The Canaanites referenced in the Bible’s Old Testament survived and were not wiped out completely by the Israelites, a new genetic analysis has found.
The analysis published Thursday showed Lebanese DNA was a more than 90 percent match to ancient DNA extracted from Canaanite skeletons excavated from Sidon, Lebanon, The New York Times reported.
The genetic similarities were surprising to scientists since the area was fought over repeatedly and changed leadership numerous times since the age of the supposed Canaanite purge.
The Canaanites — such as the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah — were condemned in the Old Testament as being immoral, and Joshua was ordered to wipe them out when he took over the city of Jericho.
However, later biblical passages suggest some Canaanites survived, and some Biblical scholars have argued the passages about the Canaanites' destruction were hyperbole.
The Canaanites also were also known as Phoenicians, with colonies that spread across the Mediterranean, and may have created the first alphabet, although their own historical records are now sparse and seem to have disappeared.
Archaeological data seems to show Canaanite cities were never destroyed or abandoned, but have been continuously inhabited, Science magazine reported.
There is scientific evidence that supports the biblical account of the destruction of Jericho, however.
Some Twitter users pointed out that the Bible never said all Canaanite populations were destroyed.
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