Download Intro. to Hebrews Presentation

History of the Hebrews &
Origins of Judaism
See Note Guide
Origins of the Hebrews &
Judaism
• The civilization of the
Hebrews lasted 1800
BCE-70 CE (about 1900
years or almost 2
millennia)
• The Hebrews were the
founders of the religion of
Judaism
• They eventually became
known as Jews (from the
name of the Hebrew tribe
"Judah")
Star of David & Menorah - Two symbols of
the ancient Hebrews & Judaism
Origins of the Hebrews & Judaism
• History of Hebrews,
Judaism, & its basic
laws/teachings are found
in Judaism's most
sacred/important text =
the Torah
• Torah = "God's
teachings" = the first 5
books of the Hebrew
Bible
Torah scroll containing the books 5 books of Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deutornomy
Abraham:
Father of the Hebrews
• Born in Ur (Mesopotamia)
c. 2000 BCE
• Mesopotamians were
polytheistic, but Abraham
worshipped only 1 god
• Monotheism would
become foundation of
Hebrews' faith & Judaism
• Abraham & his family
migrated from Ur to
Canaan, c. 1950 BCE
Painting depicting Abraham & his family’s
migration from Ur to Canaan
Stop and Compare
Polytheistic
Religion
HINDUISM
Based on: ___________
Led to:
-
Monotheistic
Religion
JUDAISM
Based on: Torah
Led to:
-
Abraham:
Father of the Hebrews
• According to the Torah,
Judaism began when God
promised Abraham that he
would be the father of a great
nation if he left Ur for Canaan
• God's promise to Abraham =
covenant = agreement,
contract
• God would protect and bless
Abraham & his descendants as
long as he worshipped and
followed God’s rules.
Source
Moses:
Prophet of the Hebrews
• Descendants of Abraham
(Hebrews) eventually left
Canaan and migrated to Egypt
most likely due to a famine
(lack of food) c. 1800 BCE
• Over time, the Hebrews
became slaves in Egypt
• According to the Torah,
Moses, a Hebrew, became a
prophet = someone who
speaks/interprets for God
Egyptian art showing images of ancient Hebrews
Moses:
Exodus of the Hebrews
● Moses became a leader of the Hebrews when he was told by
God to go to the pharaoh and free the Hebrew slaves
● Pharaoh refused & 10 plagues (really bad, harmful events)
were sent by God
● Eventually, Moses led Hebrews out of Egypt and to Canaan
● Moses received the 10 commandments from God during this
exodus = mass exit of a group of people
● 10 commandments = established Judaism's basic laws
regarding how to:
○ worship God
○ treat each other
○ how to behave
David & Solomon:
Kings of Israel
• After Hebrews settled in
Canaan they eventually
established a monarchy to
rule over the people
• David became Israel's king
1010 BCE
• King David united the two
parts of the Hebrews' land
into 1 kingdom called Israel
• In Israel, David created a
strong central government,
army, courts
King David with his son
Solomon
David & Solomon:
Kings of Israel
•
•
•
•
Artist’s depiction of what Solmon’s Temple
may have looked like
Solomon - David’s son - built
a great temple to the
Hebrews’ god
Temple held the Ark of the
Covenant = chest containing
original stone tablets with the
10 commandments on them
Temple became center of
Jewish worship
Solomon forced Israelites to
pay heavy taxes & do hard
labor to buid the Temple
Kingdom of Israel Divided
• Solomon’s methods
angered many Hebrews
• Near his death c. 931 BCE
the northern tribes of the
Hebrews broke away and
formed the kingdom of
Israel
• The remaining tribes formed
the southern kingdom of
Judah ruled by Solomon’s
descendants (JUDIASM)
Divided Kingdoms of Israel & Judah
Fall of Israel & Judah
● Weakened by their division,
Hebrews were less able to
defend themselves from
invaders
● 722 BCE - Northern kingdom
of Israel was conquered by
Assyrians and its people were
scattered throughout
Mesopotamia
● 597 BCE - Southern kingdom
of Judah was invaded by the
Babylonians
Bob Marley Song “Exodus” 
Jews exiled to Babylon
Assyrian stone carving showing Hebrews being forced out with their
possessins and cattle from Israel. This relief was found in the palace
of King Sennacherib in Nineveh. This is one of the few depictions of
the early Jewish people.
Capture of Jerusalem &
Babylonian Exile
Painting depicting the forced migration
of Hebrews to Bablyon
● King Nebuchadnezzar
surrounded & cut off supplies
to the city of Jerusalem
● By 586 BCE, Hebrews ran out
of food and & Babylonians
broke through city walls.
Nebuchadnezzar burned down
Solomon’s Temple & all the
houses of the city
● Babylonian Exile = Hebrews
living in Judah were captured
by the Babylonians and forced
to migrate to Babylon
Bob Marley Song “Exodus”  Jews
Babylonia conquered by the Persians in 539 BC
As a result, Hebrews are free to return to
their homeland--Israel.
Bob Marley “Exodus” Link
BUT…
Fifty years later the Babylonians destroy the rebuilt
Hebrew temple in Judah
The Jews are again forced to flee from their homeland…