1. Chapter 2, Section 5
Roots of Judaism

2. Still a major religion today
Roots of Judaism
Still a major religion today
About 4000 years ago, the ancient Israelites (Hebrews) developed the religion of Judaism
Monotheistic
Different from all others nearby
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
God to Moses
(Hebrew bible)

3. Israel

4. Ancient Israelites Israelites also known as Hebrews
They were monotheistic
The Israelites recorded events and laws in the Torah
The Torah, their most sacred text, includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
The Hebrew Bible includes a total of 24 books. Additional laws and customs were written in a much later written text, the Talmud.

5. The Ancient Israelites
According to the Torah, a man by the name of Abraham lived near Ur in Mesopotamia; about 2000 B.C. he and his family migrated to Canaan. He is considered to be the father of the Israelite people
The Israelites believe that God made a covenant with Abraham:
1. God declared that He would have a special relationship with Abraham and his descendants
2. God declared Canaan would one day belong to the Israelites. Making Canaan their “promised land”
2 key beliefs in Judaism

7. Moses
An Israelite named Moses later renewed God’s covenant with the Israelites. Many Israelites migrated to Egypt due to famine and became enslaved according to the Book of Genesis. In the Book of Exodus, Moses tells the Israelites that in return for faithful obedience to God, God will lead them out of bondage and into the promised land. Moses leads the Israelites out of bondage and 40 years later they reached Canaan However, Moses died just before they arrived.

8. By 1000b.c., Israelites had set up kingdom of Israel
The Kingdom of Israel
By 1000b.c., Israelites had set up kingdom of Israel
Solomon
Son of David, followed in his fathers footsteps and turned the city of Jerusalem into an impressive capital.
David
The Torah tells of 12 separate tribes of Israel that had feuded up until 1000B.C. Then David, a strong and wise king, united these tribes into a single nation.

9. Israel Under Solomon Solomon’s building projects Required high taxes
Lots of forced labor
Revolts started after his death in 922 B.C.
Revolts lead to a split kingdom
Israel in North
Judah in South

10. Israel Under Solomon Independent for 200 years
722 B.C., Assyrians conquered Israel
586 B.C. Babylonians conquered Judah
= Jews
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the great temple
Forced Israelites into exile
~50 years later, Cyrus the Great defeated Babylonians, freed the Israelites
Most stayed and lived under Persian rule

11. The Ten Commandments
At the heart of Judaism are the Ten Commandments, a set of laws that Jews believe God gave to them through Moses.

12. Judaism Teaches About Law and Morality
Still a major religion today
Influenced other monotheistic religions, Christianity & Islam. Both honor Abraham, Moses, the prophets & teach ethical world view
Law was central to the Israelites
Torah included many laws.
Cleanliness
Food preparation
Criminal acts
Moral principals
Israelite society was patriarchal
Throughout history, prophets (such as Jeremiah & Isaiah), emerge to interpret God’s will
Remind Jewish people of their duties
Taught strong code of ethics (moral standards)
Many Jews left Judah & spread around the world (Diaspora)