1. Hebrew: Kingdoms and Captivity

2. The Kingdom of Israel
The Israelites belief in one god (monotheism) and their religious practices set them apart from others in the region. They traded with other groups in Canaan, but did not adopt their cultures or beliefs. Sometimes the Israelites were threatened by these groups. On these occasions, the judges called on the widely scattered tribes to unite and fight the groups.

3. The Philistines
Around 1029 B.C.E., the Israelites faced the Philistines, a group of people from nearby Philista. The Philistines invaded and conquered Israelite territory.
The Israelites agreed to unite under one king in order to fight the Philistines, although many feared that a single king would have too much power. A judge named Samuel shared these concerns but helped select the Israelites’ first two kings.

6. Saul and David
The first king chosen by Samuel was Saul, who ruled around 1020 B.C.E. Under Saul, the Israelites fought the Philistines. These battles forced the Philistines to lose some Israelite territory. After Saul’s death, Samuel chose the second king, David, which proved to be a wise choice.
David, famous for killing the Philistine giant Goliath, expanded the borders of Israel and promoted trade. He was also noted as a poet and musician, who wrote the prayers and songs found in the Book of Psalms. He was also responsible for making Jerusalem the capital. When he died, Israel was large and at peace with its neighbors.

8. King Solomon
David established a line of kings, also known as a monarchy. He chose his son Solomon to succeed him. Solomon became the third king of Israel in about 962 B.C.E. Solomon was also a strong ruler.
During his rule, Israel became even stronger. Solomon increased trade ties with Phoenicia, a nearby country. He also built many buildings. His most famous was the Temple at Jerusalem. The temple was stone on the outside, and cedar and gold on the inside. The Temple became the center of religion for the Israelites, and came to the king to settle disputes, like the famous story of the baby.

10. The Kingdom Divides
Solomon’s temple required a lot of money to pay for, and that meant high taxes. When Solomon died in 922 B.C.E., his son, Rehoboam, became king. However, the northern tribes refused to follow him unless he reduced taxes and stopped building. When Rehoboam refused, they rebelled. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained loyal. Along with Rehoboam, these two tribes created a new kingdom called Judah, with Jerusalem as the capital. Modern day words Judaism and Jews come from the Judah tribe.

12. Assyrians and Babylonians Conquer
By 738 B.C.E., both kingdoms faced threats from the Assyrians. The Assyrians forced Israel and Judah to pay tribute. In 722 B.C.E., Assyria invaded and conquered Israel. The kingdom of Israel ended. Around 612 B.C.E., the Assyrians were defeated by the Babylonians.
For many years, King Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylonia. He captured Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. When Judah’s leaders refused his rule, he destroyed Solomon’s Temple. He also took thousands of Jews as captives.

14. Jewish Exiles Return to Judah
The people of Judah spent 50 years as slaves in Babylon. This period was known as the Babylonian Captivity. During this period, the Israelites began to be called Jews.
While they were slaves, they maintained their old ways, as they hoped to return to Jerusalem one day. They also looked forward to having their own king again. Hebrew leaders were usually anointed, meaning they had oil poured on their brows. The Hebrew word “Messiah” means “anointed one”. The Jews hoped that a king, such as a replacement for David, or a savior.
Without kings, the Jewish people turned to prophets to guide them. These special men and women could supposedly interpret God’s word.

15. The Temple is Rebuilt
In 539 B.C.E., the Persians conquered Babylon. The Persian King, Cyrus, believed in religious tolerance, or acceptance of other religions. He freed the Jewish slaves and let them go back to Judah. About 40,000 exiles returned to Jerusalem, although many stayed in Babylon. The Jews were grateful to Cyrus, who they considered a friend and protector.
After returning, the Jews began rebuilding the temple. Workers completed the new temple around 515 B.C.E., and walls were built around the city in 445 B.C.E.