Hebrew beginnings, beliefs, customs, and traditions

Origins Abraham is considered the father of Judaism Born around 1800 BCE in Ur in Babylonia Began to believe in one god instead of the many gods worshipped throughout Mesopotamia *Monotheism!*

Origins Abraham makes a covenant, or agreement, with God If Abraham will obey his commands and leave his home and family, God will bless and protect him Abraham has two children, his son Isaac becomes the first generation in the covenant, Isaac’s grandchildren found the 12 tribes of Israel God tests Abraham’s devotion

The Covenant The Hebrews believed they were God’s (Yahweh)chosen people because of the covenant with Abraham Semi-nomadic lifestyle leads them to settle in Egypt Enslaved in Egypt and are led out of slavery by Moses The Exodus

The Search for a Promised Land UR Canaan 1800 bc Egypt 1650 bc Exodus to Sinai Peninsula Canaan Lived in the Fertile Crescent word Canaan refers to Ancient Palestine Abraham led the people to Canaan and his descendents led the people to Egypt

The Ten Commandments Moses receives the Torah from God Includes the Ten Commandments Ten Commandments become the basis for code of ethical behavior ...if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation...

Sacred Texts The Torah The Talmud First five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and the rest of the Tanakh “Old Testament” to Christians The Talmud The “oral Torah,” which interprets the Torah

Important figures Prophets are God’s spokespeople Abraham Moses Can be male or female, Jewish or non-Jewish Seen throughout the Torah Abraham covenant Moses Exodus, 10 Commandments

Important Figures Saul David Solomon First king of Israel King of Israel, warrior and prophet Solomon David’s son, king of Israel Makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel Holy Temple on Mount Moriah (Solomon’s Temple)

Important People David the humble shepherd who defeated Philistine warrior Goliath and later became a strong king Saul, David and Solomon united Hebrews under a new kingdom called Israel.

Important People cont. Solomon made Jerusalem into an impressive capital Most powerful In the Bible, Solomon prays to God for an understanding mind, which God grants him. Soon after, the story goes, two women and a baby boy were brought before him. Each woman claimed the baby was hers. After hearing their testimony, Solomon declared “Divide the living boy in two, then give half to one and half to the other. One said, “Please my lord, give her the living boy, certainly do not kill him.” However, the other woman accepted “It shall be neither mine nor yours, divide it” Solomon knew that the woman who would give up the child to save it was the real mother.

Kingdom of Israel Around 920 BCE: Kingdom splits into Israel in North and Judah in South

End of the Kingdom 722 BCE Israel fell to Assyrians 600 BCE: Temple of Solomon destroyed 586 BCE Judah fell to Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar forced Hebrews into exile. During this time they became known as Jews.