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Origins of Judaism
Setting the Stage
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The Phoenicians lived in region at the end
of the Mediterranean Sea that was later
called Palestine. They were not the only
ancient people to live in Palestine. The
ancient Hebrews lived in Canaan which
was in this region as well.
Holy Land
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Phoenicians: Live in
modern Lebanon on
eastern end of the
Mediterranean Sea
Canaan: Ancient
home of the Hebrews
(later called the Jews)
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South of Phoenicia
Entire region called
Palestine
Ancient Palestine
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It’s location made it a
cultural crossroads of
the ancient world.
Opened to the
Mediterranean Sea and the
Red Sea
Canaan
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Land promised by God to
the Hebrew people
Lay between the Jordan
River and the Mediterranean
Sea
“Land of Milk and Honey”
History of Judaism
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Found in the Torah
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First five books of the Hebrew
Bible
1st monotheistic religion
(one God)
Yahweh is one and only
god
The Story of Abraham
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God chose
Abraham to be
“father” of
Jewish people
2000 B.C.
Abraham moves
family and herds
from Ur to
Canaan-”the
promised land”
The covenant between God and
Abraham
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Abraham promises to
obey God
Yahweh promises to
protect Abraham
Covenant: promise
between God and
the Hebrew people
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Abraham—Isaac—Jacob—Joseph
Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt and
Became a leader to the pharaoh in Egypt
Hebrews went to Egypt because of a
drought and famine. At first they were
honored …..later forced into slavery.
Moses and the Exodus
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Moses leads the
Hebrews out of
slavery
Moses
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Considered one of the
greatest figures in Jewish
history
At birth, left on banks of
Nile by mother
Found and raised by
Egyptian princess
God commands him to
lead Jews out of Egypt
(burning bush)
Parts the Red Sea
Moses and the
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At birth, left on
banks of Nile by
mother
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God commands
him to lead Jews
out of Egypt at the
burning bush
Goes to the
pharaoh to “Let my
people go”
God sends the
plagues
“Let my people go”
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1300-1200 B.C.
Moses leads the
Hebrews out of Egypt
Event called the
“Exodus” ; after
plagues
Remembered during
the festival of
Passover
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Lamb’s blood over the
Hebrews door to Pass
over the first-born
Moses leads them out of Egypt
A New Covenant
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On Mount Sinai, as he
prays he received the Ten
Commandments
Basis for Hebrew civil
and religious laws
New covenant with
god
The Land and the People
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The Hebrews wandered Sinai Desert for
40 years
Return to Canaan as 12 loosely organized
tribes (Largest tribe was Judah)
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They were self-governed
Judges provide leadership (One was a
woman-Deborah)
Hebrew Law: 10 Commandments
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Men and women have
separate roles; responsibilities
Laws provided strict justice
softened by mercy
Prophets interpret laws &
teach people to live moral
lives (Daniel, Joel, Hosea,
Amos, Isaiah)
 Ethical monotheism
The Kingdom of Israel
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Hebrews expand north and south
Threatened by the Philistines to north
The largest tribe was Judah.
Hebrews came to be called Jews and
religion called Judaism
The “new” kingdom of Israel
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B/n 1020 to 922 B.C., the Hebrews unite
under three able kings and call the
kingdom Israel. The kings are the
following:
 Saul
 David
 Solomon
Saul
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Chosen b/c he drove out the Philistines
David
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Popular leader
Defeats Goliath
Establishes Jerusalem
as the capital
Saul’s son in law
United tribes
Wrote many of the
Psalms
David’s Kingdom
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At time of his death:
Solomon
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Built trading empire
Built temple and
royal palace in
Jerusalem
Bible story of
Solomon’s wisdom
Son of David
Raised taxes
Judgment of Solomon by Rafael
Solomon’s Wisdom in art
Judgment of Solomon by
Valentin de Boulogne 1591-1632
Solomon’s Temple
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Built to glorify God
and to be the
permanent home
for the ARK of the
Covenant
containing the 10
Commandments
Bronze pillars at
entrance
Stone on outside
Kingdom Divides
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Solomon’s building projects required high
taxes and forced labor lead Jews in north
to revolt
By 922 B.C. kingdom divides in two
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Israel to north
Judah to south
The Babylonian Captivity
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In 738 B.C. Israel and Judah
pay tribute to Assyrians
By 722 B.C. Assyrians take
over Israel (N)
586 B. C. Babylonians
under Nebuchadnezzar
take over Judah (S); he
destroys Solomon’s temple
In 539 B.C. Persians under
King Cyrus conquer
Babylon
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40,000 Jews return to
Jerusalem
Temple, walls rebuilt
Land later ruled by Greeks,
Romans
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70 AD Romans destroy the 2nd temple and the
Hebrews are dispersed (Diaspora)
1948 AD Israel
Judaism Today
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Star of David is symbol
Yarmulke
The Torah Scroll
Jerusalem is holy city and capital of Israel
Western Wall is holy site in Jerusalem
Kosher laws
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No pigs or shellfish
Worship at Synagogue
Rabbi is spiritual leader
Holy day is Saturday
Bar/Bat Mitzvah is ceremony for boys /girls to enter
adult religious community
Western Wall
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Holy site in Jerusalem
The Jews attribute it to a
promise made by God
that some part of the
holy Temple would be left
standing as a sign of
God's unbroken bond
with the Jewish people in
spite of the catastrophes
which had befallen them.
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