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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ISRAEL Placing Scripture in a historical context. PATRIARCHS • Abraham • Isaac • Jacob • During this time: no great empires in the Middle East • Tribes were nomadic • Some sharing of ideas, religious practices, world views & religions • No one group dominated • Abraham left his home settled in Canaan MOSES & CONQUEST OF CANAAN • The distinctive faith and identity of the Israelites begins with Moses • Moses led the people out of slavery in Egypt • Wandered for years throughout the desert • Their religion was a covenant between God and themselves • In Canaan, (Palestine) the Israelites were joined by those already there who were also unhappy with their political situation and were attracted to the new faith • Eventually this group, joined by their common faith in God gained control of Palestine JUDGES • For about 200 years, • A loosely knit group of tribes, with no central government • They were united by a mobile shrine • The ARK OF THE COVENANT • On certain occasions, they would gather around the Ark to renew their covenant with God • There were no permanent leaders, but when needed, • Judges would be chosen to lead the people • They had strong personal qualities, • Able to draw people together to meet a particular need MONARCHY & EMPIRE • 11th Century B.C.E. • Philistines gained power, loose tribal system no longer worked • The Philistines tried to control all of Palestine • Securing trade routes • Stole the Ark of the Covenant • Killed or scattered priests and other leaders • The Israelites decided that they needed a king to unite them • Saul • United the tribes, drove back the Philistines, • But did not defeat them completely DAVID • Forced the Philistines to admit that the Israelites were stronger • David set Israel up as a kingdom • Canaanite city-states became part of Israel • All of the land became Israelite territory • Canaanites became subjects of the crown, all felt like they were part of a single nation • He created a court in Jerusalem • Recaptured the Ark and brought it to Jerusalem • Israel’s territory grew dramatically SOLOMON • David’s son • Used economic power instead of military power • Made Israel’s treasury much richer • Built the Temple in Jerusalem • He divided Israel into 12 districts, each support the central government with taxes for one month in a year • This heavy taxation made people angry • The Empire was divided into two rival states: Israel in the north, Judah in the south • This weakened their economic & military power FALL OF ISRAEL • Israel made alliances to survive the threat of the Assyrians • King Ahab of Israel married Jezebel, daughter of the King of Sidon • Jezebel tried to make worship of the pagan god Ba’al the official religion, many of the court followed her lead • This led to a struggle and revolt • Weakening the state of Israel • By the middle of the 8th C B.C.E., Israel was near anarchy • Israel is conquered by the Assyrians JUDAH STRUGGLES TO SURVIVE • Judah was not destroyed by the Assyrians, But they were a vassal state • In 640 BCE, Judah became independent • King Josiah renewed Israel’s covenant with God BABYLONIAN EXILE • 609 BCE, Judah loses more of its independence, now a vassal of Egypt • 603 BCE, Babylonian armies defeated the Egyptian King, now Judah has an allegiance to Babylon THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH REBELLED, BUT LOST • 601 BCE, the king and other leaders Babylon • 589 BCE, second rebellion: • Jerusalem burned, many others Babylon • Israel’s theology: God chose Jerusalem & David’s descendents • Losing the Temple, shook that faith • Prophets helped: • Warned people before the fall • Gave hope after ISRAEL RESTORED • 538 BCE, Persians defeat the Babylonian Empire • King Cyrus orders the Jewish community to be returned & the Temple rebuilt • 440 BCE, Nehemiah, now governor of Judah, • Rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem • Rebuilding the people’s morale • Ezra • Taught Jewish law to the Jews, helping make sure it is obeyed EZRA & JEWISH LAW • Following the Law helps the Jewish people back into their covenant with God • No intermarriage with pagans • No work on the Sabbath • Land to lie fallow every seventh year • Debts would not be collected every seventh year • People would tithe (give a portion of their income to God) • People were still political subjects of Persia, but they were allowed to run their own affairs following the laws of their God. GREEK RULE • 333 BCE, Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire • The same kind of relationship between the Jewish people and the ruling state • Greek culture begins to have a big impact • Many Jews, (especially “upper classes”) wanted to be a part of Greek culture • A split is developing in Judaism • The office of High Priest in Jerusalem is sold to the highest bidder • Some wanted the job so badly, they sold the Temple’s sacred objects 168 BCE • King Antiochus wanted to enforce Greek policies • Especially: to have the Jewish people equate the Greek god Zeus with their God • Many Jews resisted • Antiochus • banned Judaism, • ordered copies of the Law destroyed, • forced Jews to eat pork • Set up an altar to Zeus in the Temple • Judas (“The Hammer”) Maccabeus led a revolt and retook Jerusalem & rededicated the Temple