1. Chapter 2 Section 5 Roots of Judaism
World History
Chapter 2
Section 5
Roots of Judaism

2. Israelites Monotheistic – belief in one god
Hebrew – ancient Israelites
God = all knowing, all powerful, present everywhere
Torah – sacred text – record of events and laws
First five books of the bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Hebrew Bible included 24 books

3. Ancient Israelites Abraham – lived in Ur in Mesopotamia
Migrated to Canaan with family
Father of the Israelite people
Covenant – binding agreement
Believed God made covenant with Abraham / Jewish people

4. Two declarations:
1)God declared special relationships with Abraham and his descendents
2) Declared Canaan would belong to Israelites
Israelites migrated to Egypt and were enslaved
Moses – renewed God’s covenant with Israelites
Moses led them out of slavery – 40 yrs. In the wilderness – Moses died before they made it

6. Kingdom of Israel 1000 B.C. – Established Kingdom of Israel
Twelve separate tribes – fought
Joined by David – second king of Israel
Solomon – (David’s son) – turned Jerusalem into an impressive capital - wise

7. Division and Conquest Solomon’s projects cost money – taxed people
Led to revolt – split up Israel
Israel in North – Judah in South
Israel captured by the Assyrians and Judah captured by Babylonian’s
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon’s Great temple, forced Israelites into exile in Babylon for 50 years

8. Persian Ruler Cyrus the Great – captured Babylon and freed the Israelites
Had come from the Kingdom of Judah – became known as the Jews
Rebuilt Solomon’s Great Temple – smaller version and remained under Persian rule

9. Law and Morality Law is a central concept of Israelites
Torah had many laws – called books of law
Dealt with everyday matters – cleanliness and food preparation, also criminal behavior

10. Israelite Society
Patriarchal – men held greatest legal and moral authority
Oldest male was the head of household – arranged marriages for daughters
Women – few rights
Deborah – judge – won honor

11. Ten Commandments Set of laws given to them from God through Moses
Keeping the Sabbath – holy day
Honoring parents, no killing, no stealing
Prophets – spiritual leaders that interpret God’s will – warned that failure would lead to disaster
Ethics – moral standards of behavior – taught by prophets

12. All people equal before God
Ruler was not seen as a God – leaders were human and had to obey God’s laws
After Babylonian captivity – 500 years period – left homeland and moved to different parts of the world
Called Diaspora – spreading out of Jews

13. Settled in close-knit communities in which they followed and obeyed laws and traditions
Helped them survive/endure centuries of persecution – unfair treatment
Today Judaism = Major Religion – influenced Christianity and Islam
All honor Abraham, Moses, prophets