The Development of Monotheism

(Judaism/Zoroastrianism)

Judah: • High taxes/building

projects caused discontent

• Northern part of kingdom revolts

• Israel in the North; Judah in the South

1650BC 1300-1200BC 1020-922BC 722BC1800BC

Abraham:• Shepherd from Ur• 1 God – Yahweh -

commanded to move his people to Canaan

• Father of Hebrew people

• Makes convenant with God

Moses & the Exodus• Moses led Hebrews out of

slavery and out of Egypt• Passover• Sinai Peninsula – 10 Com

mandments/New Covenant

• Canaan -12 tribes

Descendants of Abraham move to Egypt• Drought and threat of fa

mine cause need to move

Kingdom of Israel• Hebrew tribes united as Kingdom

of Israel under Kings Saul, David and Soloman

• 100 yrs of power and independence

• Solomon builds great temple at Jerusalem to glorify God

Israel Falls to Assyria:• Judah resisted for

another 150 before being destroyed by Babylonians

The Development of Judaism (1st Monotheistic Religion)

539BC 445BC586BC

Babylonian Captivity:• Babylonians attack

Jerusalem and destroy temple

• Survivors (Hebrews) exiled to Babylon for about 50 years (kept their religion)

Walls of Jerusalem• Temple completed

in 515BC• Walls of Jerusalem

rebuilt in 445BC

Cyrus the Great• Persian King conquered B

abylon• Allowed 40,000 exiles to re

turn to Jerusalem to rebuild temple

• Many stayed in Babylonia

Judaism:• Considered the first monotheistic

religion• Hebrews/Israelites/Jews –

followers of Judaism• We will study Judaism more

when we compare it to Christianity and Islam

The Development of Judaism (1st Monotheistic Religion)

Zoroastrianism• Who was Zoroaster and what we

re his teachings?• How were they related to Judais

m?

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Passover• According to the Old Testament, the Lord told Moses

to ask Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go free. Pharaoh refused, so after nine other curses visited the Egyptians, the Lord invoked the tenth curse: He would kill the first-born child in each Egyptian family. The Hebrews were to mark their doors with blood so the Lord would pass over their doors and not kill their first-born children. The Hebrews were also to eat unleavened bread, roast lamb, and bitter herbs on that night. After this catastrophe struck the Egyptians, Pharaoh allowed the Hebrews to leave Egypt. This was the beginning of the observance of Passover, which continues to this day.

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Babylonian Captivity

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Zoroastrianism – Monotheism

• Zoroaster – Persian prophet who lived around 600BC• Taught earth is a battleground where a great struggle is

fought between the spirit of good/evil• Believed in one god – Ahura Mazda• Mazda will judge everyone according to how well they

fought the battle of good/evil• Similarities to Judaism?

– Monotheistic– Concept of Satan (idea of evil)

and angels