Who are the Hebrews?

1. Who are the Hebrews?

2. What is Judaism? • The religion of the Hebrews • The Jewish/Hebrew Bible is part of the Christian Bible (The Old Testament)

3. Who is Abraham? • According to the Bible, God told Abraham to leave Mesopotamia and look for a new land. • He left Mesopotamia and went to Canaan (current day Israel). • His descendants were called Hebrews. • There was a famine in Canaan so some Hebrews moved to Egypt.

4. Hebrews in Egypt • The Hebrew population grew in Egypt • This worried the Egyptian pharaoh who was afraid that the Hebrews would try to take over Egypt • To stop this from happening the pharaoh made the Hebrews slaves

5. Who is Moses? • A leader of the Hebrews • In 1200BC God told Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt • Moses went to the pharaoh and demanded that he set the Hebrew slaves free • The Pharaoh refused

6. Soon after the pharaoh refused to set them free…plagues and disasters struck Egypt • This scared the pharaoh so he agreed to free the Hebrews

7. What is the Exodus? • Moses led his people out of Egypt in a journey called the Exodus • The Hebrews thought that their release from slavery proved that God loved them and was looking after them.

8. After their release…. • The Hebrews wandered around the desert trying to return to Canaan. • During their wanderings • they came to a mountain • called Sinai • The Bible says that this • is where God gave • Moses 2 stone tablets- • The 10 Commandments

9. What are the Ten Commandments? • “I am God your Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, from the place of slavery. • Do not have any other Gods before Me • Do not take the name of God, your Lord in vain-God will not allow the one who talked his name in vain to go unpunished.

10. 10 Comandments cont…. • Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy • Honor your father and your mother. You will then live long on the land that God your lord is giving you. • Do not commit murder • Do not commit adultery • Do not steal

11. 10 Commandments cont….. • Do not testify as a false witness against your neighbor. • Do not be envious of your neighbors’ house. • Do not be envious of your neighbors’ wife or anything else that is your neighbors’.

12. The return to Canaan • The Hebrews wandered for 40 years before they reached Canaan. • They conquered Canaan and became known as the Israelites • They lived in small scattered communities • Each community had its own judges as leaders

13. Philistines • In the 1000’s BC the Philistines invaded the Israelites (Hebrews) • The Israelites picked a leader named Saul to lead them in battle • Saul became the first king of Israel

14. King David • David was a servant is Saul’s palace • Saul didn’t like David and made him an outlaw • For many years David lived in the desert • Once Saul died, David became King • The Israelites loved David • David defeated the Philistines

15. King David cont….. • King David captured many lands • He also captured Jerusalem which became Israel’s new capital

16. King Solomon • Was King David’s son • He expanded the Kingdom • He made Egypt and Phoenicia his allies and started trading with them • This made Israel very rich • He built a huge temple dedicated to God in Jerusalem

17. Invaders • After Solomon died, people fought about who should be king • Israel split into 2 kingdoms-Israel and Judah • The people of Judah became known as Jews

18. Scattering of Jews • The Chaldeans captured Jerusalem and made thousands of Jews their slaves • In 530 BC the Persians conquered the Chaldeans and let the Jews free

19. The Maccabees • A family called the Maccabees revolted and once again the Jews ruled their own kingdom • However they were soon conquered by the Romans

20. Hebrew Women • Couldn’t choose husband • Had to obey husband • Couldn’t inherit property

21. Important Hebrew Women • Queen Esther and Judge Deborah saved the Hebrews from their enemies • Ruth left her people to care for her mother-in-law-Naomi (was seen as a role model)