Critically assess the Merneptah Stele as a source of historical information.

The Stele begins with the correct and proper format of a monument depicting the victories of a Pharaoh, i,e, the Royal status and title of the Pharaoh and that of the dates. The Stele of Merneptah, through translation, begins with: Year 5, 3rd month of summer, day 3, under the majesty of Horus: Mighty Bull, rejoicing in Maat: the king of upper and lower Egypt: Banere-Maram in: the son of RE: Merneptah, content with Maat, magnified by the power, ex-halted by the strength of Horus: strong Bull who smites the nine bows, who's name is given to eternity forever. (Translation by Miriam Lichtheim, From Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume ii,(Berkeley: U of CA Press,1976)). Through Archaeology in modern terms and understanding, the text is factual, in terms of dates, inscribed by the scribes of Merneptah, the date of year5, 3rd day of summer, day 3, coincide with the reign of Merneptah in the year 1208 B.c.e. At the end of the 13th century, there seems to be enough evidence ( to the Egyptians) of Israel's existence in Palestine, and that Israel was sizable enough to be considered a threat or enemy. The three city states, of Ashkelon, Gezer and Yen-oam, are depicted on the Stele itself, with the determinative of a throw stick ( meaning ) foreign entity, along with the three hills sign for a foreign territory. Although Israel is in its self depicted with a throw stick for foreigner's, it also has the determinative of a man + woman over plural strokes ( meaning groups of people ).

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merneptah_Stele) Using Determining factor's through archaeological standards i.e. physical/material culture, Shared verbal traditions, other, i.e. animal bones, such as Pig bones or lack thereof and continuity (written records), along with the interpretation of the ring structure of Hebrew and ANE, Israel can be placed, through archaeology, opposite Cannan, which was on the coastal planes, therefore Israel would have been placed in the hill's country. The comment that Israel is laid waist, Its seed is not has now become the accepted interpretation, that means, Egypt has raided the crops of Israel, instead of the inhalation of its warriors (men). The inscription on the Merneptah Stele is, so far, the earliest depiction of Israel, weather it be by way of depicting a race of people, Bedouin or of that of a growing group of people's outside of the Bible, coincides with the time of Judges in Biblical chronology.

The chronology of the inscriptions of the Merneptah Stele are no longer in doubt and would be classed as factual in the historical depiction of the events that occurred in the reign of Merneptah. The approximate area's of the city states on the Stele have been confirmed (albeit) from translations and interpritation.