The First IsraelitesChapter Three, Section One

Early Israelites

About 1200 BC, great changes took place around Mediterranean ◦ Empires fell and new people

entered the region

1000 BC, Israelites built a kingdom in Canaan

Canaan lies along the Mediterranean Sea in Middle East.

Who were the Israelites?

Small population of people. Israelites believed in God—

only one; monotheism Israelite faith become

Judaism; known as Jews◦ Influenced Christianity and Islam

◦ Shaped beliefs and practices of societies in Europe and Americas.

Spoke Hebrew; wrote their beliefs in the Hebrew Bible

Came from Mesopotamia-herders and traders; settled in Canaan

Who were the Israelites?

Abraham—father of the Hebrews. Believe God told Abraham to go to Canaan. God promised the land to Abraham and the Hebrews.

Jacob—grandson of Abraham; also called Israel◦ Had 12 sons; Divided his family

into 12 tribes. 12 Tribes of Israel

Lived in Israel for 100 years; moved to Egypt to escape famine

From Slavery to Freedom

While in Egypt they were enslaved by Pharaoh.

They were subject to infanticide—murder of their infants

Moses led his people out of Egypt; 10 plagues on Egyptians

Ten Commandments—at top of Mt. Sinai, received the laws from God. The commandments were an important part of the Torah; most important in shaping moral laws of many nations.

Torah—first part of the Hebrew Bible; describes a covenant

Promised Land

Took 40 years to reach Canaan; Moses had already died

Joshua took over leadership after Moses; brought Israelites to Canaan

Canaanites were living there when they arrived.

Joshua and his army took the city of Jericho and other lands in three wars.◦ The territories were divided among the

12 Tribes of Israel

Judges

Judge—An Israelite military leader that guided the 12 tribes after Joshua’s death. Usually they guided 1 or 2 tribes;

Deborah—only known woman judge.◦ 1125 BC—Deborah and her troops

destroyed King Jabin and his army of Canaanites.

Over time, the judges gained control over all the hilly regions of Canaan. The Canaanites only controlled the coastal areas.

Review the Main IdeasLed by Abraham, the Israelites

settled in Canaan. They later moved to Egypt and were enslaved, but then escaped. The Israelites used the Ten Commandments as rules to live by.

Joshua and the judges, including Deborah, won back territory in central Canaan for the Israelites.

Kingdom of IsraelChapter 3; Section 2

Israelites Choose a King1000 BC—

Philistines strongest in the region of Canaan

Israelites believe they need to choose a king to unite the tribes and become stronger

Rule of King Saul1020 BC—Israelites

asked Samuel to choose a king. Samuel—a judge and prophet

Samuel selects Saul a warrior and farmer; first king of Israel

Hebrew Bible says Saul lost favor with God and the people

King DavidDavid—was in charge of

Saul’s army; known for his bravery and leadership; David and Goliath

1000 BC—David takes the throne of Israel

David as King◦ Drove Philistines from the

region◦ Created an Empire◦ Conquered nations paid a

tribute—added to Israel’s wealth

King David◦ Taxes the

Israelites heavily Wanted to expand

Jerusalem Wanted to build a

temple for the Jews in Jerusalem

King Solomon

Solomon—last king of a united Israel; noted for his wisdom, but hated for his taxation◦ Built the great stone

temple in Jerusalem Becomes a symbol and

center of Jewish religion

◦ Known for his proverbs—wise sayings

◦ 1000-922 BC—the period of kings.

After SolomonWhen Solomon died,

Northerners rebelled◦ 10 of the 12 tribes set

up their own nation in the north—Kingdom of Israel (922 BC)

◦ Samaria—capital of Kingdom of Israel.

Kingdom of Judah◦ Two tribes ◦ Jerusalem remained

the Capital

Fall of Israel

◦ 722 BC—Assyrians conquered Israel and scattered 10 tribes across their empire.

◦ They are known as the “Lost Tribes of Israel”

Fall of Judah

◦ 620 BC—Egyptians conquered the Kingdom of Judah Israelites kept their king but paid tribute to Egypt

◦ 605 BC—Chaldeans conquer Egypt; Egyptians and Jews unite but fail

◦ 597 BC—Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem Punished Jews severely—10,000 forced to leave and

live in Babylon A second rebellion was crushed and the Temple was

destroyed. Time in Babylon called the Babylonian Exile—597-538

BC

◦ 538 BC—Persian king Cyrus allows Jews to rebuild Jerusalem

Review the Main IdeasSaul was the first king of the Israelites.

He united the 12 tribes into one kingdom.King David built an Israelite empire and

made Jerusalem his capital. Solomon built a great temple at Jerusalem, but after he died, the Israelites split into two kingdoms—Israel and Judah

The Assyrians and then the Chaldeans conquered Israel and Judah, and forced many Israelites to leave their homeland.

Chapter three, section three

Growth of Judaism

Exile and Return During the exile (586-538 BC) in

Babylon the Israelite religion became what we call Judaism

Sabbath—small groups of Jews would meet for a day of worship and rest at the synagogues

538 BC—Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Judah; some stayed in Babylon, many went home

They rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple. Were not allowed to have their own king

Religious leaders ran their society Scribes became religious scholars Ezra—wrote five books of the Torah

on pieces of parchment—scrolls; Torah and writings added later made up the Hebrew Bible.

Jews Look to the Future

Story of Daniel reminded Jews that God would rescue them

Daniel was important to the Chaldean rulers but he refused to worship Babylonian gods. They threw him into the Lion’s den but God protected Daniel from the Lions.

Jews believed that evil and suffering would eventually be replaced by goodness.

Jews and the Greeks331 BC, Alexander the Great (Greek)

defeated Persians so Judah came under his control

Jews were allowed to stay in Judah; Hebrews were introduced Greek language and culture

Jews were living throughout Alexander’s empire at this time; This became known as diaspora

During diaspora, Jews learned Greek ways and copied the Torah in Greek

As a result, Jewish ideas spread throughout the Mediterranean world.

The Maccabees168 BC—Greek Ruler Antiochus

controlled Judah; He decided to make Jews worship Greek gods.

Judas Maccabeus—a priest that led a rebellion against Antiochus

Maccabees fled to the hills and formed an army. After many battles they drove the Greeks out of Judah and destroyed all traces of Greek gods.

Hanukkah—Jewish festival that celebrates the Maccabees and their victory.

Judas Maccabeus’s family became new rulers and they took over land that had been part of Kingdom of Israel

Roman Rule Jews and the Romans63 BC—Romans conquered Judah;

renamed it JudaeaAt first, Romans allowed Jewish rulers

to run JudaeaKing Herod—most famous ruler of

Judaea◦ Added to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem◦ Became one of the most awe-inspiring

buildings in the entire Roman worldRomans replaced the Jewish king with

Roman officials when Herod died. Jews were divided over how to deal

with the Romans

Jewish Revolts60’s AD—Jewish hatred of Roman rule was at its peak Jews waited for a messiah—deliverer sent from GodZealots—wanted to fight the Romans for Freedom66 AD—Zealots revolted against the Romans and drove

them out of Jerusalem;70 AD—Romans returned and killed thousands of Jews and

forced many others to leave; Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem; The Western Wall is all that remains today

132 AD—Jews revolted again; Revolt was crushed in 135 AD; Romans forbade the Jews to live in or even visit Jerusalem; Started calling Judah by the name Palestine. Name refers to the Philistines.

1947 AD—Jews return to Judah and form the state of Israel.