Download Section Four: The Origins of Judaism

Section Four: The Origins of Judaism
I. The Search for a Promised Land
• Palestine, region on eastern shores of
Mediterranean.
• Hebrew ppl settled in Canaan, land promised
to them by God.
A. From Ur to Egypt
• Torah, first 5 books of Hebrew Bible, and most
sacred writings, tells early history of Hebrews
• In Torah, God chose Abraham, a shepherd who
lived in Ur, to be father of Hebrew ppl
• Abraham moves family, herds from Ur to
Canaan around 1800 BC
• Around 1650 BC Abraham’s descendants move
to Egypt
B. The God of Abraham
• Hebrews are monotheists, believing in one
God only –Yahweh
• Yahweh is all powerful, not a physical being
• A mutual promise, covenant, is made b/w God
and Abraham.
• Abraham promises to obey God, Yahweh
promises protection.
C. “Let My People Go”
• Hebrews forced to migrate to Egypt b/c of a
drought
• At first Hebrews are honored in Egyptian
kingdom, later become slaves
• Hebrews flee Egypt b/w 1300- 1200 BC, this
event is called “the Exodus”
• Moses led the Hebrews from Egypt
• As the Hebrews were leaving Egypt Moses
climbed Mt. Sinai to pray and returned w/ the
10 Commandments.
II. The Land and People of the Bible
• Torah tells of Hebrews wandering in the
Sinai Desert for 40 years
• They arrive back in Canaan, form 12 tribes
• Change from nomads to herders, farmers,
and city dwellers
A. Hebrew Law
- Women and men have separate roles,
responsibilities
- Law includes strict justice softened by mercy
- Prophets arise later to interpret the law
- They teach ppl to live moral lives
B. The Kingdom of Israel
• Canaan is land that Hebrews believe God
promised them
• Canaan land is harsh (desert, rocky wilderness,
grassy hills, water scarce) Hebrews expand
south and north.
C. Saul and David Establish a Kingdom
• Hebrews threatened by Philistines in north
• Only one tribe remains, Judah, Hebrew ppl
called Jews religion called Judaism
• From 1020 to 922 BC Hebrews unite under
one king, King David- new kingdom called
Israel
• King David estb Jerusalem as capital
III. Solomon Builds the Kingdom
David’s son, Solomon, becomes king, makes
Israel a trading empire with the help of the
Phoenicians
- He builds a magnificent temple and royal palace
in Jerusalem.
A. The Kingdom Divides
• High taxes and forced
labor lead Jews in north
to revolt.
• By 922 BC the kingdom
divides in two—Israel in
north and Judah in south.
• 200 years of conflict
between the 2 kingdoms
follows
B. The Babylonian Captivity
• 722 BC- Assyrians attacked, conquered the
northern kingdom of Israel
• 586 BC- Babylonian Empire conquered both
Assyrian held Israel and Judah- Hebrew ppl
were exiled to Babylon to be slaves
• 539 BC- Persia defeated Babylon, allowed
40,000 Hebrews to return to Jerusalem to
rebuild the temple and city
• In the years to come Jerusalem would fall to
many other empires
Hinduism
Buddhism
Judaism
Founder/people
God/gods
Sacred Writings
Goal for life
Basic beliefs- how to
reach the goal
Under graphic organizer, put the founder and beliefs of Jainism
Assignment
• Write a thesis statement that compares and contrasts 2 of the
3 religions discussed:
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Judaism
• Remember- a thesis statement should be no longer than 1-2
sentences and it should take a position/make an argument.