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: Judaism, religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity and IslamChristianity and Islam

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

► 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 history; persecution throughout history; from Babylonian Captivity, from Babylonian Captivity, Exodus, Diaspora, Spanish Exodus, Diaspora, Spanish Inquisition, Holocaust 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 his name given to Abraham and his followers followers

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

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

Tracing Roots of Israel’s HistoryTracing Roots of Israel’s History► 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 the monotheistic tradition of the Hebrew faith with 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 AbrahamStory: Sacrifice of Abraham

Jacob (grandson of Abraham)Jacob (grandson of Abraham)► Abraham’s Abraham’s

grandson Jacobgrandson Jacob took name “took name “IsraelIsrael” ” which means “which 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 to where subjected to Pharaoh rule and Pharaoh rule and slaveryslavery

MosesMoses

►An illustrated story of An illustrated story of MosesMoses

Moses & Exodus: Moses & Exodus: “Let My People Go!”“Let My People 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 13 thth century BCE- Moses led century BCE- Moses led the Israelites out of bondage in the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt during Ramses II reign Egypt during Ramses II reign (called the (called the EXODUS)EXODUS)

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

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

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 of Israelites captured city of JerusalemJerusalem

► 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 to Covenant (sacred box to hold Torah)hold Torah)

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

► Only remaining part of Only remaining part of Solomon’s Temple is the Solomon’s Temple is 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 (north= Israel split into two (north= IsraelIsrael; south= ; south= JudahJudah) )

► Israel was conquered by Israel was conquered by Assyrians in 722 BCE and Assyrians in 722 BCE and the scattered people were the scattered people were known as the ‘Lost Tribes known as the ‘Lost Tribes of Israel’of 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 to 538 BCE and returned to Jerusalem to rebuild Jerusalem to rebuild templetemple

DiasporaDiaspora

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

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

► In 164 BCE, a group of Jews called the In 164 BCE, a group of Jews called the MaccabeesMaccabees revolted against revolted against Greek rule, took control of Jerusalem and re-dedicated the Temple to Greek rule, took control of Jerusalem and re-dedicated the Temple to God (Story of Hanukkah) God (Story of Hanukkah)

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

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

► After 70 CE, despite the dispersion of Jewish people throughout Europe, After 70 CE, despite the dispersion of Jewish people throughout Europe, Jewish culture and religious beliefs have been by far the most influential Jewish culture and religious beliefs have been by far the most influential of all the ancient cultures of the Near East. 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 (Yahweh); Hebrews worshipped God and only God, and in return, God and only God, and in return, they would be God’s Chosen People they would be God’s Chosen People and given Canaan as the Promised and given Canaan as the Promised LandLand

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

► 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