Chapter 3

The Hebrew Kingdoms

Section 1

The Origins of the Hebrews

The Hebrew People in Canaan

• Torah– First 5 books of Hebrew Bible– Given to Hebrews by God– Gives early history, laws, and beliefs of the

Hebrews

From Ur to Canaan• Abraham chosen by God to be father of Hebrew people

– Lived in Ur– Commanded by God to leave Ur & go to Canaan

• Believed this land would belong to his descendants because it was promised by God

• Hebrews thought of this as the Promised Land• 1800 B.C. Abraham, his family and their herds made

their way to Canaan

Judaism & Monotheism

• Hebrews were monotheists– Believed in a single, all-powerful God

• Judaism– Descended from the religion of the ancient Hebrews

• Named after the tribe of Judah (1 of 12 tribes descended from Abraham)

• Hebrews believed in a covenant (binding agreement) between God & Abraham– God would protect Abraham & descendant & give

them a homeland

Canaan to Egypt and Back

• Hebrews became the Israelites

Moses lead the Israelites

• Famine in Canaan

• Israelites went to Egypt– At first given places of honor– Later enslaved and forced to work

• God commanded Moses to lead Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus)– Wandered Sinai Desert for 40 years– 10 commandments given to Moses

An Agreement Confirmed

• Giving of commandments reaffirmed covenant w/ God– God would protect them

• People would obey commandments

Return to the Promised Land

• Joshua picked to lead Israelites back into Canaan

• The 12 Tribes of Israel– Israelites organized into 12 tribes

• Formed fighting force united by a goal of reclaiming their land from the cities’ rulers

• Took 200 years for Israelites to win back Canaan

– Soldiers became farmers & herders – 12 tribes divided land

Judges Lead the Israelites

• During 200 years of war there was no single leader– Advice sought from judges (highly respected

members of the community)

• 1st judges: military leaders• Later judges: gave advice on legal matters

& settled conflicts• Judges played key role in keeping 12 tribes

united

Section 2

Kingdoms & Captivity

The Kingdom of Israel

• Monotheist views set them apart from others in region– Traded with & mixed with but did not adapt

their culture or beliefs

• Sometimes threatened by other groups– Judges re-united tribes to fight during these

times

The Philistines

• Invaded & conquered Israelite territory in 1029 B.C.

• Israelites united under 1 king to fight– Many feared 1 king would have too much

power• Judge Samuel shared concerns, but selected 1st

two kings

Saul & David

• Saul– 1st king

– Respected military leader

– Fought Philistines• Philistines loosened control over Israelites

• David– Chosen by Saul

– Drove out Philistines

– Won control of Jerusalem & made it his capital

Solomon

• Son of David

• 3rd king of Israel

• Strong leader

• Israel became powerful nation under rule– Built trade ties & created new trade alliances– Building projects: Temple of Jerusalem

The Kingdom Divides

• With threats of attack ending kingdom divided

• Israel & Judah– Solomon’s Temple required high taxes

• Son Rehoboam kept high taxes• Northern tribes refused to pledge loyalty until taxes

lightened & labor on building projects lightened– Tribes of Judah & Bejamin remained loyal

– Kingdom split into Israel & Judah

Assyrians & Babylonians Take the land

• Assyrians forces Israel & Judah to pay tribute– Assyrians conquered Israel

• Israel had weak army

– Empire fell to Babylonians

• Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem– Judah’s leaders resisted & Solomon’s temple was

destroyed

– 1,000s of Jews taken captive to Babylon

Jewish Exiles Return to Judah

• Jews exiles spent 50 years in Babylon (time known as Babylonian Captivity)– This is when Israelites became known as

Jews

Beliefs During the Babylonian Captivity

• During captivity Jews struggled to keep id

– kept religious laws, holy days, & worship; helped keep spirits during captivity

– Jews also looked forward to time of their own king

• Waited for Messiah or heir to throne of David, a savior

• During difficult times Jews turned to prophets or spiritual leaders

– Warned people who strayed from Jewish code of conduct

The Temple is rebuilt

• 539 B.C.– Persians conquered Babylon

• Cyrus set up policy of religious toleration

– Cyrus freed Jews from captivity• Many returned to Judah• Rebuilt Jerusalem & the Temple of Solomon

The Spread of Judaism

Section 3

• Judah laid in the path of conquering armies– Syrians & Romans controlled the country

Ruled by Foreigners

• 198 B.C.– Syria seized control of Judah– Greek culture & beliefs introduced to Jewish people

• Some adopted beliefs• Other observed Jewish religious beliefs & practices

– 1st Syrian ruler allowed Jews to practice their religion

• 175 B.C.– New Syrian ruler ordered Jews priests to make

offerings to Greek gods• Jews refused & statues of Greek Gods were placed in

Temple in Jerusalem & it was made a crime to observe Jewish laws or study the Torah

Syria Controls Judah

• Revolt started to drive Syrians out– Led by Judah Maccabee

• His small army faced Syrian army; Jews army knowledge of the country side gave them an advantage

Rebels Fight Syria

• 63 B.C.– Romans conquered Juda– Jews were allowed to have Jewish kings &

religious leaders• Kings appointed by Rome

• A.D. 66– Zealots (group of Jews) led rebellion against

Roman authority• Captured fortress of Masada

Rome Conquers Judea

• Roman General Vespasian was sent in to crush uprising– Jews feared Temple would be destroyed

• Yohanan ben Zakkai (Jews teacher) asked Vespasian to set aside a place for Jewish scholars to study (this school kept alive the traditions of the Jews)

• A.D. 69– Vespasian became emperor of Rome– Son Titus was put in charge of troops in Judea

• Stormed Jerusalem & destroyed the second temple• Some Zealots held out in Masada & nearly 1,000 committed suicide

rather than be captured– Over the course of the Jews rebellion ½ a million Jews were

killed• A.D. 132

– 2nd attempt made to break away from Roman rule• Angered by Roman emperor Hadrian’s plans to rebulid Jerusalem as a

Roman city• 850,000 Jews died in 3 years of fighting• Rebellion was put down & Jews were banned from Jerusalem

Resistance to Roman Rule

• Centuries of Jewish exile & movement followed destruction of second Temple & Jerusalem– Known as Diaspora– Many Jews were sent to Rome as slaves– Some Jews fled to Europe– Jewish political state did not exist for more

than 1,800 years

The Diaspora

• Even scattered many Jews stayed faithful to their religious beliefs– Continued to practice concepts of

righteousness & justice

Judaism- An Ongoing Faith

• Jews feared they would lose their id– Rabbis tried to prevent this

• Built places for learning, prayer, and worship wherever Jews settled (called synagogues)

– People would gather to hear rabbis read the Torah and interpretations on the Torah

» Jews maintained a similar way of worship wherever they were in the world

– Jews also held onto their faith by carefully following the laws and observing the customs of their religion

– Created Jewish schools where children studied the Torah & learned prayers

Teachers and the Law