Palestine

Phoenicians and

Philistines

Mediterranean Sea port

Torah: First 5 books of the Hebrew bible

most sacred writings

Monotheistic: Yahweh

Jewish History Mix of Myth (no archaeological evidence or historical record) and History 1st Covenant promise between distinct people or nation (Israel) and God Abraham ~4000 years ago - commanded by God to travel from Ur to Haran - Genesis,12:1-2 Land (Nile to Euphrates) & protection given by Gods promise to offspring of Abraham (Isaac, Jacob, Judah) in return for devotion and circumcision of males on 8th day after birth/conversion. - Genesis, 17-8
Based on Torah some historic basis, much is taken on faith
*Textbooks treatment?

Go forth from your native land and from your fathers house to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation.

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan.

Jews chosen people as a light unto nations ethnic and geographic

roots as well as religious connotation Story of Abraham and Isaac

Mythical Origins of the Jewish People

Sarai (Sarah)
*90 yrs old

Abraham
*99 yrs old

Hagar Ishmael
*Egyptian Maid Servant

Isaac Jacob

Stranger to Jacob on his way to Canaan:

Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.

Jewish People

Covenant: mutual promise between God and Abraham

Sacrifice of son, Isaac Evidence of faith

Christians will later believe

God did sacrifice son to demonstrate love of his people

Judaism A Brief History

NOTE: This is historical fiction (according to historians and many rabbis) Bondage in Egypt (to1290 BCE) under Pharaoh Ramses II Exodus (1250 BCE)
Moses deliverer God:

Moses: Let my people go! um... through the Red Sea. 2nd Covenant : Moses to follow the 10 Commandments Mt. Sinai, 10 Commandments, Golden Calf, Temper Tantrum and Ark of the Covenant Moses 10 Commandments 12 spies investigate Canaanites son, Joshua is optimistic Circumcision problem God punishes 40 years in desert!

*#@!$ you Egypt, heres 10 plagues

Ten Commandments

1-5 relationship with God (belief in one god/no other deities, Sabbath day, name in vain/false oaths, honor parents (mans commitment to god) 6-10 mans relationship with others murder, adultery, stealing, lying, etc.

Ethical Monotheism adherence to ethical code and Yahweh

 Moses is dying - God chooses Joshua Joshua crushes Canaanites Confederation to Constitutional Monarchy - 12 tribes of Israel threatened by Philistines - Saul is made King later killed Son in Law, David (slays Philistine warrior, Goliath, Ark to Jerusalemconcentrates religious power) Davids Son, Solomon, builds temple w/ Holy of Holies (Ark) Solomon dies in 931 BCE

Judaism A Brief History

Judaism A Brief History

Solomons Kingdom splits

Israel (Northern 10

Assyrians conquer

Tribes) Judah (Southern 2 Tribes)

Israel 722 BCE

Babylonians conquer Assyrians, Judah (597 BCE)

tribes expelled Judah 701 BCE then withdraw

Judaism A Brief History

Babylonians appoint Zedekiah (descendant of David) King of Judah Zedekiah grows defiant (oops)

Sons murdered in front

of him, his eyes are gouged out, thousands of Jews flee to Egypt or are deported to Babylon Solomons temple is destroyed by Babylonians (586 BCE)

With the destruction of Solomons temple, the Jewish Faith and God become portable - synagogues established - traditions and laws of Israelites written down become Bible - Prophet, Isaiah, Jews were being punished -- notion of a messiah (dec. of David)

Judaism A Brief History

530 BCE Persians overrun Babylonians

Allow Jews to return to

332 BCE - Alexander the Great (Greek) Conquers (accepted readily)

Hellenism acceptance of multiculturalism Jews throughout Greek world Pentateuch (Torah) translated into Greek

Jerusalem Temple reconstructed (516 BCE) Jews allowed theocratic autonomy ***Final form of Jewish religion - - no intermarriage survival of Jewish people attributed to this

Judaism A Brief History

The rest of BCE Alexander - Greek Seleucids Romans