Download Chapter 2 - The First Civilizations

Section 3:
The Hebrews and Judaism
Section 3: The Hebrews and Judaism
Main Idea
The ancient Hebrews and their religion, Judaism,
have been a major influence on Western
civilization.
Reading Focus
• What are the major events in the history of the
early Hebrews?
• How did the Kingdom of Israel develop and who
were some of its key leaders?
• What are the basic teachings and sacred texts
of Judaism?
I. The Early Hebrews
Hebrews were ancestors of the Jews; settled
in Fertile Crescent 2000 to 1500 BC
A. The Hebrew Fathers
The Torah records early Hebrew history;
Judaism’s most sacred text
A. The Hebrew Fathers
The Torah traces Hebrews to Abraham; told by
God to abandon polytheism and leave
Mesopotamia
A. The Hebrew Fathers
Abraham obeyed; God made covenant to lead
Hebrews to Canaan
A. The Hebrew Fathers
The sons of Abraham’s
grandson Jacob (aka
Israel), established the
Twelve Tribes of Israel
B. Moses and the Exodus
Israelites left Canaan and went to Egypt; lived
in peace until being enslaved
Wall painting from a 15th century
BC Egyptian tomb - a farm
overseer is thrashing a slave
while another slave begs for
mercy.
B. Moses and the Exodus
Moses led Hebrews out of Egypt after God
inflicted ten plagues on Egyptians - the Exodus
B. Moses and the Exodus
Jews remember the Exodus by celebrating
Passover each spring
The First Passover
Passover Seder Plate
B. Moses and the Exodus
During the Exodus,
Moses climbed Mount
Sinai and received the
Ten Commandments
C. The Promised Land
Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years
before entering Canaan, the “promised land”
C. The Promised Land
Fought against
Canaanites and
Philistines; Canaan
became Israel
II. The Kingdom of Israel
The Period of the Judges:
• Scattered communities, no central gov.
• Judges enforced laws
• Prophets kept focus on faith
A. Saul, David, Solomon
First king was Saul, succeeded by David formed a new dynasty
A. Saul, David, Solomon
David made Jerusalem
capital and religious
center of Israel
A. Saul, David, Solomon
David’s son Solomon brought Israel to its
height of power; built temple in Jerusalem
B. Division and Conquest
931 BC – Solomon
died; kingdom split
into Israel in north
and Judah in south
B. Division and Conquest
722 BC - Israel was conquered by the
Assyrians
B. Division and Conquest
586 BC: Chaldeans conquered Judah, destroyed
temple, and took Jews to Babylon – start of the
Diaspora
III. The Teachings of Judaism
Religion was foundation of Hebrew and Jewish
societies:
• Monotheism
• Justice and Righteousness
– Kindness, fairness, code of ethics
• Obedience to the Law
– Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law
• Jewish Sacred Texts
– Torah, Talmud