Final answer:
The early Hebrews were likely Canaanites who settled in the region of Canaan around 1200 BCE, a period that experienced significant upheavals including the creation of the Hyksos dynasty in Egypt, and were involved in the events corresponding with the collapse of the Bronze Age. The continuity of displacement is also reflected in the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent Palestinian exile.
Step-by-step explanation:
The notion that most of the early Hebrews were originally Canaanites displaced from their homeland refers to historical events during the Late Bronze Age and even earlier periods. Archeological and historical evidence suggests that the Hebrews began settling in Canaan around 1200 BCE, coinciding with the Egyptian record of pharaoh's conquests in the region.
Additionally, the story of Moses leading the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt may align with the events linked to the collapse of the Bronze Age, when nomadic raiders and oppressed people overthrew established empires.
Furthermore, during the Middle Kingdom of Egypt around 1720 BCE, Semitic-speaking migrants from Canaan settled in the Nile delta, later establishing the Hyksos dynasty. This suggests continuous integration and displacement of populations in the region. The displacement phenomenon is also seen through the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, which led to the dispossession and exile of Palestinians native to the land.