1. The Ancient Hebrews and the Origins of Judaism
Chapter 11
The Ancient Hebrews and the Origins of Judaism

2. 11.1: Introduction Hebrews were the founders of Judaism
Basic laws are recorded in the Torah
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
Four major Hebrew leaders
Abraham
Moses
David
Solomon

3. 11.2: What We Know About the Ancient Hebrews
Torah
Used to understand the history of the Jewish people and the development of Judaism
Early History
Abraham
Lived in Ur
Around 1950 BCE, migrated with his clan to Caanan

4. 1800 BCE: Hebrews moved to Egypt
Left because of famine
Eventually became slaves
Moses
Led the Hebrews in their escape from Egypt
Wandered the wilderness for 40 years
Israel
By 1000 BCE, kingdom of Israel set up under King David’s rule and his son’s, King Solomon
David forged Hebrews into one united nation
Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem

5. 11.3: Important Hebrew Leaders
Abraham
“Father of the Hebrews”
Introduced the central belief that there is only one God
New idea at the time
Was told by God to move his family from Mesopotamia to Caanan
He was promised by God that he would father a great nation
His descendants became known as the Jewish people

6. Moses Considered the greatest leader of the Hebrews
Lead his people out of slavery in Egypt
Told the Hebrews that God would lead them to the “promised land” in exchange for their faithful obedience
Gave Judaism its fundamental laws
Ten Commandments
Laws engraved on two stone tablets
Became the foundation for Judaism

7. Kings David and Solomon
King David created an united kingdom
Established Jerusalem as a holy city
King Solomon built Jerusalem’s first great temple
Known for great wisdom
Jerusalem and its temple became powerful symbols to the Hebrews

8. 11.4: The Life of Abraham: Father of the Hebrews
Originally called Abram
Was born about 2000 BCE in Ur in Mesopotamia
Where people worshipped many gods
Came to believe that there was only one true God
This belief set Judaism apart from other ancient religions

9. Covenant with God
Began the faith that would become Judaism
When Abram was 99 years old God made a covenant with him that he would favor and protect Abram’s descendants in return for their devotion to him.
As a symbol of the covenant, God gave Abram a new name, Abraham
Promised the land of Canaan to Abraham’s people

10. Abraham’s Sacrifice
Normal sacrifices were made such as sheep
Torah states that God tested Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his son Isaac (born late in Abraham’s life).
Even though Abraham loved his son, his devotion to God was complete
At the last minute, God sent an angel to stop Abraham from killing his son
Abraham proved his faith and obedience
According to the Torah, God kept his promise which led to the 12 tribes descended from Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (named Israel by an angel of God).

11. 11.5 The Life Moses: Leader and Prophet
Exodus from Egypt
By 1250 BCE, a large group of Abraham’s descendants were living in Egypt.
The Torah says that the Hebrews “increased in number and became very powerful”.
The pharaoh feared their power and turned them into slaves.
God heard the cries of the enslaved Hebrews and sent Moses to the pharaoh.

12. Moses went before the pharaoh and told him to free the Hebrews.
The pharaoh refused and God punished Egypt with 10 terrible plagues.
One plague: locusts devoured their crops
Another plague: the waters of the Nile turned to blood
Last plague: God sent an angel to kill the first born son in each Egyptian family
After the plagues, the pharaoh gave in and let the Hebrews go.

13. After the Hebrews left, the pharaoh changed his mind and followed them to the Red Sea with his army.
Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea with his walking stick.
The Hebrews were able to make it safely to the other side.
The Egyptians tried to follow, but were caught by the falling waters; the soldiers drowned.
The Torah refers to this time period as, the Exodus, which means “departure”.

14. Ten Commandments
After the Hebrews wandered through the wilderness for 40 years, God gave Moses the laws that became the foundation of Judaism; the Ten Commandments
Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, the “Mountain of God”.
He went up the mountain to pray, but came back carrying two tablets with the Ten Commandments engraved on them.

15. Some of the commandments spelled out the Hebrew’s duties to God.
“You shall not have no other God before me”
This was in response to the Hebrews beginning to worship other gods during their wanderings.
The commandment reminded them of their promise to worship only one God.
Another commandment told them to set aside one day a week for rest and worship; the Sabbath
Other commandments laid down basic moral laws (laws about right and wrong)
“You shall honor your father and mother”.

16. 11.6: The Lives of David and Solomon: Kings of Israel
King David
Around 1000 BCE the Hebrews were at war with a rival tribe, the Philistines.
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Philistines promised to be the Hebrews’ slaves if someone could beat their fiercest warrior, Goliath
David was young but he bravely stepped forward with only a slingshot as a weapon
David felled Goliath with one stone

17. David’s courage and faith was awarded by God when he made him king.
As King he:
completed the defeat of the Philistines and other enemies
united Israel and Judah into a single kingdom known as Israel.
created a strong central government
gave the new kingdom its own army, courts, and government officials
served as the nation’s chief priest

18. chose Jerusalem as the capital
became the center of Israel’s political and religious life
brought the Hebrews’ most sacred object, the Ark of the Covenant, to Jerusalem, making it a holy city
a wood an gold chest that held the Ten Commandments.

19. King Solomon Became king after the death of King David
Built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant and to be the center of Jewish worship
Was very expensive to build
Forced his people to work on the construction of the temple.
More than 3000 officials were needed to oversee the project
Taxed his people heavily to buy gold, cedar wood, copper, and other materials

20. King Solomon’s methods angered many of the Hebrews
In 931 BCE, the northern tribes broke away to become the separate kingdom of Israel
David and Solomon’s descendants ruled the southern kingdom of Judah