The Origins of Judaism

So I discovered the menorah is missing a couple of stems. Sorry.

Objectives:

• Know how Israel’s location contributed to its history and development.

• Know what the Torah is and why it’s important.

• Know what Abraham did and why he’s important to Judaism.

• Realize in what ways Judaism differed from most religions of the time.

• Know what Moses did and why he’s important.

The area known as Palestine. It’s around the modern day state of Israel.

• The area of Palestine called Canaan was the home of the Hebrews, later called the Jews

It’s in a prime location.

• It’s the connection between Africa (specifically Egypt) and Asia. If you want to go from one to the other you have to pass through this area. That means it’s good for trade.

• It’s also between the Mediterranean and Red Seas. There wasn’t a Suez Canal back then.

• On the downside, that sweet location also makes it attractive to others.

• It was often a battle ground for the surrounding powers.

• We get most of the early Jewish history from Torah- The first five books of the Hebrew Bible

• Christians respect them as part of the Old Testament

• Other sources from the time are scarce and we have to fill in the archaeological details.

The founding patriarch of the faith was Abraham.

• Migrated to the land of Canaan around 1800 BC. God promised him that he would be the father of a great nation there. He moves around the area a bit.

All through the wanderings and the rest, God, Yahweh, was with Abraham.

• Yahweh was not a localized deity.

• Moreover, he was singular. This was a monotheistic religion, which was quite quaint for a mostly polytheistic world.

Yahweh was also not a physical god. This was also unique. Some Greeks even thought the Jews philosophical because of it.

• God makes an agreement, a covenant, with Abraham. If Abraham and his descendants obey Him, then He will bless and protect them.

Eventually the Hebrew people who had settled in Canaan migrate into Egypt because of a famine.

• They’re enslaved and forced to labor under the pharaoh working on his building projects.

• Under the leadership of Moses, the Israelites escape Egypt around 1300-1200 BC.

• Jews call this event “the Exodus”

Moses

• At the Time of Moses’ birth- during Passover- the Egyptian pharaoh felt threatened by the number of Hebrews in Egypt

• He ordered all Hebrew male babies killed• Moses’ mother hid her baby in the reeds along the banks

of the Nile• An Egyptian princess found him and adopted him• He was raised in luxury, but never forgot where he came

from• When God commanded him to lead the Jews out of

Egypt, he obeyed• Moses has been considered one of the greatest figures

in Jewish history

In the book of Exodus, God strikes down the 1st born of the Egyptians, but he “passes over” the Hebrews. Pass Over celebrates this episode

In the book of Exodus, God strikes down the 1st born of the Egyptians, but he “passes over” the Hebrews. Pass Over celebrates this episode

After getting out of Egypt, the Hebrews spend a long time wandering around the Sinai Peninsula.

While in the Sinai, Moses receives the Ten Commandments… at the top of Mt. Sinai.

They are:

1. I am the Lord thy God…Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or worship one.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.

4. Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.

5. Honor they father and mother.

6. Thou shalt not kill (murder).

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8. Thou shalt no steal

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

10.Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s possessions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgSJDgKgv78http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk

The Ten Commandments represent a new covenant between God and the Hebrews. If they follow the commandments, God will bless them.

15 command-ments?

The Ten Commandments served as the basis for Jewish law.

• The full code was much more detailed and governed all sorts of social and religious conventions.

• 613 total sub-commandments in the Torah

• Led to ethical monotheism: living justly in relation to God and to other people.

• After the death of Moses, the Hebrews return to Canaan where Abraham had lived

• Hebrews fought with neighbors over land

• They were also starting to settle land instead of wandering

• Hebrews were learning new technologies from neighbors in Palestine

• These changes were different than the simple life they had been used to

• When Hebrews arrive in Canaan, they were organized into 12 tribes that were self governing

• In times of emergency, God would raise up judges, according to the Bible

• They would unite the tribes and provide judicial and military leadership during a crisis

Hebrew Law

• The Ten Commandments were part of a code of laws delivered to Moses

• The Code was later interpreted by religious teachers, called prophets

• Prophets taught that the Hebrews had a duty both to worship God and to live justly with one another

Prophets

• Don’t think of them as they type that predict the future. Rather, they were God’s mouthpieces, His spokesmen.

• God spoke to them and then they spoke to the people. Also interpreted God’s laws.

The Hebrews would come together every once in a while under a judge to face a threat. Once the threat was gone, however, they’d fall apart again.

• Eventually, they decided they needed a king (hey, everybody else had one!)

• Saul is appointed as the first king. He was tall and good-looking.

• This kingdom is called Israel.

• Saul, according to the Bible, falls out of favor with God and David- his son-on-law- is appointed king.

Yes, the David of David and Goliath.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSG19yci_Ps

David

• An extremely popular leader

• United the tribes

• Established Jerusalem as the capital

• Founded a dynasty

• Son is Soloman

About 962 BC, Solomon becomes king

• Proceeds to develop trade

• Also builds the grand temple in which the ark was housed.

• On the downside, Solomon’s building projects nearly bankrupted the country. They required high taxes and a lot of labor from citizens.

• The kingdom divided into two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Each had their own king.

The Babylonian Captivity

• Israel is conquered by the Babylonians. Judah holds out for a while, but it too is conquered and many of the Jewish people are held in Babylon.

• They’re treated well by the Babylonians, but aren’t allowed to return to Judah until the Babylonians are conquered by the Persians around 537 BC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qmj2fXPvXc