The Hebrews

1. The Hebrews Chapter 3, Section 2 Ark of the Covenant

2. The Hebrews • Many people accept the Bible as a collection of sacred writings. How might it also be an historical document?

3. The Hebrews • Give examples of documents that historians might use to piece together the story of a person or civilization

4. The Hebrews Monotheism • Unlike other groups living in the Canaan, believed in one all-powerful God. • Yahweh, Elohim" (God), El Shaddai" (God Almighty • This teaching exists today as Judaism. • Judaism has influenced two other monotheistic religions, Christianity and Islam.

5. The Hebrews The Land of Canaan • Abraham • lived in the city of Ur • around 1900 B.C. he left and settled in the Canaan. • Hebrews believed that God made a covenant with Abraham at this time. • “I will make of you a great nation” was God’s promise to bless Abraham and his descendants if they would remain faithful to God.

6. The Patriarchs(father ruler) Abraham Abram tried to convince his father, Tera, of the folly of idol worship. One day, when Abram was left alone to mind the store, he took a hammer and smashed all of the idols except the largest one. He placed the hammer in the hand of the largest idol. When his father returned and asked what happened, Abram said, "The idols got into a fight, and the big one smashed all the other ones." His father said, "Don't be ridiculous. These idols have no life or power. They can't do anything." Abram replied, "Then why do you worship them?" Abraham and his descendants are selected by Yahweh to be his chosen people over all other peoples. Abraham, who is a Semite living in Haran, a city in northern Mesopotamia, and whose father, Terah, comes from the city Ur in southern Mesopotamia, is visited suddenly by Yahweh and told to move his family.

7. Abraham’s journey

9. Isaac • Isaac was the subject of the most difficult test of Abraham's faith: G-d commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. (Gen 22). This test is known in Jewish tradition as the Akeidah (the Binding, a reference to the fact that Isaac was bound on the altar).

10. Jacob • Jacob and Esau • Rachel and Leah • Jacob (Israel) “wrestled with God” • 12 sons and grandsons become the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel

11. Joseph • Interpreter of dreams • Coat of many colors • Sold into slavery • Prime Minister of Egypt

12. The Hebrews: Review Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph

13. The Hebrews The Exodus from Egypt • Severe drought struck the Canaan and the Israelites migrated to Egypt perhaps during the time in which the Hyksos ruled. • They lived peacefully in Egypt until the pharaohs enslaved them.

14. The Hebrews In Egypt • At some point during the Hebrew stay in Egypt, they become enslaved by the Egyptians. • This is most likely during the expulsion of the Hyksos at the end of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom.

15. The Hebrews The Exodus • Hebrew people released after a series of ten plagues, the last of which took the life of every firstborn son. • Families which prepared for the Passover of the angel of death were spared.

16. The Hebrews Moses • The story of Moses is told in the book of Exodus. • The Exodus • The Law

17. The Hebrews The Exodus • During the exodus from Egypt, the Hebrew people are taught by Moses (upon instruction from God) how they are to live. • Ten Commandments • Became major part of Western moral and ethical traditions.

18. The Hebrews The Torah • Genesis (the beginning) • Exodus (the exit) • Leviticus (instructions for Levites/priests) • Numbers (first census) • Deuteronomy (teaching of Moses)

19. The Hebrews The Promised Land • Moses died before reaching the Canaan, but chose Joshua to lead the 12 tribes into Promised land. • Joshua leads a fighting force to reclaim land • After wars, Israelite soldiers become farmers, herders • Divide land among 12 tribes.

20. Twelve Tribes www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org

21. Settling the Promised Land Joshua

22. The Period of the Judges

23. Judges • No single Israelite leader during 200 years of war. • Respected male and female judges used as advisors. • Gideon, Samson, Deborah, Samuel • First judges were military, later were more legal advisors • Strong judges kept tribes united • Weak judges led to some tribes turning to other gods.

24. The Judges • 1. Othniel (3:7-11) a. brother of Calebb. defeated the Arameans; the spirit of the Lord was on him • 2. Ehud (3:12-30) a. left-handedb. killed Eglon, king of Moab, by trickery • 3. Shamgar (3:31, 5:6) a. fought against the Philistines • 4. Deborah (4-5) a. woman tribal leader, both military and legalb. campaigned against Sisera, Canaanite general under Jabin, the King of Hazorc. Barak was military leader under Deborahd. Jael, a Kenite woman, killed Sisera as he fled

25. Judges 5. Gideon (6-8) a. came from a family of Baal worshippersb. afraid to trust God, portrayed as an arrogant cowardc. God gave him a plan to defeat the Midianitesd. ended up worshipping Baal 6. Abimelech (9) a. not a judge, attempted to make himself king but failed 7. Minor Judges: Tola and Jair (10:1-5) 8. Jephthah (10:6-12:7) a. illegitimate child and an outcastb. fought against the Ammonitesc. made a rash vow that led to the sacrifice of his only child (see Jepthah's Rash Vow)

26. Judges 9. Minor Judges: Ibzan, Elon, Abdon (12:8-15) 10. Samson (13-16) a. born to a barren woman by promiseb. was a Nazarite, but broke his vowsc. was a womanizer and a drunkd. God helped him bring relief from the Philistinese. his fatal attraction to Delilah

27. The Hebrews

28. The Hebrews Hebrew Monarchy: Samuel, Saul and David • Samuel, last of the judges, anoints Saul as first king • Saul, first King of Israel • Location of palace at Gibeah • Brings Israel into conflict with sea-peoples (Philistines) • Killed in battle against Philistines with his son

29. The Hebrews David • Second King of Israel • Anointed by Samuel • Shepherd boy/musician • David vs. Goliath • Friendship with Saul’s son • Moves to the capital to Jerusalem (city of David) • Relationship with Bathsheba • Makes plans for Temple • Chooses Solomon successor

30. The Hebrews Solomon • Renowned for his wisdom • Thousand wives and concubines and the visit of the queen of Sheba • Built elaborate temple as permanent home for Ark of the Covenant

32. The Hebrews

33. Israel and Judah • 922 Solomon dies, son faces rebellion • Northern tribes demanded less taxes and an end to forced labour. • Kingdom split into northern Israel, southern Judah (with Jerusalem)

34. Division of Israel and Judah Five years after the death of Solomon, Jerusalem was ransacked by the Egyptians, the kingdom split into two; north and south.

35. Division of Israel and Judah • Northern capital moved to Samaria • northern ten tribes • King Ahab, with his queen Jezebel, moves to incorporate foreign gods into Israel • 722 B.C. Israel falls to Assyria; Israelites deported (lost tribes of Israel)

36. The Assyrians, who conquer northern Israel, introduce a new way of dealing with vanquished nations. Exile. The Assyrians bring in a group of people from someplace else, who -- because they are now living in Shomron or Samaria -- come to be known as Samaritans. The Samaritans are people who more or less adopt Judaism, but not completely. Because of this, they are never really accepted by the Jewish people, and they're very resentful.

37. Division of Israel and Judah • Southern capital remained in Jerusalem • two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin • Judah pays tribute to Assyria upon fall of Israel

38. Hezekiah 14th king after King David, and he rules from 590 to 561 BC. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, like all that his father David had done. And he trusted in the God of Israel. There was none like him among all the kings of Judah who were after him, nor were there before him. (2 Kings 18:3-5)

39. Hezekiah Rebuilds fortifications of Jerusalem Assyrians under Sennacharib, lay seige but do not conquer. “... Hezekiah himself I shut up in Jerusalem, his capital city, like a bird in a cage, building towers round the city to hem him in...” a plague hits their camp and 185,000 Assyrian soldiers die overnight. Sennacherib returns to Ninevah.

40. Conquest • 722 BC Assyria conquers and ends Kingdom of Israel • Assyrian Empire conquered by Babylonians 612 BC • Babylonia’s King Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem in 586 BC • Destroy the temple • Take thousands of slaves to Babylon

41. The Hebrews Jewish survivors and those who have returned to the homeland, led by various prophets (Haggai, Zecharia, and Nehemia) struggle to rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem. Jewish leaders speak of a deliverer or messiah who will lead and restore Israel.

42. The Hebrews Hebrew Timeline 2100 - 1900 BC Abraham and descendants live nomadic life in Canaan 1900 - 1500 BC Hebrews live in Egypt 1400 BC Hebrews leave Egypt and, under Joshua, invade Canaan 1040 BC First Kings; Saul, David and Solomon

43. The Hebrews Hebrew History Timeline Cont. 930 BC Kingdom divides into North (Israel) and South (Judah) 722 BC Israel conquered by Assyria, people taken into captivity 586 BC Babylonian army destroys Jerusalem 539 BC Babylonian empire falls to Persians and Cyrus allows Jews to return home

44. 586 B.C. Jerusalem falls to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon people of Judah (Jews), deported to Babylon Babylonians set up puppet king, Zedekiah, to rule. Jews revolt and the Temple is destroyed by the Babylonians.

45. Babylonian Exile By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, we also wept, when we remembered Zion. We hung our lyres on the willows in its midst. For there those who carried us away captive required of us a song; and those who tormented us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. (Psalms 137:1-6)

46. Babylon Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazar • Daniel in the lion’s den. • Daniel survives, prompting Nebuchadnezzar to issue a decree forbidding anyone to blaspheme the God of Israel. • Writing on the wall. • The last king of Babylon, Belshazzar thinks he has outdone the God of Israel when the seventy years are over.

47. "And this whole land [of Israel] shall be a ruin, and a waste, and these nations [the tribes of Israel] shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when the seventy years are fulfilled, that I will punish the king of Babylon ..." (Jeremiah 25:11-12)

48. Daniel has no trouble reading the writing on the wall. It says: They counted the years wrong. • "God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end ... your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." (Daniel 5:25-28) • That very night invading hoards of Persians and Medes attack. The king and all his party are killed. Only Nebuchadnezzar's grand-daughter, Vashti, survives.

49. In 370 BC Cyrus issues a decree allowing all the indigenous peoples that had been exiled by the now-defunct Babylonian empire to go back to their homeland Of the million Jews living in Persia, only a handful (42,000) return The armies of Medes under Darius and the armies of Persia under Cyrus march into Babylon and conquer it. The Babylonian Empire ceases to exist and it is now absorbed by the new Persian Empire.

50. Queen Vashti Granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar, wife of Achashverosh (Xerxes I) After some drunken revelry featuring (yet again) the Temple vessels, the king orders his wife to appear wearing nothing besides the royal crown. She refuses to come and he has her executed. Queenless, scouts are sent throughout the land to find the most beautiful woman.