Chapter 11

The Ancient Hebrews and the Origins of Judaism

11.1: Introduction

• Hebrews were the founders of Judaismo Basic laws are recorded in the Torah• The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old

Testament)o Four major Hebrew leaders• Abraham• Moses• David• Solomon

11.2: What We Know About the Ancient

Hebrews• Torah

o Used to understand the history of the Jewish people and the development of Judaism

• Early Historyo Abraham• Lived in Ur• Around 1950 BCE, migrated with his clan to

Caanan

o 1800 BCE: Hebrews moved to Egypt• Left because of famine• Eventually became slaves

o Moses• Led the Hebrews in their escape from Egypt

oWandered the wilderness for 40 yearso 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

11.3: Important Hebrew Leaders

• Abrahamo “Father of the Hebrews”o Introduced the central belief that there is only

one God• New idea at the time

o Was told by God to move his family from Mesopotamia to Caanan

o He was promised by God that he would father a great nation• His descendants became known as the

Jewish people

• Moseso Considered the greatest leader of the Hebrewso Lead his people out of slavery in Egypto Told the Hebrews that God would lead them to

the “promised land” in exchange for their faithful obedience

o Gave Judaism its fundamental laws• Ten Commandments

oLaws engraved on two stone tabletsoBecame the foundation for Judaism

• Kings David and Solomono King David created an united kingdom• Established Jerusalem as a holy city

o King Solomon built Jerusalem’s first great temple• Known for great wisdom

o Jerusalem and its temple became powerful symbols to the Hebrews

11.4: The Life of Abraham: Father of the

Hebrews• Abraham

o Originally called Abramo Was born about 2000 BCE in Ur in

Mesopotamia• Where people worshipped many gods

o Came to believe that there was only one true God• This belief set Judaism apart from other

ancient religions

o 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

o 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).oEven though Abraham loved his son, his

devotion to God was completeoAt the last minute, God sent an angel to

stop Abraham from killing his sonoAbraham 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).

11.5 The Life Moses: Leader and Prophet

• Exodus from Egypto By 1250 BCE, a large group of Abraham’s

descendants were living in Egypt. o The Torah says that the Hebrews “increased in

number and became very powerful”.o The pharaoh feared their power and turned

them into slaves.o God heard the cries of the enslaved Hebrews

and sent Moses to the pharaoh.

o Moses went before the pharaoh and told him to free the Hebrews.

o 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 familyo After the plagues, the pharaoh gave in and let

the Hebrews go.

o 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.

o The Torah refers to this time period as, the Exodus, which means “departure”.

• Ten Commandmentso After the Hebrews wandered through the

wilderness for 40 years, God gave Moses the laws that became the foundation of Judaism; the Ten Commandments

o 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.

o 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.o Another commandment told them to set aside

one day a week for rest and worship; the Sabbath

o Other commandments laid down basic moral laws (laws about right and wrong)• “You shall honor your father and mother”.

11.6: The Lives of David and Solomon: Kings of

Israel• King David

o Around 1000 BCE the Hebrews were at war with a rival tribe, the Philistines.

o According to the Hebrew Bible, the Philistines promised to be the Hebrews’ slaves if someone could beat their fiercest warrior, Goliath

o David was young but he bravely stepped forward with only a slingshot as a weapon

o David felled Goliath with one stone

o David’s courage and faith was awarded by God when he made him king.

o 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

• chose Jerusalem as the capitalobecame 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 cityoa wood an gold chest that held the Ten

Commandments.

• King Solomono Became king after the death of King Davido 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

o Forced his people to work on the construction of the temple.• More than 3000 officials were needed to

oversee the projecto Taxed his people heavily to buy gold, cedar

wood, copper, and other materials

o King Solomon’s methods angered many of the Hebrews

o In 931 BCE, the northern tribes broke away to become the separate kingdom of Israel

o David and Solomon’s descendants ruled the southern kingdom of Judah