Abraham and Moses Lead the Hebrews Hebrews were

Abraham and Moses Lead the Hebrews • Hebrews were a group of herders that appeared in Central Asia • What is known about the early Hebrews comes from archaeologists and Hebrew scribes • Hebrew scribes’ stories become part of the Hebrew Bible (which is part of the Christian Bible)

Abraham • God told Abraham to leave his home in Mesopotamia and to go West • Abraham would lead a new nation • Left Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan • Eventually, Hebrews moved to Egypt

• Hebrews move to Egypt and eventually become slaves • Moses becomes their leader in the 1200 s B. C. • Demanded that pharaoh let the people go; he refused • 10 plagues change the pharoah’s mind • Moses lead his people out of Egypt on a journey called the Exodus

The Ten Commandments You shall have no gods besides me You shall not make any idols You shall not swear falsely by the name of your God Remember the Sabbath Day Honor your father and mother You shall not murder You shall not commit adultery You shall not steal You shall not bear false witness You shall not covet

• The Hebrews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years • Joshua lead the conquest of Canaan • The time of the judges • The time of the kings

• The Philistines invade in the mid 1000 s B. C. • Saul becomes the first king • David, one of his servants, succeeds him • He makes Jerusalem his capital

• He becomes king in about 965 B. C. • He expands the kingdom greatly • He builds a magnificent temple • This temple becomes the center of Jewish religious life

• Solomon dies in 930 B. C. • The kingdom divides in two • Judah is in the south and Israel is in the north • Israel is conquered by the Assyrians in 722 B. C. • Judah conquered by the Chaldeans in 586 B. C.

• This time in Babylon is known as “the captivity” and lasted for 50 years • Diaspora = the scattering of the Jews outside of Israel and Judah • In the 530 s B. C. the Persians conquered the Chaldeans, who allowed some Jews to return to Jerusalem

• In 160 s B. C. the Maccabees lead a successful revolt • They were independent for about 100 years • However, in 63 B. C. they are conquered again by the Romans • This, too, would become too much for the Jews

• Some Hebrew women made great contributions • Some examples are Queen Esther and Deborah • Ruth and Naomi are examples of how women ought to behave • They show we should treat our families