Chapter 7 The Hebrews and Judaism Section 1 – The Early Hebrews

The Early Israelites Around 1000 B.C., the Israelites built a kingdom in Canaan along the Mediterranean Sea in southwest Asia. Today, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan occupy the land that was once Canaan.

Who Were the Israelites? Israelites were monotheistic and believed in one God. The Israelite faith became a religion known as Judaism, also known as the Jews. Judaism influenced Christianity and Islam. Israelites spoke Hebrew and wrote their history and beliefs in what became the Hebrew Bible.

The Beginnings in Canaan and Egypt The Hebrews are traced back to a man named Abraham The Hebrew Bible says God told Abraham to leave Mesopotamia and settle in Canaan, on the Mediterranean Sea

Famine in Canaan led many Israelites to settle in Egypt

Moses The Egyptian pharaoh enslaved the Israelites. To prevent rebellion, the pharaoh ordered all baby boys born to Israelites to be thrown into the Nile River. One mother tried to save her son by putting him in a basket and hiding it on the riverbank. The pharaoh’s daughter found the baby. That baby was named Moses.

The Burning Bush Moses became a sheep herder outside of Egypt. Around 1290 B.C. he saw a burning bush and a voice he believed to be God telling him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to freedom.

Passover The Bible says that God sent 10 plagues to trouble Egypt and persuade the pharaoh to let the Israelites go. The last plague killed all first-born children, except for those Israelites who marked their door with lamb’s blood. Jews today celebrate a holiday called Passover to remember how God “passed over” their homes. The plagues convinced the pharaoh to free the Israelites.

Ten Plagues of Egypt Water turned to blood Frogs Gnats Flies Plague on livestock Boils Hail with thunder and lightning Locusts Darkness Death of firstborn

Parting of the Red Sea After the Israelites left, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his soldiers to bring the Israelites back. The Bible says that God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass. The Egyptians followed and the water flowed back and drowned the soldiers. This Israelite escape is called the Exodus.

The Ten Commandments On the way back to Canaan, Moses went to the top of Mount Sinai and received laws from God. These laws were known as the Torah. The most important part of the Torah is the Ten Commandments.

The Promised Land It took the Israelites about 40 years to reach Canaan. Along the way, Moses died and Joshua took over. When the Israelites arrived in Canaan, a group of people, the Canaanites, were already there. The Israelites believed it was God’s will that they conquer the Canaanites.

The Battle of Jericho According to the Bible, Joshua led the Israelites to the city of Jericho. They marched around the city’s walls for six days. On the seventh day, the Israelites gave a great shout and the walls of Jericho crumbled. Joshua led the Israelites in three more wars and the land they seized was divided among the 12 tribes.

The Fighting Judges After Joshua’s death, the Israelites looked to judges for leadership. A judge was usually a military leader who led one or two tribes. There was even a female judge, Deborah.