1. The Beginnings of Judaism
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2. Lesson Objectives
Analyze ways that trade and human movement linked the cities of the Fertile Crescent
Describe the Hebrews’ movements
Explain Judaism, the religious beliefs of the Hebrews

3. Hebrew Bible (a.k.a. The Old Testament)
Jewish people’s record of their history and their religion (Judaism)

4. Abraham of Ur Originally lived in Mesopotamia, city-state of Ur
Genesis 12: 1-3
The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
those who curse you I will curse;
all the families of the earth
will be blessed because of you.”

5. Abraham of UR

6. The Covenant Set out for land of Canaan
Used trade routes that linked major cities of the Fertile Crescent
When Abraham arrived in Canaan, God made a covenant (special agreement) with him (Genesis 17:8).
Later, descendants would be known as Israelites; also known as Jews

7. The Covenant

8. Genesis 17:8
The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

9. Going to Egypt A time came of poor crops and terrible hunger
People of Israel went to Egypt, where food could be found
Pharaoh oppressed them with forced labor
People of Israel had become slaves
Exodus 1:11
“So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.”

10. Slaves in Egypt

11. Moses in Egypt
Born to Israelite parents, but adopted as a baby by the pharaoh’s daughter

12. Moses God called to him to free the Israelites from Egypt
Moses protested at first, then obeyed and made the long trek back to Egypt
Moses led the Israelite captives from Egypt
Jews celebrate the Passover festival each year to remember their freedom from slavery

13. Mount Sinai
Moses and the Israelites wondered for 40 years in the wilderness
Early in their journey they traveled to Mount Sinai
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)

14. The Ten Commandments

15. Moses’ Final Words Deuteronomy 33
After hearing Moses’ final words, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan
They were a nation with a land

16. King David Israel became a powerful kingdom
Made Jerusalem the capital of Israel

17. David’s son, Solomon Built a great temple in Jerusalem
Jerusalem became the center of both religious and political life
After Solomon’s death, the kingdoms split
Northern kingdom: Israel
Southern kingdom: Judah

18. Exile to Babylonia Babylonian armies destroyed Solomon’s temple
Jews were exiled and sent to Babylon
Diaspora: scattering of Jews to many parts of the world