Ancient Israel – Pt 1

• As the various Mesopotamian groups came and went, one Fertile Crescent group successfully emerged from ancient history to stay – they are known as the Israelites from Ancient Israel • There are many names used to describe the people of Ancient Israel • Israelites is the most commonly used name but “ Hebrews ” or “

Jews

” or “

Jewish people

” are also used in the historical narratives • The Israelite religion is known as Judaism, and people that believe in Judaism are called Jews - Hebrew is also used as the name of the language of the Israelites and of Judaism • The word “

Israelite

” means “ he who has wrestled w/God ” • Many people in Western civilization are familiar w/the Israelites primarily due to the wide recognition of the Hebrew Bible • (Tanakh in Hebrew), which tells the narrative of their story

A Breakdown of the Hebrew Bible

• In the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible, the God of the Israelites (known in Hebrew by many names, Hashem is probably the most common) appeared before a man named Abraham of Ur • This incident occurred approximately between 1950 BCE and 1300 BCE • According to the Torah, God said to Abraham: “

Leave your own country… and go to a country that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation.

” • The Biblical account relates that Abraham did as he was asked - after much travel, Abraham reached an area of land called Canaan and God appeared again, saying: “

I give this land to your descendants.

”

• Abraham and his people entered into a formal agreement or covenant (brit in Hebrew) w/their God • The Israelites agreed to worship their God and only their God, and in return, they would be their God ’ s Chosen People and be given the land of Canaan as their Promised Land • This began the monotheistic tradition of Judaism • To symbolize this covenant, God told Abraham that all Jewish males must perform a ritual called a

brit milah

Ancient Israel – Pt 2

• The Hebrew Bible continues w/the story of Abraham & his family • A major famine & drought in Canaan caused the Israelites to leave and migrate south to Egypt - many historians believe that a sizable Hebrew population lived in the Nile Delta from about 1500-1250 BC • Some historians also believe that the Israelites moved into Egypt specifically at the time when the Hyksos had taken over Egypt • The Israelites lived peacefully in Egypt until they were eventually enslaved (no specific reason is given as to why) by the Pharaohs who used them as laborers on numerous building projects (not the Pyramids!) • When Pharaoh decreed that all male Hebrew babies were to be drowned, a baby named Moses is floated down the Nile in a basket • Hearing a crying child, Pharaoh's daughter pities the baby and adopts him • He is raised as an Egyptian but as a young man, Moses discovers the truth & flees • God, appearing as a burning bush not consumed by flame, commands Moses to go to Egypt and demand of Pharaoh:

"Let my people go."

• Pharaoh resists Moses' petition – through God, Moses unleashes 10 plagues upon Egypt (see packet) • When the last plague strikes, Moses instructs the Jews to cover their door posts w/the blood of a lamb as a sign for God to protect/pass over the Jewish homes – this is why the holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egypt is called Passover • Pharaoh then releases the Israelites and they head east toward the sea • Moses, using God ’ s power, parts the sea for the people to cross – when Pharaoh’s army follows, Moses closes the sea, drowning the Egyptians • Moses then begins the journey back to the Promised Land – the Jews wander in the Sinai Desert for 40 years • During the journey back, Moses climbs up Mt. Sinai and returns w/the 5 books of the Torah as well as the Ten Commandments, which contain the basic laws of Judaism

Ancient Israel – Pt. 3

• After the Exodus, the Israelites re-entered the Canaan, changed its name to Israel`, and organized themselves into 12 tribes • The tribes became involved in conflict w/the Philistines, a group south of Israel - to deal w/the Philistines, the Israelites appointed a king, Saul , who was a disaster • He was replaced by David, who went on to become the most successful Israelite King • In 1000 BCE, King David united the tribes, defeated Israel ’s enemies & established Jerusalem as the Israelite capital • David ’ s son Solomon (971-931 BCE) did even more to strengthen Israel - Solomon is best known for his construction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem

• The Israelites viewed the Temple as the symbolic home of Judaism – the innermost room of the Temple, a sanctuary known as the “Holy of Holies," housed the Ark of the Covenant , a chest which contained the original Ten Commandments & original 5 books of the Torah

• Solomon's building required him to tax the Israelites heavily • Upon his death (approx. 926 BCE) the 10 northern tribes revolted and established their own nation called the Kingdom of Israel (they took the name too!) • The two southern tribes then established their own nation called it the Kingdom of Judah • Because of the split, the Israelites as a whole became much weaker and more vulnerable to outside attacks…hint, hint!!!!

• The power of the northern kingdom of Israel declined, and by around 800 BCE, it was forced to pay tribute to the powerful Assyrian Empire • Eventually, $$$ would not suffice - the Assyrians overran the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE (

see primary source reading

)

• The southern kingdom of Judah was also forced to pay tribute to Assyria but managed to survive as an independent state • However, Judah remained a target - the Chaldeans, who had conquered the Assyrians, turned their attention to Judah • Under King Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldeans conquered Judah and completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Holy Temple_in 586 BCE • Most Jews were sent into exile in Chaldea to live • Upon the destruction of the Chaldeans by the Persians and Cyrus the Great in 538 BCE, the Jews were allowed to return _home_to make a 2 nd Holy Temple (

see primary source reading

)

• Judah remained independent until it and the entire FC was conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE - the Greeks gave Judah a new name - Judea • Judea lived under Greek rule for 200 yrs until it was conquered & made part of the Roman Empire in 64 BCE • In 66 CE, Judea revolted – in 70 CE, the Romans crushed the rebellion and destroyed the 2 nd Holy Temple – it was never to be rebuilt again • The only part left of the Temple is its Western Wall, which is the holiest place in Judaism today • The Romans dispersed as many Jews as they could away from Judea - this large dispersal of Jews living outside of Israel was/still is called the Diaspora • In 1948 CE, (1,878 years later) the modern-day nation of Israel was created as homeland for Jews from around the World