The Hebrews & Judaism

Chapter 2

Main Idea

The ancient Hebrews and their religion, Judaism, have been a major influence on Western civilization.

The Hebrews and Judaism

The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jews, and most of what we know, including the laws and requirements of their religion, Judaism, comes from their later writings.

• The Torah

• Abraham, father of the Hebrews

• God’s covenant – solemn promise

• 12 Tribes of Israel

• Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were patriarchs – ancestral fathers

• Israelites in Egypt

Hebrew Fathers• Slaves in Egypt

• Moses – Israelite leader raised in palace

• Pharaoh, plagues

• Exodus

– Israelites out of Egypt

– Passover

• The Ten Commandments

Moses and Exodus• Israelites in desert

• Canaan

• Land of “milk and honey”

• Israelites battled for land

• Canaan = Israel

Promised Land

The Early Hebrews

Key Events in Israelite History• Abraham traveled to Canaan, 1800 BC

• Moses appeared among Hebrews in Egypt, 1200s BC

• the Exodus

• delivery of Ten Commandments to Moses

• Hebrews wander desert for 40 years

• invasion of Philistines to Israel, mid-1000s BC

• Saul named first king of Israel, mid-1000s BC

• David named second king of Israel, 1000 BC

• Solomon named third king of Israel, 865 BC

The Period of the Judges

• In Canaan the Israelites lived in scattered communities.• Organized by Twelve tribes, but no central government. The judges enforce laws.• Prophets, holy men believed to carry messages from God, kept Israelites focused on

faith

• Israelites united against Philistines• Saul, first Israelite king• Never won full support• David, second king• Strong king, gifted poet• Solomon, David’s son• Israel reached height of wealth

Kings Saul, David, Solomon

• Conflict after Solomon’s death• Two kingdoms, Israel and Judah• 722 BC, Israel fell to Assyrians• 586 BC, Judah fell to Chaldeans• Chaldeans enslaved Jews• Diaspora - scattering of Jews• Persians conquered Chaldeans

Division and Conquest

The Kingdom of Israel

The Teachings of JudaismReligion the foundation of Hebrew and Jewish

societies • Monotheism - belief in one God • Justice and Righteousness

• Kindness, fairness, code of ethics• Obedience to the Law

• Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law• Jewish Sacred Texts

• Torah, Talmud