Ancient IsraelAncient Israel

Historical OverviewHistorical Overview► Ancient Israel is the birthplace Ancient Israel is the birthplace

of the 3 great of the 3 great monotheisticmonotheistic religions of the world: religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity and Judaism, Christianity and IslamIslam

► Ancient Israel dates back Ancient Israel dates back approximately 4000 years to approximately 4000 years to the books of the the books of the Old Old TestamentTestament

► Great Great patriarchs patriarchs of Judaism: of Judaism: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, JoshuaJoshua

► Hebrews, Israelites, Jews, Hebrews, Israelites, Jews, SemitesSemites: have all undergone : have all undergone persecution throughout persecution throughout history; from Babylonian history; from Babylonian Captivity, Exodus, Diaspora, Captivity, Exodus, Diaspora, Spanish Inquisition, Holocaust Spanish Inquisition, Holocaust

What is in a name?What is in a name?►Hebrew Hebrew means “From across”- means “From across”-

name given to Abraham and name given to Abraham and his followers his followers

► IsraelitesIsraelites: Abraham’s : Abraham’s grandson Jacob renamed grandson Jacob renamed Israel which means “he who Israel which means “he who has wrestled with God”. His has wrestled with God”. His descendants were called descendants were called “Israelites”“Israelites”

► JewsJews: named after Jacob’s son : named after Jacob’s son Judah, ancient father of tribe Judah, ancient father of tribe of King David’s dynastyof King David’s dynasty

Tracing Roots of Israel’s Tracing Roots of Israel’s HistoryHistory► Nomadic tribes wandered Nomadic tribes wandered

into Palestine from east in into Palestine from east in approximately 1900 BCEapproximately 1900 BCE

► Mesopotamian society Mesopotamian society dominated by polytheismdominated by polytheism

► God (God (YahwehYahweh) appeared ) appeared before Patriarch Abraham before Patriarch Abraham and told Abraham “and told Abraham “to go to go and raise a great nationand raise a great nation””

► This began the This began the monotheistic tradition of monotheistic tradition of the Hebrew faith with the the Hebrew faith with the establishment of the establishment of the ““CovenantCovenant”, “”, “Chosen Chosen PeoplePeople” and “” and “Promised Promised LandLand””

► Abraham settled in Abraham settled in CanaanCanaan

► Story: Sacrifice of Story: Sacrifice of AbrahamAbraham

Jacob (grandson of Jacob (grandson of Abraham)Abraham)

► Abraham’s Abraham’s grandson Jacobgrandson Jacob took name took name ““IsraelIsrael” which ” which means “means “God God ruledruled” and ” and organized organized Israelites into Israelites into 12 12 tribestribes

► Some tribes Some tribes settled in settled in EgyptEgypt (due to drought (due to drought and famine) and and famine) and where subjected where subjected to Pharaoh rule to Pharaoh rule and slaveryand slavery

MosesMoses

►An illustrated story of An illustrated story of MosesMoses

Moses & Exodus: Moses & Exodus: “Let My People “Let My People

Go!”Go!”► Moses received Moses received revelationsrevelations from from

God: burning bush, rod / staff, 10 God: burning bush, rod / staff, 10 plagues, parting of the Red Seaplagues, parting of the Red Sea

► End of 13End of 13thth century BCE- Moses century BCE- Moses led the Israelites out of bondage led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt during Rames II reign in Egypt during Rames II reign called the called the EXODUSEXODUS

► Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel Moses led the 12 Tribes of Israel to Mount Sinai where Yahweh to Mount Sinai where Yahweh gave him the gave him the 10 Commandments10 Commandments, , uniting the Hebrews under one uniting the Hebrews under one God God

► Moses and Hebrews searched for Moses and Hebrews searched for the “the “Promised LandPromised Land” or the land ” or the land of milk and honey, however they of milk and honey, however they wandered in the desertwandered in the desert for 40 for 40 yearsyears

Kings of IsraelKings of Israel► 1230 BCE, Israelites 1230 BCE, Israelites

guided by guided by JoshuaJoshua, , invaded Canaan invaded Canaan (Promised Land)(Promised Land)

► 1020 BCE: first king of 1020 BCE: first king of Israelites was Israelites was SaulSaul, , then then DavidDavid, then , then SolomonSolomon

► Under King David the Under King David the Israelites captured city Israelites captured city of Jerusalemof Jerusalem

► King Solomon built the King Solomon built the Temple of JerusalemTemple of Jerusalem, to , to house the Arc of the house the Arc of the Covenant (sacred box Covenant (sacred box to hold Torah)to hold Torah)

► Solomon’s Temple was Solomon’s Temple was destroyeddestroyed during during Babylonian invasion, Babylonian invasion, rebuilt in 6rebuilt in 6thth century century BCE, and BCE, and destroyed destroyed againagain in 70 CE by the in 70 CE by the Romans Romans

► Only remaining part of Only remaining part of Solomon’s Temple is Solomon’s Temple is the the Western WallWestern Wall

Lost Tribes of IsraelLost Tribes of Israel► After the death of After the death of

Solomon, Kingdom of Solomon, Kingdom of Israel split into two Israel split into two (north= (north= IsraelIsrael; south= ; south= JudahJudah) )

► Israel was conquered by Israel was conquered by Assyrians in 722 BCE Assyrians in 722 BCE and the scattered and the scattered people were known as people were known as the ‘Lost Tribes of the ‘Lost Tribes of Israel’Israel’

► Judah was eventually Judah was eventually destroyed by Babylon in destroyed by Babylon in 586 BCE and inhabitants 586 BCE and inhabitants were held in captivity were held in captivity (called the (called the ExileExile or or Babylonian CaptivityBabylonian Captivity))

► Emergence of Emergence of synagogues and rabbis synagogues and rabbis during Exileduring Exile

► Released by Persians in Released by Persians in 538 BCE and returned 538 BCE and returned to Jerusalem to rebuild to Jerusalem to rebuild templetemple

DiasporaDiaspora

► DiasporaDiaspora is a Greek word meaning “sowing of seed” or “dispersal” is a Greek word meaning “sowing of seed” or “dispersal” which refers to Jewish population living outside of Israelwhich refers to Jewish population living outside of Israel

► In 332 BCE, Jewish people in fell under In 332 BCE, Jewish people in fell under HellenizationHellenization (Greek culture) as (Greek culture) as Alexander the Great conquered Persia, Egypt and IndiaAlexander the Great conquered Persia, Egypt and India

► 164 BCE, group of Jews called the 164 BCE, group of Jews called the MaccabeesMaccabees revolted against Greek revolted against Greek rule, took control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple to God rule, took control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple to God (Hanukkah) (Hanukkah)

► 64 BCE, Jerusalem fell to 64 BCE, Jerusalem fell to RomansRomans and the Kingdom of Judah became and the Kingdom of Judah became one of the provinces of the Roman Empire (one of the provinces of the Roman Empire (Judea). Judea). The people living The people living there were called there were called Judeans,Judeans, and it is from this word that we get the and it is from this word that we get the word word JewJew

► In 66 CE the people of Judea In 66 CE the people of Judea revoltedrevolted against Rome. This uprising was against Rome. This uprising was crushed and the temple was destroyed for a second time in 70 CEcrushed and the temple was destroyed for a second time in 70 CE

► Despite the dispersion of Jewish people throughout Europe after 70 Despite the dispersion of Jewish people throughout Europe after 70 CE, their culture and religious beliefs have been by far the most CE, their culture and religious beliefs have been by far the most influential of all the ancient cultures of the Near Eastinfluential of all the ancient cultures of the Near East

Impact of Ancient IsraelImpact of Ancient Israel

► Covenant Covenant = formal agreement = formal agreement between Hebrews and God between Hebrews and God (Yahweh); Hebrews worshipped God (Yahweh); Hebrews worshipped God and only God, and in return, they and only God, and in return, they would be God’s Chosen People and would be God’s Chosen People and given Canaan as the Promised Landgiven Canaan as the Promised Land

► Spiritual ideasSpiritual ideas profoundly profoundly influenced Western culture, influenced Western culture, morality, ethics and conductmorality, ethics and conduct

► Three of the world’s most dominant Three of the world’s most dominant religionsreligions: Judaism, Christianity and : Judaism, Christianity and Islam all derive their roots from the Islam all derive their roots from the spiritual beliefs of the Ancient spiritual beliefs of the Ancient IsraelitesIsraelites

LinksLinks

► Judaism Religion and EthicsJudaism Religion and Ethics►Ancient History Sourcebook- IsraelAncient History Sourcebook- Israel►Ancient IsraelAncient Israel