Israel and Judea

During or just after the barbarian invasions a new culture took over much of what is now Israel. Archaelogists tell us that this culture did not eat pork and worshiped a single God, El. Assyrian inscriptions prove that by about 900 BC this group has formed two kingdoms The rulers of which were both from the “House of David” They believe a holy book called the Torah tells the story of the creation of the world and their nation

Abraham worships only one God. According to the the Torah, Old Testament of the Bible and the Koran, Abraham left the Mesopotamian city of Ur and its many gods and went into the desert to worship One God.

Abraham’s Two Sons Abraham had two sons who were half brothers: Isaac fore-father of the Jews and Ishmael fore-father of the Arabs It is said in the “Holy Books” that he was asked by God to sacrifice one. At the last moment an angel stopped him Which son it was depends on the version of the story you read: The Torah says Isaac, The Koran says Ishmael

This Story is important for three Reasons: It chronicles the beginning of Monotheism, the Belief in only one God. It shows that the Arabs and the Jews see each other as related peoples, which they seem to be to according to linguists, historians and anthropologists That there are two versions show that there is an ancient conflict between them.

The Jews Settle in Palestine According to the Torah God gives Isaac’s son Jacob the Jordan River Valley, a part of Palestine, to live in …later his family moves to Egypt where they are enslaved. Hundreds of years later they, now a numerous people, are led back to Palestine by Moses. But before they get there the people “sin” by worshipping a golden calf as a god.

The Ten Commandments Meanwhile Moses is said to have received from God the “Ten Commandments” rules by which the Jews were to live. Later were many more laws were added, some quiet similar to those of people around them. The descendants of Jacob eventually establish two Kingdoms: Israel and Judea

Judaism The Religion that the descendants of Jacob developed had three important elements that influenced Western Civilization: That there was only one God. That Man was created in God’s image and thus each man is sacred. That you serve God best not by worshiping an idol but by following the law and doing the right thing. That man must be morally correct to please God.