Origins of Judaism

1. Origins of Judaism Those Canaan Days

2. Canaan • Same Region as the Phoenicians • Also shared it with the Philistines, and Israelites • Crossroads • Connects Africa, Asia, and Europe • Known to the Israelites as the Promised Land.

3. History of Israelites • Most of the info comes from the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible • Called the Torah • Considered the most sacred writings in the Jewish Tradition • Christianity also views these as sacred and part of the Old Testament

4. Abraham • According to the Torah, God Chose Abraham to be the “Father” of the People. • Shepard who lived in Ur. • Commanded to move to Cannon around 1800 BC • The God of Abraham watched over them as they moved from Canaan to Egypt, and back to Canaan • Monotheistic. • Israelite god was over all people everywhere • Watched over Abraham because of the Covenant made between them • Promise between god and Abraham to obey and protect

5. Moses • Israelites migrated to Egypt during Famine • Originally well respected but fell into slavery • Between 1300 bc and 1200 bc the Israelites fled, “The Exodus” • Led out by Moses • Israelite raised by a princess, but who was called to lead the people out • “Let my people Go”

6. The Ten Commandments • While the Israelites were traveling across Sinai, Moses climbed to the top of Mt Sinai to pray. • Bible says the talked with God • Came down from mount with two stone tablets on which God wrote the Ten Commandments • Became the Basis for the civil and religious laws of the Israelites and the Jewish people. • Creates a new covenant, god will protect them if they keep the commandments.

7. Moral Law • 1. I the Lord am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage. • 2. You shall have no other gods beside Me. You shall not make for yourself a sculpted Image • 3. You shall not swear falsely by the name of the lord your God. • 4. Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy • 5.Honor your father and your mother • 6. You shall not Murder • 7. You shall not commit adultery • 8. You shall not steal • 9. you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor • 10. you shall not covet… anything that is your neighbors.

8. Israelites moved into Canaan • After the death of Moses the Israelites moved back to Canaan • Became a city dwelling society • Loosely organized into twelve tribes • Lived in separate societies and were self-governing • Occasionally uniting • In time, God chose a series of Judges • One was a prominent woman named Deborah

9. Deborah • Unusual for the time to have a woman as a prominent leader. • Typically women could not officiate at religious ceremonies. • Duty of a women was to raise her children and provide moral guidance and leadership for them

10. The Prophets • The religious leaders who interpreted the ten commandments. • Generally tended to emphasize greater equality before the law than did other codes of the time • Urged the people to stay true to the covenant • Duty to worship God • Live an ethical life • Love kindness and walking humbly before god • Ethical Monotheism • Please God by Studying the Scriptures • Writings of the Prophets are considered sacred text

11. The Kingdom of Israel • The people settled in Canaan • Dry desert region near the hot valley of the Jordan river • Expanded north and South of Canaan • Because of the threat of the Philistines the Israelites united under 3 main Kings • Saul, David, and Solomon • New kingdom became officially known as Israel • Ruled with power and independence for around 100 years

12. Saul and David • Chosen as king because he was successful at driving out the Philistines • The Bible describes Saul as a tragic man, who was full of jealousy • Succeeded by his son in law, David. • Popular leader who united the tribes and established Jerusalem as the capital city • Started a dynasty

13. King Solomon • David’s son succeeded him in 962 BC • Son of Bathsheba • Most powerful of the Israelite kings • Built a trading empire with the Phoenicians in Tyre. • Built huge building projects • King Solomon's Temple • Permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant • Contained the tablets of Moses’ Law • Extravigant temple, and very costly

14. Division • Solomon's projects required a lot of money and led to high taxes. • Men were also required to work 1 out of 3 months on the temple • Caused dissent and after Solomon died the Jews in the northern part of the kingdom revolted • Israel became the north, and Judah became the south • Israelites came to be called Jews and the religion became Judaism

15. Assyrian Captivity • The next years were years of back and forth conflict • Then in 738 BC both Israel and Judah began paying tribute to Assyria • Peace money • Israel revolted and withheld the tribute and the Assyrians began a siege of the capitol city of Samaria • Capturing it in 722 BC

16. Babylonian Captivity • Judah resisted capture for 150 years before it was ultimately captured by the Assyrians • Assyrians lost power to the Babylonians • Led by king Nebuchadnezzar • Ran the Egyptians out of Syria and Judah • Attacked Jerusalem twice • Destroyed Solomon's Temple • People exiled to Babylon.

17. Rebuilding the Temple • In 539 BC the Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon. • Allowed 40,000 exiles to return to Jerusalem and start work on rebuilding the temple. • Rebuilt by 515 and the walls of Jerusalem were completed by 445 BC • Still would be conquered by the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans, who would control the area of Judah (Judea) and the Jewish People.