A brief history of Judaism

A brief history of Judaism Hebrews. Israelites. Jews. ALL are from within JUDAISM as a culture, a people group and as a religion.

Beginnings… • The story of Israel as a nation unfolds beginning with the founding of the people by Abraham.

The journey to Egypt… • Long after the time of Abraham, an agricultural crisis let the Israelites to move to Egypt. • The JOSEPH story ~ Genesis 37, 39-50. (a long story highlighting its importance).

Slaves… in Egypt! • The Hebrews grew in number and were forced into slavery by the Egyptians many years later. • They were slaves for about 400 years – being used to build structures for the Egyptians.

Moses… • Moses was born as a slave and hidden in a basket on the river Nile. • Moses was then found by an Egyptian Princess who raised him in the royal palace. • Moses grew up thinking he was an Egyptian until he realised who his family were. • Moses killed an Egyptian for mistreating a Jewish slave.

Moses contd. • Moses ran away and became a shepherd. • One day he came across a ‘Burning Bush’ where he heard the voice of G-d. • G-d told him to go back to Egypt to free the Hebrew/Jewish slaves. • G-d told him that He would help him.

Moses back in Egypt… • Moses returned to ask Pharaoh to let G-d’s people go free. • Pharaoh refused and G-d sent 10 plagues in total to make Pharaoh change his mind. • Blood • Frogs • Vermin • Beasts • Cattle Disease • Boils • Hail • Locusts • Darkness • Slaying of First Born

FREEDOM! • After the last plague – the death of the first born, Pharaoh decided to let the Jews go. • But then Pharaoh changed his mind and chased after them. • At the YAM SUPH (Red Sea) Moses held his staff over the water and the sea parted allowing the Jews to cross. • When the Egyptians tried to cross the water came down over them and they were drowned.

Desert wanderings… • After G-d gave Moses the Torah including the 10 commandments the Jews did not follow G-d’s ways. • They were on their way to the Promised Land – Canaan, but G-d punished them for by making them wander around the desert for 40 years.

Into the Promised Land… • Over the next several centuries Israel became a moderately powerful nation under Saul, David, and Solomon. • After Solomon’s death the Kingdom was divided in two parts. • The northern segment of Israel was overrun by the Assyrian Empire late in the 8th century BC. • The southern part known as the nation of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians early in the 6th century.

Judah… • After the Babylonians conquered Judah they made most of the people move to Babylon (Iran/Iraq). • Eventually the Jews returned to their homeland. • Next they were conquered by the Greeks. • Then they were conquered by the Romans…

Expelled! Then return! • The Romans occupied Israel until 70 CE when they finally expelled the Jews. • The Jews travelled all over the world not having a country of their own for the next 2000 years until just after the second world war when the nation of Israel was reformed in Palestine. (1948).

A brief history of Judaism