7th Social StudiesMrs. Coldiron

Hebrews appeared in Southwest Asia approx. 2000 – 1500 B.C.

At first the Hebrews were simple herders

Later they became a major influence on later civlizations.

Judaism - the Hebrews’ religion

The Bible traces the Hebrews back to Abraham

God told Abraham to leave his home in Mesopotamia.

God promised to lead Abraham to a new land and make his descendants into a mighty nation.

Abraham settled in Canaan. Abrahams descendants –

the Hebrews.

Some Hebrews moved to Egypt The Hebrews lived well Population increased The Egyptian ruler (pharaoh)

feared that the Hebrews might take over Egypt

Result: the pharaoh made the Hebrews slaves.

Moses appeared among the Hebrews in Egypt

God told Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt to free them from slavery.

Moses led his people out of Egypt in a journey called the Exodus.

After their release, the Hebrews wandered through the desert trying to return to Canaan.

Reached a mountain called Sinai.

The Bible says, God gave Moses two stone tablets.

The tablets had the writings of a code of moral laws – the Ten Commandments

“I am God your Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, from the place of slavery.

Do not have any other gods before Me.Do not take the name of God your Lord in vain. God will not allow the one who take his name in vain to go unpunished.Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.Honor your father and mother. You will then live long on the land that God your Lord is giving you.Do not commit murder.Do not commit adultery.Do not steal.Do not testify as a false witness against your neighbor.Do not be envious of your neighbor’s house.Do not be envious of your neighbor’s wife… or anything else that is your neighbor’s.”

- Exodus 20:2-14, from The Living Torah

The Hebrews agreed to worship only God.

Monotheism – worship of one god.

They agreed to value human life, self-control, and justice.

The commandments shaped the development of Hebrew society.

According to the Bible The Hebrews wondered in the desert for

40 years before the reached Canaan. After settling down in Canaan, the

Hebrews became known as the Israelites meaning “Soldiers of God”

Lived in small communities No central government – selected judges

as leaders who enforced laws and settled disputes.

Before long there was a threat for a new kind of leadership.

Abraham and Moses Venn Diagram

Use the Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the significance of Abraham and Moses in Jewish

history and to the development of Judaism.