The Ancient Near East
Section 3
The Hebrews and Judaism
Preview
• Main Idea / Reading Focus
• The Early Hebrews
• The Kingdom of Israel
• Map: Israel and Judah
• The Teachings of Judaism
The Ancient Near East
Section 3
The Hebrews and Judaism
Main Idea
The ancient Hebrews and their religion, Judaism, have been a
major influence on Western civilization.
Reading Focus
• What are the major events in the history of the early
Hebrews?
• How did the Kingdom of Israel develop and who were some of
its key leaders?
• What are the basic teachings and sacred texts of Judaism?
Section 3
The Ancient Near East
The Early Hebrews
The Hebrews were the ancestors of the Jews, and most of what we
know, including the laws and requirements of their religion, Judaism,
comes from their later writings.
Hebrew Fathers
Moses and Exodus
Promised Land
• The Torah
• Slaves in Egypt
• Israelites in desert
• Abraham, father of
the Hebrews
• Moses
• Canaan
• Pharaoh, plagues
• God’s covenant
• Exodus
• Land of “milk and
honey”
• 12 Tribes of Israel
• Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob were
patriarchs
• Israelites in Egypt
– Israelites out of
Egypt
• Israelites battled for
land
– Passover
• Canaan = Israel
• The Ten
Commandments
The Ancient Near East
Section 3
Sequencing
What are some key events, in order, in early
Israelite history?
Answer(s): Abraham traveled to Canaan, 1800 BC; Moses
appeared among Hebrews in Egypt, 1200s BC; the Exodus;
delivery of Ten Commandments to Moses; Hebrews wander
desert for 40 years; invasion of Philistines to Israel, mid1000s BC; Saul named first king of Israel, mid-1000s BC;
David named second king of Israel, 1000 BC; Solomon
named third king of Israel, 865 BC
Section 3
The Ancient Near East
The Kingdom of Israel
The Period of the Judges
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Scattered communities
No central government
Judges enforce laws
Prophets keep Israelites focused on faith
Saul, David, Solomon
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Israelites united against Philistines
Saul, first Israelite king
Never won full support
David, second king
Strong king, gifted poet
Solomon, David’s son
Israel reached height of wealth
Division and Conquest
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Conflict after Solomon’s death
Two kingdoms, Israel and Judah
722 BC, Israel fell to Assyrians
586 BC, Judah fell to Chaldeans
Chaldeans enslaved Jews
Diaspora = scattering of Jews
Persians conquered Chaldeans
The Ancient Near East
Section 3
The Ancient Near East
Section 3
Find the Main Idea
Why are Saul, David and Solomon
significant?
Answer(s): They were the first kings of Israel;
they unified the Israelites under the Kingdom of
Israel.
The Ancient Near East
Section 3
The Teachings of Judaism
Religion the foundation of Hebrew and Jewish societies
• Belief in One God
– Monotheism
• Justice and Righteousness
– Kindness, fairness, code of ethics
• Obedience to the Law
– Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law
• Jewish Sacred Texts
– Torah, Talmud
The Ancient Near East
Section 3
Identify Supporting Details
What are the central beliefs of Judaism?
Answer(s): belief in one god; obedience to the
Ten Commandments; justice and righteousness