THE HEBREWS & JUDAISM

Global History I - Adamiak

The Hebrews

Nomadic group that lived in Mesopotamia

Abraham migrated from the city of Ur to a region known as Palestine

The Hebrews

According to tradition, the Hebrews migrated to Egypt after a drought in Palestine

In Egypt the Hebrews were enslaved until Moses led them out of bondage

The Hebrews

After years of wandering in the desert, the Hebrews return to Palestine

Establish the Kingdom of Israel

King Saul: First king of the united Kingdom of

Israel

Beliefs

Monotheism belief one God There is only one God (Yahweh) He is not only the God of the Jews, but the

God of all peoples He created the entire world Omniscient and Omnipotent

All knowing and all powerful

Beliefs

A chosen people Jews believe they are a favored people Covenant an agreement or contract with

God If the Hebrew people obeyed God, he promised

to take special care of them “A peculiar treasure unto me above all people”

Beliefs

Sacred Scripture The Torah

First 5 books of the Bible (Old Testament) Establishes law and morality

The Ten Commandments code of behavior, moral guidelines

Explains why the world is the way it is Adam & Eve, Tower of Babel, Noah’s Ark

The Torah

Beliefs

The Prophets Messengers from God

Preached God’s word on ethics, standards of behavior, morality

Warned the Hebrews that if they failed to keep God’s commandments, they would be punished

Called for social justice & condemned rich for oppressing the poor

The Diaspora The Land of Israel –

The Romans expelled the Jews from their land in 135 C.E.

For the next 2000 years, Jews were guests in other people’s lands

Diaspora a scattering of people

In 1948, the U.N. established Israel as a Jewish homeland

Final Facts

All people could know & communicate with God, NOT only priests

Hebrews always refused to accept the gods of their conquerors

Influenced the development of Christianity & Islam