a.

Patriarchal Period (Gen 12 50)

Before Israel became a nation, Nomadic Amorite families were traveling with their flocks throughout Mesopotamia, Syria, and Canaan, going as far as Egypt. Israel remembered these remote ancestors. They were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (1800 1500 BC).

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a. Patriarchal Period (Gen 12 50)

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Abraham left Haran for Canaaan on a promise from God that he would give him land and descendants in that country. Jacob had received new blessings from God while he was trying to settle in Canaan. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their people were nomads, poor and uneducated.

a. Patriarchal Period (Gen 12 50)

They would travel with their tents and their flocks as far as they could within two great civilizations of that time: Mesopotamia and Egypt. God called them so that from them would emerge His people, His own instrument to bring the history of all humanity to maturity and to a happy end.

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b. Slavery in Egypt (Ex 1:8-14)

Then a new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt. He said to his subjects, Look how numerous and powerful the Israelite people are growing, more so than ourselves! Come let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they may too join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave our country.

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b. Slavery in Egypt (Ex 1:8-14)

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Accordingly, taskmasters were set over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. Thus they had to build for Pharaoh (the title of the king of Egypt) the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses. Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.

b. Slavery in Egypt (Ex 1:8-14)

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The Egyptians, then, dreaded the Israelites and reduced them to cruel slavery, making life bitter for them with hard work in mortar and brick and all kinds of field work the whole cruel fate of slaves.

c. Exodus (Ex 1 -20, 24, 32-34)

The Israelites fled from slavery under the leadership of Moses. The miracle with which they were favored in crossing the Red Sea was for them the sign that God was liberating them in order to put them at his service. Moses was their guide and their prophet and he was teaching them about Yahweh.

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c. Exodus (Ex 1 -20, 24, 32-34)

The covenant between Yahweh and Israel is agreed upon in Mt. Sinai (the place where God gave the 10 commandments). In the oasis of Kadesh Barnea (a three-spring oasis in the arid wastes south of Palestine; it became the center of the desert existence of Israel for 40 years; see Num 14) Moses group joins others of the same race who adopt the Mosaic Law.

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c. Exodus (Ex 1 -20, 24, 32-34)

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The Only God, Jealous and Just does not tolerate any divine image. Gods people will have to fight rather than make pacts with the civilization and the religion of the Canaanites.

d. Conquest of Canaan (Jos 1-22)

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After Moses death, Joshua, with part of Israel, conquers a portion of the land of Canaan. The members of the 12 tribes, still very independent, became aware of their identity in the following century.

e. Period of Judges (Jgs 1-16)

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The Judges are the 12 heroes of Israel. They were not magistrates, but military leaders sent by God to aid and to relive his people in time of external danger. They exercised their activities in the interval of time between the death of Joshua and the institution of the monarchy in Israel.

e. Period of Judges (Jgs 1-16)

The Major Judges are: (1) Othniel (4) Gideon (2) Ehud (5) Jephthah (3) Deborah (6) Samson The Minor Judges are: (1) Tola (2) Jair (3) Ibzan

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(4) Elon (5) Abdon (6) Shamgar

f. Period of Kings (1Sam 8-31, 2Sam 1-20, 1Kgs 1-11)

The arrival of the Philistines by sea, their occupation of the coast and their invasion of the Palestine valleys, force the Israelites to unite in order to preserve their independence. Following Saul, who dies at war, David conquers Palestine and the surroundings areas. When he captures Jerusalem, he makes it the center of national unity.

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f. Period of Kings (1Sam 8-31, 2Sam 1-20, 1Kgs 1-11)

David lives as servant of Yahweh and a prophet and he receives a promise from God for his descendants who will reign after him.
Solomon, Davids son, builds the Jerusalem Temple. It will replace all the old sanctuaries. He transforms Israel into an organized nation settled people.

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g. Schism or Division of the Kingdom (1Kgs 12-22)

When Solomon dies, a schism or division of the kingdom takes place: The Kingdom of Judah (to the South) with Kings who are descendants of David, with its capital in Jerusalem and with the Temple. Their first leader was Rehoboam (son of Solomon whose mother was the Ammonite Naamah). Kings, priests, and prophets lead the community in various ways, enabling the old faith to adapt the new society.

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g. Schism or Division of the Kingdom (1Kgs 12-22)

Great prophets: Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel promote a personal faith in the living God, a faith which demands justice and sincerity. They recall Gods promises to Israel: in the midst of their infidelities and trials. God leads them to a Kingdom of Justice with the King-Messiah who will be like a new David.

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g. Schism or Division of the Kingdom (1Kgs 12-22)

The Kingdom of Israel (to the North), larger and more prosperous, will suffer political instability and tension between traditional faith and the temptations of modern life and the Canaanite religion. Their first leader was Jeroboam (son of Nebat). Three great prophets Elijah, Elisha, and Hosea try to bring the people to Yahweh, with renewed fidelity.

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h. Destruction of Samaria/ Assyrian Exile (722 BC) Division of the Kingdom (1Kgs 12-22)

The Kingdom of Israel is destroyed by the Assyrians. Its capital Samaria is captured and the elite deported.

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i. Destruction of Jerusalem/Babylonian Exile (587-539 BC)

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The Kingdom of Judah is destroyed by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar. Jerusalem and the Temple are burned and the elite exiled to Babylon.

j. Persian Era (539-333 BC)

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Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, conquers Babylon and liberates the Jews who had been exiled there.

k. Reorganization and Restoration of the Temple

The exiles reorganize in Jerusalem. There no more kings and prophets are going to be scarce. Priests are in-charge of the community. The Mosaic Law, in its final version and was written by Ezra, rules both civil and religious life. The Temple and worship justify the life of this holy people, who are different from other people, because they are Gods people.

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l. Greek Rule in Palestine (333-175 BC)

Alexander the Great takes over the Persian Empire and introduces Greek culture. With the penetration of the Greek culture, a cultural and religious crisis occurs. A minority, the pious ones (Hasidim) promote a reaffirmation of the Judaic religion and introduce the resurrection of the dead.

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m. Armed Resistance under the Maccabees (167-175 BC)

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The great persecution by the Syrians which the Jews endured aroused the energies of the entire nation. Armed resistance, under the leadership of the Maccabees, obtains religious peace. The Jews even succeeded in becoming an independent nation again.

n. Roman Denomination (63 BC)

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In the following century, the struggle for power brings about the intervention of foreigners: the Roman Empire imposes its domination, in a disguised form during the reign of Herod the Great and more openly when he dies.

o. The Birth of Jesus (between 1BC and 1AD)

This is the time of the Birth of Jesus. Meanwhile, a lot of Jews have emigrated to all the great cities of the Mediterranean and of the Middle East. There they form communities bound by the observance of the Law, and they began to spread faith in the One God.

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