6).See also:

About Joshua

What difficulties did Joshua face?

Contents of the Book of Joshua

Timeline

Answer 4

It took them 40 years, due to their disobedience. Normally the journey would have been much shorter, only a matter of a week or two by foot.

Answer 5

The hebrews had to wander in the wilderness for a period of 40 years.

Answer 6

The Israelites probably could have (and did) reached the Promised Land in 6-9 months. Because of their disobedience, they had to wander for 40 years.

Answer 7

The Egyptian slaves who came to be known as Israelites historically wandered the desert 40 years, led by Moses and his brother Aaron.

Answer 8

Forty years (see Numbers 13-14).

Answer 9

40 days