Ancient Israelites

1. Ancient Israelites They believed in one God who set down moral laws for His people. They recorded their history in the Hebrew Bible.

2. Ancient Israel

4. Who were the Israelites? • Monotheism • Spoke Hebrew • Judaism – Jews • Influenced Christianity and Islam • Helped shape beliefs and practices of societies in Europe and America • Hebrew language • Wrote down their history and religious beliefs in the Hebrew Bible known as the Old Testament • Herders and traders • Came from Mesopotamia to Canaan (present day Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan) • Descendents of Abraham

6. Abraham • God (Yahweh) told him to leave Mesopotamia and go to Canaan. • God’s promise (covenant) • Lived in Canaan for 100 years then a drought occurred and some went to Egypt

7. Jacob • Abraham’s grandson • Also called Israel – means “one who struggles with God” • Later given to his descendants • 12 sons divided into tribes (12 tribes of Israel)

8. From Slavery to Freedom • Israelites were enslaved to build pyramids for the Pharaoh. • Baby boys –Nile River • Moses – tended sheep • Burning bush • 10 plagues

9. Moses • An illustrated story of Moses

10. 10 Plagues • Turn Water to blood • Frogs • Lice • Flies • Disease on livestock • Boils • Hail • Locusts • Darkness • Death of 1st born of all Egyptian humans and animals Exodus 7:19 -11:5

13. Parting of the Red Sea • Known as the Exodus • Passover, Jewish holiday celebrates this event

14. Journey to Canaan • Sinai Desert • Mount Sinai – where Moses received laws from God or the Torah

15. Torah • Later became the 1st part of the Hebrew Bible • Torah described a covenant (agreement) with God in which God promised to return the Israelites to Canaan if they followed His laws. • Explained what God considered to be right and wrong • Ten Commandments

16. Ten Commandments • Shaped basic moral laws of many nations • Helped develop a belief in the “rule of law”– idea that laws should apply to everyone equally • Exodus 20:1-17

17. Ten Commandments • How many of the commandments tell people how to interact with other people? • 6 (commandments 5-10) • How many tell them how to worship and show respect for God? • 4 (commandments 1-4)

18. Ark of the Covenant • A gold-plated wooden box (acacia wood) • 45” long and 27” wide and 27” deep • 4 gold rings on corners with 2 gold rings on side where poles of acacia wood overlaid in gold were used to carry it • Contents: stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were carved, a golden pot of manna from the wilderness journey, and Aaron’s rod • Most sacred artifact of the Israelites

19. The Promised Land • 40 years • Moses never lived to see it. • Joshua – new leader • Had to fight to regain it • Jericho • marched around walls for 6 days while 7 priests blew their trumpets • on 7th day – trumpets blew one last time and Israelites raise a great shout • 3 more wars • Land divided by 12 tribes

20. Judges • Leadership • Usually a military leader • Commanded 1 or 2 tribes (seldom all 12) • Barak, Gideon, Samuel, Eli, Samson, and others including Deborah • Deborah told Barak to attack the army of the Canaanite king Jabin and went along to battlefield as an adviser. • King Jabin was destroyed around 1125 B.C. • Walled towns for protection • Created an alphabet

21. Phoenician Alphabet • Phoenicians were skilled sailors and traders (with Greece, Spain, and western Africa). • Spread ideas and goods like an alphabet • Alphabet made writing simpler and easier to keep records. • Brought the idea to Greeks who passed it on to the Romans which is the basis for most Western alphabets

23. Review • Why was the religion of Israel unique in the ancient world? • What is the Torah, and how did the Israelites obtain it? • What was the importance of the Phoenician alphabet? • What problems did the Israelites face when they returned to Canaan? • Which one of the Ten Commandments do you think is most important today?

24. Belief that God gave Canaan to the Jews Belief in one god Jewish Ideas Hebrew Bible Ten Commandments

25. The Kingdom of Israel Creation of the kingdom of Israel; its great kings (Saul, David, and Solomon); and the challenges Israel faced

26. The Israelites choose a King • Similar to Philistines, strongest people living in Canaan who had strong cities and knew how to make iron tools and weapons • B/c they copied the Philistines, they felt they needed a king as well. (believed it would unite them against their enemies)

27. The Rule of Saul • 1020 B.C. – Samuel asked to choose a king. • What is a prophet? • Samuel’s warning • Samuel anointed their choice, Saul (warrior-farmer) as king. What does this mean? • Saul – tall, handsome, and had won many battles • Saul disobeyed some of God’s commands. • Samuel was instructed by God to anoint a new king (David) in secret.

28. David • Known for his bravery and leadership • David and Goliath • Put in charge of army by Saul • “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” • Took throne in 1000 B.C. • Drove Philistines from the area • Created an empire • Tribute • Heavy taxes to expand Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. • temple

29. Solomon • David’s son • Built splendid stone temple in Jerusalem • In Hebrew Bible, he is known for his proverbs.

31. Proverbs • Wise sayings • Happy the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding!-- Proverbs 3:13 • If you are wise, it is to your own advantage; and if you are arrogant, you alone shall bear it.-- Proverbs 9:12 • Hatred stirs up disputes, but love covers all offenses.-- Proverbs 10:12

32. Proverbs • Between the devil and the deep sea • To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma. • Where there's a will there's a way • When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it. • A burnt child dreads fire • A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime. • First come, first served • The first in line will be attended to first. • A friend in need is a friend indeed • A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend. • "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”   --  Abraham Lincoln

33. Benjamin Franklin’s proverbs • "Well done is better than well said" • "A lie stands on one leg, the truth on two" • "God helps those who help themselves" • "A penny saved is a penny earned" • "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" • "There is no little enemy" • "It is hard for an empty sack to stand upright" • "When the well is dry, they know the worth of water" • "Drive the business, let not drive thee" • "Kill no more pigeons than you can eat" • "The sleeping fox catches no poultry" • "Think of the things, whence you came, where are you going, and to whom you must account" • "Energy and persistence conquer all things"

34. Solomon continued • Many Israelites hated his rule. • Taxed people to pay for his great buildings • List positive and negative aspects of paying taxes. • Made young men work in mines of neighboring countries to make more money • Death – 10 of 12 tribes set up their own nation in the north

36. Kingdoms of Israel and Judah • 10 tribes created a new kingdom in N called Israel --- capital was Samaria • 2 tribes founded a smaller kingdom called Judah --- capital was Jerusalem --- people were Jews • Which kingdom lost access to the Mediterranean? • Which shares a border with Phoenicia?

37. Kingdoms felt threatened by their powerful neighbors. Prophets brought hope – emphasizing that people should please God by leading a moral life and helping others.

38. The Fall of the Kingdoms • Assyrians and Chaldeans were building empires in SE Asia • Israel • 722 B.C. – were conquered by the Assyrians scattering the 10 tribes across their empire. • New culture developed called Samaritans. • “lost tribes of Israel”

39. Lost Tribes of Israel • Israel was conquered by Assyrians in 722 BC and the scattered people were known as the ‘Lost Tribes of Israel’

40. The Fall of the Kingdoms • Judah • Judaism developed from the religious practices of the tribes of Judah. • 620 B.C. – conquered by Egyptians keeping their king but paying tribute to Egypt • Chaldeans conquered Egypt.

41. King Nebuchadnezzar • Chaldean king • 597 B.C. – captured Jerusalem punishing the Jews severely • Made 10,000 Jews leave Jerusalem and move to Babylon, Chaldean capital. • Appointed a new Jewish king • Prophet Jeremiah warned the new Jewish king that planning a revolt would be dangerous. • 586 B.C. – destroyed temple; Babylonian captivity

42. Review • Why did the Assyrians and the Chaldeans want to control the land belonging to the Israelites? • Why was David anointed king while Saul was still in charge of the Israelites? • Who were the prophets, and why were they important to the Israelites? • What happened to the Israelites after the death of Solomon? • Who were the Samaritans? • Why do you think the Assyrians, and later the Chaldeans, moved Jews away from Israel and Judah after those areas were conquered?

45. The Growth of Judaism Jews continued their religion during their exile in Babylon.

46. Exile and Return • Babylonian exile • Their religion became known as Judaism. • Sabbath • Synagogues Ruins of the Ancient Synagogue at Bar'am

47. The Torah Ark of the Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue The Karaite Synagogue in the Old City (Jerusalem) Belz Great Synagogue in Jerusalem (largest)

48. Why did the Jews Return to Judah? • 500s B.C. – Persians defeated Chaldeans and Babylon • 538 B.C. – Persian king Cyrus permitted Jews to return to Judah. • Rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple • Religious leaders • Scribes • Torah • Hebrew Bible

49. What is in the Hebrew Bible? • Series of 34 books collected • The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings –added later • Books of poetry, literature, and proverbs • Genesis

50. Genesis • 1st book of Torah • Noah, ark, Flood • Rainbow • Babel