Roots of Judaism

Geography of the Levant (Canaan, Palestine)

Early History Nomadic herders left Mesopotamia around BCE and settled in Canaan (Palestine) migrated to Egypt semi-enslaved returned to Canaan

God’s Covenant with Abraham Abraham originally from Ur in Mesopotamia God commanded Abraham to go to Canaan promised to make him father of nation of people in Canaan Stars symbolize God’s promise to Abraham

Abraham Sacrificing Isaac God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of faith Angel stops him Abraham proves his faith Symbolize the end of human sacrifice?

Abraham's grandson Jacob - raised 12 sons –each son led a separate tribe - family group Israelites migrated to Egypt 1200s B.C. - Israelite prophet Moses led his people out of Egypt –Exodus - departure into the Sinai Desert –Passover - festival that retells the story of the Exodus “The Exodus”

The Exodus: Parting of the Red Sea

The 10 Commandments Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mt. Sinai man given free will to follow moral standards suffering and evil would follow if people ignored good also received hundreds of other laws and judgments worship behavior community life (Example: If you steal an oxen, you will repay with five oxen.)

Reclaiming the Land: Battle of Jericho Moses died before reaching Canaan Joshua led Israelites into Canaan –for 200 years Israelites fought wars with Philistines Canaanites The Fighting Judges Leaders known as Judges led each tribe –served as military and religious leaders –12 tribes lacked unity Deborah - judge who led an army to defeat the Canaanites near Mount Tabor

Kingdom of Israel Hebrews & other Semitic groups came to dominate Canaan used warfare to displace native Canaanites & to defend against their powerful Philistine neighbors 1025 BCE, 12 independent tribes formed the kingdom of Israel

King David BCE United the feuding tribes into single nation Set up a capital at Jerusalem organized a strong central government Enlarged Israel Economic prosperity acclaimed warrior, musician and poet given credit for many of the psalms

Solomon ( BC) David's son founded new cities built temple in Jerusalem people resented the high taxes and labor requirements died in 922 B.C. - Israel split –10 northern tribes - Israel capital - Samaria –2 southern tribes - Judah origins of the word Jew capital - Jerusalem

The Assyrians 722 B.C. - Assyrians conquered Israel and scattered the people of the 10 tribes The “diaspora” 10 lost tribes merged with people of the Assyrian Empire lost their identity

Destruction & Captivity In 586 BCE, Chaldeans captured Judah & occupied Jerusalem Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and forced skilled Jews into exile in Babylon Known as the Babylonian captivity Become known as the Jews

Psalm 137 By the Rivers of Babylon we sat and wept When we remembered Zion There on the poplars We hung our harps, For there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?

Psalm 137 If we forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!”

Psalm 137 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, Happy is he who repays you For what you have done to us- He who seizes your infants And dashes them against the rocks.

Liberation & Return 538 BCE Persian king, Cyrus the Great, allowed them to return to Judah to rebuild their Temple Western Wall (Wailing Wall) is all that remains today For 200 years they lived under tolerant Persian rule

Ark of the Covenant The Israelites built a holy box called the Ark of the Covenant for the Ten Commandments and the holy relics of Israel's faith Archaeologists today search for the Ark of the Covenant

Hebrew Bible The Torah First Five Books of Christian Bible one of the main sources of ancient history in the Fertile Crescent passed down as oral tradition until put into written form final form in the 5th century B.C.

Basic Doctrine: Monotheism a single, transcendent God created the universe and continues to govern it the world is intelligible and purposive, because a single divine intelligence stands behind it Nothing that humanity experiences is capricious; everything ultimately has meaning

Contributions of the Hebrews Monotheism Morality Covenant-God willing to bind himself to the people (mortals) God revealing himself through history- revelation Individual and collective responsibility Social justice