Transcript The Hebrews - Salem City Schools

Do Now
How could a group of people be
politically unimportant but
culturally important?
The Hebrews
Hebrew Religion = Judaism
Hebrews = Jews
Canaan
Ur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertile_Crescent
• Founder = Abraham
• Abraham lived in the
Mesopotamian city of Ur
and was a shepherd.
• According to the Torah,
God told Abraham to
move his people to
Canaan (“The Promised
Land”)
• Torah = book containing
the records and beliefs of
Hebrews. (first five books
of the Bible/Old
Testament)
The Hebrew’s Religion - Judaism
• Monotheistic – believed in 1 god.
• They called their god Yahweh and
proclaimed he was the one and only God.
• God was not a physical being, so no
images were to be made of him.
• God made covenants with his people.
• Covenant = promise made between God
and his people (typically God promises to
protect and people promise to follow.)
Moses
• Famine and drought led
to the relocation of the
Hebrews into Egypt.
• Over time, the Egyptians
began to persecute and
enslave the Hebrews.
• The Hebrews fled Egypt
in an event called the
“Exodus”. (~1300-1200
B.C.)
• Their leader = Moses
http://www.wga.hu/art/r/reni/1/moses.jpg
After the Exodus
• Moses delivers the people from Egypt and
it’s pharoah (Ramses II).
• Moses, according to Hebrew tradition,
given the Ten Commandments.
• After the Jews wander in the desert for
forty years, Moses dies and Joshua leads
the Hebrews into the promised land.
Hebrew History from the Exodus
• Jews organized into 12
tribes.
• Live in Canaan and
frequently fight with
neighbors over land.
• United from time to time
under Judges.
• Become very powerful under
3 kings (Saul, David,
Solomon). (1020-922 B.C.)
• Kingdom divides under
Solomon (Israel to North,
Judah (where both Judaism
and Jew comes from) to
South)
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/images_n2/judah.gif
Hebrew History from the Exodus
(cont’d.)
• Israel is conquered by the
Assyrians in 722.
• The Babylonians will
conquer Judah nearly 140
years later.
• Israelites are exiled.
• Exile = period after
Babylonian conquests where
many Jews are forced to
leave Jerusalem and to live
in Babylon.
• Diaspora = the scattering of
the Jews after the
Babylonian Captivity.
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/images_n2/judah.gif
Hebrew History (Cont’d.)
Judaism
Monotheistic – One true God
is present everywhere
God chose Hebrews
as his people.
God made a covenant
with Abraham
God gave the Hebrews
the Ten Commandments
through Moses
The Torah is the sacred
Recording of laws and
Events in Jewish history,
Prophets taught about
Moral Standards and justice.
Reflection
What makes the Hebrews so important to
world history?