Hebrews & JudaismHebrews & Judaism
HEBREWSHEBREWS
Small group of people who had a great Small group of people who had a great influence on world historyinfluence on world history
Their religion became known as Judaism, Their religion became known as Judaism, and is the “parent” religion of Christianity and is the “parent” religion of Christianity and Islam, which (together) are well over and Islam, which (together) are well over ½ of the world’s people!!½ of the world’s people!!
The early part of this story can be viewed The early part of this story can be viewed as fact or myth. Viewed as either, it is very as fact or myth. Viewed as either, it is very important. important.
c. 2000BC: ABRAHAM/c. 2000BC: ABRAHAM/ IBRAHIM-1IBRAHIM-1stst Patriarch Patriarch Abraham came to believe in one God, with no physical formAbraham came to believe in one God, with no physical form At God’s command, he & wife Sarah left Sumer & settled in At God’s command, he & wife Sarah left Sumer & settled in
CanaanCanaan Canaan=Palestine & IsraelCanaan=Palestine & Israel
* * God made a covenant with Abraham: Abraham would obey God made a covenant with Abraham: Abraham would obey God, and God would make him the father of many people who God, and God would make him the father of many people who would be a blessing to the world. would be a blessing to the world.
ABRAHAM/ IBRAHIMABRAHAM/ IBRAHIM
Had two sonsHad two sons Ishmael – became ancestor of ArabsIshmael – became ancestor of Arabs Isaac – became ancestor of the Hebrews. Isaac – became ancestor of the Hebrews.
Isaac had a son Jacob who had 12 sons. Isaac had a son Jacob who had 12 sons. Their descendants became the “12 Tribes Their descendants became the “12 Tribes of Israel”.of Israel”.
Slavery in EgyptSlavery in Egypt c. 1700BC: There is a famine, so the Hebrews leave c. 1700BC: There is a famine, so the Hebrews leave
Canaan & go to Egypt. (story of Joseph)Canaan & go to Egypt. (story of Joseph) At first the pharaoh treats them well & lets them settle At first the pharaoh treats them well & lets them settle
in Egypt. A later pharaoh turns against them and in Egypt. A later pharaoh turns against them and makes them slaves.makes them slaves.
c. 1200BC: Moses/Moshe/Musa frees the Hebrews c. 1200BC: Moses/Moshe/Musa frees the Hebrews from slavery & leads them out of Egypt, and into the from slavery & leads them out of Egypt, and into the desert of the Sinai peninsula. The journey out of desert of the Sinai peninsula. The journey out of
Egypt is called the exodus. Egypt is the Egypt is called the exodus. Egypt is the
RETURN TO CANAANRETURN TO CANAAN c. 1200: Moses climbs Mt. Sinai, gets c. 1200: Moses climbs Mt. Sinai, gets
the Ten Commandments, laws the Ten Commandments, laws revealed by God, setting out the moral revealed by God, setting out the moral duty to God and other people. duty to God and other people.
God renewed the covenant (sacred God renewed the covenant (sacred agreement) with the Hebrews: they agreement) with the Hebrews: they would obey Him, and He would give would obey Him, and He would give them the land of Canaan as their them the land of Canaan as their home. home.
Hebrews put the Ten Commandments Hebrews put the Ten Commandments in a special box called the “Ark of the in a special box called the “Ark of the Covenant”Covenant”
RETURN TO CANAANRETURN TO CANAAN
Hebrews returned to Canaan. Fought with Hebrews returned to Canaan. Fought with the Canaanites and other local people. the Canaanites and other local people.
Defeated the Canaanites & settled. Defeated the Canaanites & settled. They were a loose confederation of tribes, They were a loose confederation of tribes,
but gradually became more united. but gradually became more united. The nation was called “Israel”. Their with The nation was called “Israel”. Their with
leaders were called Judges. leaders were called Judges. Prophets tried to warn the people when they Prophets tried to warn the people when they
did not keep the law. did not keep the law.
1000 BC KINGS1000 BC KINGS
Hebrews eventually chose kings:Hebrews eventually chose kings: Saul-war leaderSaul-war leader David-most famous king & war leader, who David-most famous king & war leader, who
established Jerusalem as the capitalestablished Jerusalem as the capital Solomon-known for wealth & wisdom (& many Solomon-known for wealth & wisdom (& many
wives). Built the 1wives). Built the 1stst Temple in Jerusalem Temple in Jerusalem
DIVISIONDIVISION
The leaders after Solomon could The leaders after Solomon could not agree, and the original nation of not agree, and the original nation of Israel split into 2 partsIsrael split into 2 parts 10 northern tribes kept the name 10 northern tribes kept the name
“Israel”, and established a capital at “Israel”, and established a capital at SamariaSamaria
2 southern tribes took the name 2 southern tribes took the name “Judah”, and kept the old capital at “Judah”, and kept the old capital at Jerusalem. They became known as Jerusalem. They became known as the Jews. the Jews.
DEFEATDEFEAT 722BC- The fierce Assyrians attacked 722BC- The fierce Assyrians attacked
“Israel” (northern tribes), conquered them “Israel” (northern tribes), conquered them and annihilated most of their peopleand annihilated most of their people
Miraculously, the Assyrians did not attack Miraculously, the Assyrians did not attack & conquer “Judah”& conquer “Judah”
Later, 587BC – The Chaldeans (who had Later, 587BC – The Chaldeans (who had meanwhile defeated the Assyrians) meanwhile defeated the Assyrians) attacked & conquered Judah.attacked & conquered Judah.
The Chaldeans destroyed the temple and The Chaldeans destroyed the temple and took the people of Judah to Babylon as took the people of Judah to Babylon as captivescaptives. .
CYRUS TO THE RESCUECYRUS TO THE RESCUE
539BC: Cyrus the Great of Persia 539BC: Cyrus the Great of Persia defeated the Chaldeans. defeated the Chaldeans.
Cyrus proclaimed freedom to the people Cyrus proclaimed freedom to the people captured by the Chaldeans, including the captured by the Chaldeans, including the Jews, allowed them to return home, and Jews, allowed them to return home, and gave them assistance in rebuilding their gave them assistance in rebuilding their temple. temple.
DEVELOPMENT OF JUDAISMDEVELOPMENT OF JUDAISM
Hebrew Scriptures (Called the “Old Hebrew Scriptures (Called the “Old Testament” by Christians): Testament” by Christians): Torah (1Torah (1stst five books of the “Old Testament) five books of the “Old Testament) History of Jewish peopleHistory of Jewish people Writings that include poetry and prophesyWritings that include poetry and prophesy
LAWLAW
Mosaic laws include the 10 Mosaic laws include the 10 CommandmentsCommandments
Similar to Hammurabi’s code, but place a Similar to Hammurabi’s code, but place a higher value on human life and include higher value on human life and include laws requiring charity to the poor. laws requiring charity to the poor.
Ethical monotheism (main contribution): Ethical monotheism (main contribution): Belief in a single GodBelief in a single God Belief that God wants people to behave Belief that God wants people to behave
ethically. ethically.
Evolving view of GodEvolving view of God
At first, the Hebrews regarded God as a At first, the Hebrews regarded God as a force to be obeyed & feared. force to be obeyed & feared.
Began to believe in “free will”, that God Began to believe in “free will”, that God gives a choice between good and evil. gives a choice between good and evil. People have free will to choose. People have free will to choose.
Gradually, they began to believe that Gradually, they began to believe that people should love God and obey him out people should love God and obey him out of love, not just fear. of love, not just fear.
The Hebrews viewed God as a spirit, not The Hebrews viewed God as a spirit, not as having a human or animal form. as having a human or animal form.
