Transcript The Origins of Judaism

The Origins of Judaism
So I discovered the menorah is
missing a couple of stems. Sorry.
Objectives:
• Know how Israel’s location contributed to its history
and development.
• Know what the Torah is and why it’s important.
• Know what Abraham did and why he’s important to
Judaism.
• Realize in what ways Judaism differed from most
religions of the time.
• Know what Moses did and why he’s important.
The area known as Palestine. It’s around the modern day
state of Israel.
• The area of Palestine called Canaan was the home of
the Hebrews, later called the Jews
It’s in a prime location.
• It’s the connection between Africa (specifically Egypt)
and Asia. If you want to go from one to the other you
have to pass through this area. That means it’s good
for trade.
• It’s also between the Mediterranean and Red Seas.
There wasn’t a Suez Canal back then.
• On the downside, that sweet location also makes it
attractive to others.
• It was often a battle ground for the surrounding
powers.
• We get most of the early Jewish history from TorahThe first five books of the Hebrew Bible
• Christians respect them as part of the Old Testament
• Other sources from the time are scarce and we have to
fill in the archaeological details.
The founding patriarch of
the faith was Abraham.
• Migrated to the land of
Canaan around 1800 BC.
God promised him that
he would be the father of
a great nation there. He
moves around the area a
bit.
All through the wanderings and the rest, God, Yahweh,
was with Abraham.
• Yahweh was not a localized deity.
• Moreover, he was singular. This was a monotheistic
religion, which was quite quaint for a mostly
polytheistic world.
Yahweh was also not a physical god. This was also
unique. Some Greeks even thought the Jews
philosophical because of it.
• God makes an agreement, a covenant, with Abraham.
If Abraham and his descendants obey Him, then He will
bless and protect them.
Eventually the Hebrew people
who had settled in Canaan
migrate into Egypt because
of a famine.
• They’re enslaved and forced
to labor under the pharaoh
working on his building
projects.
• Under the leadership of
Moses, the Israelites escape
Egypt around 1300-1200 BC.
• Jews call this event “the
Exodus”
book of Exodus,
Moses InGodthestrikes
down the 1
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
st
born of the Egyptians, but
“passes over”
the
At the Time of Moses’ birth- duringhePassoverthe
Hebrews.
Pass Over
Egyptian pharaoh felt threatened by
the number
of
celebrates this episode
Hebrews in Egypt
He ordered all Hebrew male babies killed
Moses’ mother hid her baby in the reeds along the banks
of the Nile
An Egyptian princess found him and adopted him
He was raised in luxury, but never forgot where he came
from
When God commanded him to lead the Jews out of
Egypt, he obeyed
Moses has been considered one of the greatest figures
in Jewish history
After getting out of Egypt, the Hebrews spend a long time
wandering around the Sinai Peninsula.
While in the Sinai, Moses receives the Ten
Commandments… at the top of Mt. Sinai.
They are:
1. I am the Lord thy
God…Thou shalt have
no other gods before
me.
2. Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven
image or worship one.
3. Thou shalt not take
the name of the Lord
in vain.
4. Remember the
sabbath day and keep
it holy.
5. Honor they father and mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill (murder).
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt no steal
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
10.Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s possessions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAt
RCJIqnk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgSJDgKgv78
15
command
-ments?
The Ten Commandments represent a new covenant
between God and the Hebrews. If they follow the
commandments, God will bless them.
The Ten Commandments served as the basis for Jewish
law.
• The full code was much more detailed and governed all
sorts of social and religious conventions.
• 613 total sub-commandments in the Torah
• Led to ethical monotheism: living justly in relation to
God and to other people.
• After the death of Moses, the Hebrews
return to Canaan where Abraham had
lived
• Hebrews fought with neighbors over land
• They were also starting to settle land
instead of wandering
• Hebrews were learning new technologies
from neighbors in Palestine
• These changes were different than the
simple life they had been used to
• When Hebrews arrive in Canaan, they
were organized into 12 tribes that were
self governing
• In times of emergency, God would raise up
judges, according to the Bible
• They would unite the tribes and provide
judicial and military leadership during a
crisis
Hebrew Law
• The Ten Commandments were part of a
code of laws delivered to Moses
• The Code was later interpreted by
religious teachers, called prophets
• Prophets taught that the Hebrews had a
duty both to worship God and to live justly
with one another
Prophets
• Don’t think of them as they type that predict the
future. Rather, they were God’s mouthpieces, His
spokesmen.
• God spoke to them and then they spoke to the people.
Also interpreted God’s laws.
The Hebrews would come together every once in a while
under a judge to face a threat. Once the threat was
gone, however, they’d fall apart again.
• Eventually, they decided they needed a king (hey,
everybody else had one!)
• Saul is appointed as the first king. He was tall and
good-looking.
• This kingdom is called Israel.
• Saul, according to the Bible, falls out of favor with God
and David- his son-on-law- is appointed king.
Yes, the David of David and Goliath.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSG19yci_Ps
David
•
•
•
•
•
An extremely popular leader
United the tribes
Established Jerusalem as the capital
Founded a dynasty
Son is Soloman
About 962 BC, Solomon becomes king
• Proceeds to develop trade
• Also builds the grand temple in which the ark was
housed.
• On the downside, Solomon’s building projects nearly
bankrupted the country. They required high taxes and
a lot of labor from citizens.
• The kingdom divided into two: Israel in the north and
Judah in the south. Each had their own king.
The Babylonian Captivity
• Israel is conquered by the Babylonians. Judah holds
out for a while, but it too is conquered and many of the
Jewish people are held in Babylon.
• They’re treated well by the Babylonians, but aren’t
allowed to return to Judah until the Babylonians are
conquered by the Persians around 537 BC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qmj2fXPvXc