The Hebrews - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Hebrews

World History

Grade 8Slide2

The Hebrews

Also known as Israelites

Their religion had a great influence on the world

Judaism – Jewish religion

Most early Hebrews were nomadic or traveling merchants

Made goods from gold, copper, and ivory

Traded with Egypt, Phoenicia, CreteSlide3
Slide4

Religion

First major monotheistic religion – one god – Yahweh

Yahweh told Abraham that the Hebrews must move from Ur to Canaan

If they did, their descendants could always live in Canaan

Yahweh was different from people or other gods:

Did not get hungry or thirsty, marry, or have children, only did what was rightSlide5

Religion

Abraham and his followers settled in Canaan

His grandson Jacob had 12 sons

Each son led a separate family group

These groups would later form the 12 Hebrew tribes

The Hebrews stayed in Canaan for about 100 years, until a drought came

They moved to EgyptSlide6

Egypt and Moses

After settling in Egypt, the Hebrews were enslaved by the Egyptians for about 600 years

Moses, the Hebrew leader, asked the pharaoh to release the Hebrews

The pharaoh at first refused but later

agreed

He then changed his mind and chased after

the Hebrews

“The Parting of the Red Sea” - Yahweh

parted the sea to let them escape

Escaped into the Sinai Desert –

their escape is called the ExodusSlide7

The Exodus

The Hebrews could return to Canaan but must renew their covenant – or agreement – with Yahweh

Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments from Yahweh

Since Yahweh was just, their laws should be just

Their laws influenced

the way people behaved

Social justice – everyone

had a right to be treated

fairlySlide8

The Promised Land

Moses died before the Hebrews reached Canaan

Other Canaanites already lived there and built cities

A general named Joshua allowed them into Canaan

Borrowed other Canaanites’ tools and alphabet

Grew olives, flax, barley, wheat, and grapesSlide9

Hebrews’ Houses

Most were one-room houses

The room was divided in two, with one part slightly higher than the other

During the day, the lower level was a living area and kitchen

During the night, the lower level was where the Hebrews put their livestock, like goats and donkeys

During the night, the people slept in the upper levelSlide10

Kings

After Joshua died, the 12 tribes split apart

A temporary leader called a judge settled disputes and led troops into battle

Saul – the first Hebrew king

David reunited the Hebrews and defeated the Canaanites

established Jerusalem

Wrote many of the psalms, or sacred songs, in the BibleSlide11

Kings

Solomon, David’s son, was the next king

Built a large temple

in Jerusalem

Very

wealthy and wise

Many Hebrews did not like his high taxes

After his death, Canaan split in two

Israel – the north kingdom

Judah – the south kingdom – ruled from Jerusalem

Fought for 200 years until both became weak enough for other civilizations to conquerSlide12

Prophets

Prophets – people claiming to have messages from God

Many Hebrews were mistreating one another

The prophets warned that Yahweh would punish them if they did not return to their old waysSlide13

Conquer

722 BC – the Assyrians conquer Israel

586 BC – Babylonians conquer Judah – the remaining Hebrews were forced to move to Babylon

With no temple, the Hebrews began to meet and worship on the

sabbath

– day of rest

After 70 years, they were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild

A scribe named Ezra wrote down the laws of Moses in 5 books called the Torah

Part of the Old TestamentSlide14

Major Contributions

First major monotheistic civilization

First to believe in a just god

Individuals and societies should also be just

Their laws were designed to teach people to treat one another fairly