Hebrews
• Theme: Geography
• Theme: Politics
– Slide 1
– Slide 2
– Slide 3
• Theme: Religion
– Slide 1
– Slide 2
• Theme: Society & Culture
– Slide 1
– Slide 2
Theme: Geography
I.
Located between Egypt & Mesopotamia
2R
Theme: Politics
I. Abraham
A.
B.
God told Abraham to leave Mesopotamia & made a covenant
1. promised a new land
2. promised descendents would be a mighty nation
Settled in Canaan
1.
Famine
2.
Moved to Egypt
3.
Pharaoh made Hebrews slaves
II. Moses
A. 1200 B.C.
B. God told Moses to lead Hebrews out of Egypt
1. Demanded the Hebrews be freed from slavery
2. Plagues or disasters struck Egypt
3. Led Hebrews out of Egypt – the Exodus
3R
Theme: Politics
C. Mt. Sinai
1. God gave Moses two stone tablets
2. Ten Commandments - moral laws
D. Return to Canaan
1. wandered for 40 years
2. conquered Canaan and settled down
3. became Israelites
4. no central government
III.
Kings Unite the Israelites
A. Saul – first king of Israel (mid 1000’s B.C.)
B. David – established capital of Israel in Jerusalem
C. Solomon – built a great temple to God in Jerusalem (965 B.C.)
IV. Scattering the Jews
A. Chaldeans captured Jerusalem – Babylonian Captivity!
B. Destroyed Solomon’s temple – 586 B.C.
C. Diaspora
3R
V.
Theme
Politics
Women in Hebrew Society
A.
B.
C.
D.
3R
Obey father & husband
Husband chosen by father
Queen Esther & Judge Deborah – political & military leaders
Ruth – model of devotion to one’s family
VI. Jewish Revolt
A. Foreign rule was a threat - Rome
B. Zealots – rebellious Jews who refused to obey Romans & wanted to
overthrow Roman rule
C. First Revolt – A.D. 66-70
1. Romans ruined Jerusalem, burned the Second Temple, &
ended revolt
2. some Zealots locked themselves in Masada, captured in A.D. 73
3. Jews taken as slaves, thousands left Jerusalem
D. Second Revolt – 60 years after Masada
1. Roman Army defeated Jews
2. Jews punished – killed
3. Romans took over Jerusalem – banned Jews
4. Jewish migration throughout Mediterranean region
Two Perspectives on the Ten Commandments
Creative Writing – Politics Left Side
Perspective #1: Imagine being an Ancient Hebrew in the crowd at the
end of The Prince of Egypt movie. Using first-person perspective, describe
how you would have felt towards the Ten Commandments. (Think:
Ancient Hebrews were just freed from slavery in Egypt by the leadership of
Moses and his faith in God.)
5+ sentences
Perspective #2: Imagine that Moses could visit modern civilization.
Using first-person perspective, describe how Moses would feel about
modern civilizations and how the Ten Commandments are or are not being
followed.
5+ sentences
Theme: Religion
I.
Judaism
A. Belief in justice and obedience
B. Monotheism (belief in 1 god)
C. Education
II.
The Torah
A. Five books
B. Most sacred text of Judaism
C. History of Jews
D. Every synagogue (house of worship) has a Torah
E. One of 3 parts of the Hebrew Bible (Tanach)
1. messages from prophets
2. poetry, songs, stories, lessons, & history
4R
Theme: Religion
4R
III.
The Talmud
A. book of commentaries about the Torah and Hebrew Bible
B. Contains stories, folklore, and discussions – explains history & laws
IV.
Dead Sea Scrolls
A. Found in 1947
B. Writings by Jews between 100 B.C. – 50 A.D.
C. Tells historians about daily life around 2,000 years ago
Judaism Influenced Western Culture
Judaism Shaped Christianity and influenced Islam
Ten Commandments are a guide for living
Western Cultures honor the Sabbath
People give to charities to help poor and needy
V.
Rabbi
A. Religious leader, teacher, interprets Torah
B. Yohanan ben Zaccai – started tradition
5R
Theme: Society & Culture
I.
Hebrews
A. 2000 and 1500 BC
B. Southwest Asia
C. Simple herders
D. History from Bible (Hebrew Bible, Christian Old & New Testament)
II.
Lasting Cultural Traditions
A. Ashkenazim
1. Jewish culture in France, Germany, eastern Europe
2. developed customs & Yiddish language
B. Sephardim
1. Jewish culture in Spain & Portugal
2. developed Ladino language
3. mixed Jewish & non-Jewish traditions
4. Golden age of Jewish culture in AD 1000’s and 1100’s (poetry,
math, science)
5R
Theme: Society & Culture
C. Hanukkah
1. holiday honoring rededication of Second
Temple
2. during December
D. Passover
1. Jews remember the Exodus
E. High Holy Days
1. Rosh Hashanah
a. celebrate Jewish New Year
2. Yom Kippur
a. holiest day of entire year
b. ask God to remove sins
Society & Culture Left Side
Describe the pattern that is repeated throughout the
Hebrew’s history. (Hint: Re-read your Politics notes.) Is
the impact of the Diaspora overall positive or negative for
the Hebrews and the Jewish religion? Explain your
reasoning.
5+ sentences