1. Ancient Israel

2. Historical Overview
Ancient Israel is the birthplace of the three great monotheistic religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity, Islam
Ancient Israel dates back approximately 4000 years to the books of the Old Testament
Great patriarchs of Judaism: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua
Hebrews/Israelites/Jews/Semites: have all undergone persecution throughout history
From Babylonian captivity, Exodus, Diaspora, Spanish Inquisition, Holocaust

3. What’s In a Name? Hebrew: “From across” Israelites Jews
Name given to Abraham and his followers
Israelites
Abraham’s grandson Jacob renamed Israel
“He who wrestled with God”
Jews
Named after Jacob’s son Judah, father of the tribe of King David’s dynasty

4. Tracing Roots of Israel’s History
1900 BCE: Nomadic tribes wandered into Palestine from the east
Mesopotamian society dominated by polytheism
God (Yahweh) appeared to Abraham and told him to “go and raise a great nation”
Begins the monotheistic tradition of the Hebrew faith with the establishment of the Covenant, Chosen People, and Promised Land
Abraham settled in Canaan

5. Map of Abraham’s Journey

6. Jacob – Abraham’s Grandson
Jacob took the name Israel (“God ruled”) and organized the Israelites into 12 tribes (after his sons and grandsons)
Joseph “sold” to Egypt
Likely Middle Kingdom era
Some tribes settled in Egypt due to drought and famine (c BCE) and were subjected to Pharaoh’s rule and eventually slavery
430 years of Israelites in Egypt

7. Moses – Early Life

8. Moses & The Exodus Moses received miraculous revelations from God
Burning bush, rod/staff, 10 plagues, parting of the Red Sea
C BCE – Moses leads Israelites out of slavery in Egypt during Ramesses II’s reign
Moses leads the 12 tribes of Israel to Mount Sinai where Yahweh gives him the 10 Commandments, uniting the Hebrews under one God
Moses and Hebrews search for the Promised Land of Canaan, wandering in the desert for 40 years

10. Kings of Israel 1230 BCE: Israelites, guided by Joshua, invade Canaan
1020 BCE: Saul is crowned first king of Israelites, followed by David, then Solomon

11. The Temple
King Solomon builds the Temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant
Sacred box holding the Torah, 10 Commandments, Aaron’s rod, bot of manna

12. Temple Rebuilt and Destroyed
586 BCE: Solomon’s Temple destroyed during Babylonian invasion
516 BCE: Solomon’s Temple rebuilt
79 CE: Roman’s destroy the Temple
Only remaining part is the Western Wall

13. Lost Tribes of Israel
After Solomon’s death, the kingdom is split into two
Israel in the north; Judah in the south
722 BCE: Israel conquered by Assyrians and the scattered people = Lost Tribes of Israel
586 BCE: Judah destroyed by Babylonians, inhabitants held as captives
The Exile or Babylonian Captivity
538 BCE: Released by Persian King Cyrus the Great to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple

14. Diaspora Greek word for “sowing of seed” or “dispersal”
Refers to Jews living outside of Israel
332 BCE: Jews fall under Hellenization (Greek culture) as Alexander conquered Persia, Egypt, India
164 BCE: Maccabees revolt under Greek rule, take control of Jerusalem and rededicate the temple (Hanukkah)
64 BCE: Romans conquer Jerusalem and Judah becomes a Roman province (Judea)
Inhabitants = Judeans; root of Jew
66 CE: Judeans revolt against Rome; uprising is crushed and the temple is destroyed again in 70 CE
Despite the dispersion of Jews throughout Europe after 70 CE, their culture and religion have been the most influential of all the ancient cultures of the Near East

15. Jewish Diaspora

16. Diaspora Continues

17. Impact of Ancient Israel
Covenant
Formal agreement between Hebrews and God (Yahweh)
Hebrews worshipped God only and in return they were God’s Chosen People, given Canaan as the Promised Land
Spiritual Ideas
Profoundly influenced Western culture, morality, ethics, conduct
Religion Roots
Judaism, Christianity and Islam all derive their roots from the spiritual beliefs of the Ancient Israelites