THE ANCIENT HEBREWSLesson 1:

The beginnings of the Hebrew People

2000 BC

Abraham moves family to Canaan

1000 BC

1500 BC

MosesReceives 10 Commandments

Hammurabi rules

Babylonian Empire

New Kingdom Begin in Egypt Amenhotep

becomes Pharaoh

Assyrian Empire is largest in

world

Abraham Ancient Hebrews – ancestors of Jewish people

Hebrews founded Judaism1st monotheistic religion

Torah = oldest religious writing of Jewish people

part of Hebrew bible

Old Testament of Christian bible contains same text

Old Testament source of info about Hebrews

Abraham Story of Hebrews begins with Abraham

A. born Mesopotamia about 2000 BC

God told Abraham to leave Meso. and settle in Canaan

A. and family reached Canaan

A. and God had covenant = agreement

Canaan belongs to A. and descendants, and A. would worship only God

Abraham Abraham means “father of many” in Hebrew

Through A.’s son Issac, A. became known as father of Jewish people

Sacrifice of Issac by Caravaggio

The Israelites

Issac had son named Jacob (known as Israel).

Jacob had 12 sons

Jacob loved Joseph more than other sonsgave multicolored robe

Joseph had dream that all brothers bowed down to him.

Brothers mad, so sold J. to traders on way to Egypt

let father think J. dead

The Israelites

J. lived in Egypt – continued to worship God

Pharoah made J. advisor (J. became powerful)

Famine struck Canaan so brothers went to Egypt for food

reunited with J.

Entire family moved to Egypt

Each brother headed a tribe of Israel

Pharaoh began to fear they might gain power, so he enslaved Israelites.

Moses and Exodus

Moses born in Egypt 1300BC

Pharaoh worried about power of Israelites, so ordered all Israelite baby boys drowned in Nile

Moses mother set him afloat in basket

Pharaoh’s daughter rescued him and raised him as Egyptian

Moses learned he was Israelite

Moses and Exodus

Bible says God told Moses to free Israelites

Pharaoh said no, so God sent 10 plagues = disasters

Still, P. wouldn’t let them go

Last plague (kill all firstborn sons), worked because P.’s son was killed

Israelites left (Exodus) about 1225 BC

Wandered 40 years along Red Sea facing water and food shortages

Moses and Exodus

God spoke to I. at Mt. Sinai and presented Moses with 10 Commandments

10 Commandments different than earlier laws because no punishments listed – just rules for responsible behavior and worshipping God

How did faith shape the development of the Hebrews?

Stop and Think