Israel & the Judean Religion I.Stage One: Judean Identity & Sacrifice II.Stage Two: Judaism as an Ethical Religion IDs: Torah, covenant, Canaan/Israel/Palestine

Argument Through the covenant, the Judean religion provided a united identity for the Hebrews as a group. It began as a tribal faith which emphasized sacrifice and changed over time into an ethical religion - Judaism – around 500 BCE. Why did this change occur?

Torah “Teaching” Originally oral tradition Written down between 600 and 400 BCE

I. Stage One: Judean Religion Hebrews Israelites

A. Beginnings 1. Abram (ca BCE) Palestine Canaan Abraham Ur (Babylonia)

2. “Tribal” Religion – Gives Identity to a group Covenant Chosen people Canaan circumcision Monotheism??

3. Emphasis on Sacrifice Altar Ritual Animals (birds, sheep, cows) Abraham Isaac

B. Egyptian Exile  Moses (ca BCE) covenant chosen people promised land – Canaan, Palestine, Israel, Judah, Judea Ten Commandments (oral tradition)

C. Kingdom of Israel, BCE State: Union of kingship & religion Saul David Solomon First Temple Jerusalem Split  Israel & Judah

Religion: Rituals of elite priests & kings 12 Tribes Priests Kings Rituals Sacrifices of animals in temple

II. Stage Two: Judaism as an Ethical Religion A.Babylonian Captivity, BCE Neo-Assyrians Nebuchadnezzar 1. Begins Pattern of Exile and Return 2. Torah written down

3. Monotheism Established Torah & Laws written down God - not anthropomorphic (like humans) No afterlife Emphasis on morality rather than sacrifice Judean Religion  Judaism

B. Return to Palestine as Subject People 516 BCE – 70 CE Second Temple built (516 BCE) Ruled by empires: Persians, Hellenistic states, & Rome Jews

C. Exile  Diaspora (70 CE) Expulsion of Jews from Palestine in 70 CE Temple destroyed diaspora

Judaism *Exile and diaspora *Rabbis *Social & religious identity fused

Argument Through the covenant, the Judean religion provided a united identity for the Hebrews as a group. It began as a tribal faith which emphasized sacrifice and changed over time into an ethical religion - Judaism – around 500 BCE. Why did this change occur?

1. Adam & Eve & The Fall (pp. 1-3): How does this account justify patriarchy? 2. Adam & Eve & The Fall of Man (pp. 1-3): What does this account explain about the world & human condition? 3. The Call of Abram & Covenant of Circumcision (pp. 3-4): How did God change Abram’s identity? How did the covenant create an identity for Abraham’s descendants (the Israelites)? 4. The Covenant of Circumcision & Abraham Tested (pp. 4-5): How do the beliefs and practices emphasized in this section reflect the historical context (from lecture)? 5. Moses and the Burning Bush and the Ten Commandments (pp. 5-7): How was the relationship between God and Moses different from the relationship between the Mesopotamian gods & Hammurabi or Gilgamesh? 6. Moses and the Burning Bush and the Ten Commandments (pp. 5-7): How do the beliefs and practices emphasized in this section reflect the historical context (from lecture)?