The Ancient Hebrews and The Ancient Hebrews and the Origins of Judaismthe Origins of Judaism

I can explain the origins of Judaism I can explain the origins of Judaism and important figures of the Ancient and important figures of the Ancient

Hebrews.Hebrews.

Jewish PopulationJewish Population

• World- 14 MillionWorld- 14 Million

• U.S- 3 MillionU.S- 3 Million

The TorahThe Torah

•The Torah is The Torah is a written a written explanation explanation of the of the ancient ancient Hebrews’ Hebrews’ beliefs.beliefs.

The TorahThe Torah

•Christians Christians refer to the refer to the Jewish Jewish Bible as Bible as the Old the Old Testament.Testament.

Abraham- Father of Abraham- Father of the Hebrewsthe Hebrews• According to According to

Jewish belief, Jewish belief, God promised God promised Abram he would Abram he would have many have many descendant.descendant.

• God signified God signified this promised by this promised by changing changing Abram’s name to Abram’s name to Abraham.Abraham.

Abraham- Abraham- Father of the Father of the HebrewsHebrews• Abram was born in Abram was born in

Ur Ur (Mesopotamia/Iraq(Mesopotamia/Iraq.).)

• The people of Ur The people of Ur worshiped many worshiped many gods.gods.

• Abram believed Abram believed there was only there was only one true God one true God (monotheism).(monotheism).

Abraham Father Abraham Father of the Hebrewsof the Hebrews• Abram Abram

gathered his gathered his many relatives many relatives and went west and went west into the land into the land of Canaan.of Canaan.

• Canaan Canaan became the became the “Promise “Promise Land.”Land.”

Abraham Father of Abraham Father of the Hebrewsthe Hebrews• The Torah says The Torah says

that one day God that one day God tested Abraham by tested Abraham by telling him to make telling him to make a sacrifice of his a sacrifice of his son Isaac.son Isaac.

• According to the According to the Torah God said, “I Torah God said, “I will make your will make your descendants as descendants as many as the stars many as the stars of heaven.”of heaven.”

Abraham- Father Abraham- Father of the Hebrewsof the Hebrews

• The Hebrew nation The Hebrew nation was made up of 12 was made up of 12 tribes that were tribes that were descended from descended from Abraham’s Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, grandson, Jacob, whom an angel whom an angel from God had from God had named named IsraelIsrael..

Abraham’s ContributionsAbraham’s Contributions

• 1. He was the 1. He was the ancestor of the ancestor of the Jewish people Jewish people ((IsraeIsrael.)l.)

• He introduced He introduced the belief in a the belief in a single God single God ((monotheismmonotheism.).)

Moses- Leader & Moses- Leader & ProphetProphet

•The Torah The Torah calls the calls the flight from flight from Egypt the Egypt the Exodus.Exodus.

•The word The word exodus exodus means means departuredeparture..

Moses- Leader & ProphetMoses- Leader & Prophet

•After leaving After leaving Egypt, the Egypt, the Torah says, the Torah says, the Hebrews Hebrews wandered wandered through a through a wilderness for wilderness for 40 years.40 years.

Moses- Leader & ProphetMoses- Leader & Prophet• Moses received the Moses received the

Ten Ten Commandments on Commandments on Mount Sinai, the Mount Sinai, the “Mountain of God.”“Mountain of God.”

Moses- Leader & Moses- Leader & ProphetProphet

• Ark of the Ark of the Covenant-Covenant- the the chest containing chest containing the Ten the Ten Commandments, Commandments, that the Hebrews that the Hebrews carried w/them carried w/them during their during their wanderings in wanderings in the wilderness.the wilderness.

Moses- ContributionsMoses- Contributions• 1. led the 1. led the ExodusExodus

out of Egypt out of Egypt (Passover.)(Passover.)

• 2. gave Judaism its 2. gave Judaism its fundamental laws, fundamental laws, Ten Ten CommandmentsCommandments..

• 3. 3. united united HebrewsHebrews into into united people united people devoted to one God.devoted to one God.

Kings of IsraelKings of Israel

•King David King David unified unified Israel and Israel and JudahJudah..

Kings of IsraelKings of Israel

•King David King David provide the provide the Jewish people Jewish people with a with a strong strong central central governmentgovernment

Kings of IsraelKings of Israel

•David chose David chose the city of the city of Jerusalem for Jerusalem for his capital.his capital.

•Jerusalem- Jerusalem- Holy CityHoly City

Destruction of JerusalemDestruction of Jerusalem

• In 586 BCE the In 586 BCE the city was city was captured and captured and destroyed by destroyed by the Babylonians the Babylonians & King & King NebuchadnezzaNebuchadnezza. The Jewish . The Jewish people were people were taken into exile.taken into exile.