1. Hebrews
What is this a picture of? Where else have you heard this story? What is the story of Noah’s Arc a larger part of in Judaism? What are creation myths?

2. Religious Foundation Ancient history… Monotheistic God Role of Abraham
Hebrew Bible – 3 sections
Creation Story in Genesis
Torah – 5 books of Moses
Jewish peoples lived near Ur and were headers
Believe that they are the descendants and name came after the Diaspora
Lived near poor land, few fertile valleys with little water
Religion holds people together over time
Ethical Monotheism = most significant contribution of the Jewish faith – belief in one God
Abraham = father of Judaism
Semite and herder living in Mesopotamia chosen to settle in modern day Palestine area with his family because he is bothered by the pagan worship and promised the “covenant” (~ 1800 BCE)
Has a child with his servant – Hagar – condoned by wife who thinks that she cannot have children – that child is Ishmael – Muslims descendants of him
“miracle” pregnancy with wife Sarah – child named Isaac – Judaism and Christianity who eventually has sons named Isreal and Jacob
Story of Abraham and the sacrifice = religions differentiate between who is the son
Hebrew Bible: based on oral and written tradition
3 major sections: Torah (law – first 5 books); Nebi’im (prophets – advise from 4 greater and 12 lesser); Kethubim (writings)
Creation = Genesis = establishes the concept of Monotheism
God not male or female, creator and a destroyer (flood), good versus evil, interacted with people

3. 3 Religion’s Lineage

4. Formation of Israel Famine  Egypt  Enslavement Exodus with Moses
Invasion of Canaan
- King David
- King Solomon
- Foreign Conquest
Diaspora = after defeated by Invaders  Hebrew people forced from homeland
People face famine in Canaan = move to Egypt under the Hyksos rule (they are also foreign to the land) – between the Middle and New Kingdoms – people are enslaved when the pharaohs return to power
Exodus from Egypt under Moses (story of Moses – pharaoh’s grandson who is found on the Nile after being left by his Jewish parents) - difficult time for Egypt according to tradition = plagues until people go
Exodus = desert experience / parting of the Red Sea
Moses and god – form a covenant (chosen people)
Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai – religious and moral laws
People settle in Canaan – invade the area and Judaism spreads (evidence of some type of invasion around 1200 BCE) = arrival in the “promised land”
Various tribes living in Israel = Samuel (religious) unites, Saul first Israel king, united under monarchy by King David (David and Goliath) – 1010 BCE
David (politician, musician, and warrior) establishes Jerusalem as the capital, takes census for taxes, military successful – expands Israel’s borders, Golden Age
King Solomon ( BCE) = known for his buildings (huge palace, temple – rituals to compete with pagan cults in the area, negotiated with Egypt and Mesopotamian rulers, built the Arc of the Covenant to hold the 10 Commandments – building, etc. creates increased
People abandoned many of their traditions = lost favor with God
REVOLT during his son’s rule – heavy taxes to pay for projects – SPLIT = Judah and Israel (peace and war)
People = lived in extended families, arranged marriages, woman has slave attendant, monogamy
Women = respected for provision of goods and services, treated more equal – but could not inherit or divorce, women adulterers = death, but not for men, sometimes influential (Deborah the Judge)
Foreign Conquest
Israel conquered by Sargon I – people sent off to live elsewhere
Judah conquered by the Babylonians (Nebuchadnezzar) – burned Solomon’s Temple, took the Arc of the Covenant (last historical record) – followed by more conquerers – lost political independence
Cyrus (ruler) allows people to return – name the “Jews” – created a strong religious foundation due to lost political hold – Torah put in its final form (5th century BCE) and many religious scholars/leaders emerge
One point Jewish peoples retake the lands, after uprising under the Romans dispersed again except once a year to visit the wailing wall, but historically this period is starts the Diaspora (through to today) – makes religious ties more important and strengthens religion/monotheism

5. Exodus from Egypt

6. Kingdom of David and Solomon

7. Solomon’s Temple