Israel & Judaism

I.  How do we know

A.  Scriptures

1.  TaNaKh = books of the Bible written in the Hebrew

a)  Torah (first five books)

b)  Nevi'im (books of the prophets)

c)  Ketuvim (historical, poetic, philosophical)

2.  Mythhistory

a)  oral history             

b)  earliest manuscripts

-- King Josiah (r. 640-609 B.C.E.)

-- Dead Sea Scrolls

-- Septuagint

c)  narratives with miracles

B.  Archaeology confirms later books (~1200-400 B.C.E.)

II.  What do we know?

A.  Fall of Hittite & Egyptian Empires (~1200s B.C.E)

1.  invaders = "Sea Peoples"

2.  creates a power vacuum --> lesser states thrive

a)  Phoenicians

b)  Philistines

c)  Hebrews (ancient Jews)

B.  History of the Biblical Hebrews

1.  followed Abraham (~1750 B.C.E)

2.  entered Egypt (~1600s B.C.E)

3.  Moses leads exodus (~1200s B.C.E)

4.  Kingdom of Israel

a) Saul (1025-1000 B.C.E)

-- unified the 12 tribes

b)  David (1000-970 B.C.E)

-- great war leader

c)  Solomon (970-925 B.C.E)

-- built temple in Jerusalem

5.  Division of the Kingdom

a) Israel (north)

-- capital = Samaria

-- conquered by Assyrians (721 B.C.E)

-- "ten lost tribes"

b)  Judah (south

-- capital = Jerusalem

-- conquered by Chaldeans (586 B.C.E.)

-- religion = Judaism

6.  A Conquered People

a)  Persians (~546 B.C.E.)

b)  Greeks (332 B.C.E.)

c) Romans (63 B.C.E)

-- Jews rebelled (70 C.E.) --: diaspora

C.    Judaisms' Essential Beliefs

1.  single caring God

a) YHWH = Jehovah or Yahweh

b) covenant with Abraham        

2.  God of history

a) miraculous intervention (i.e. Moses)

b) prophets (i.e. Isaiah, Jeremiah)

3.  community  of family

a) marriage & children

b) heroic women (i.e. Sarah & Esther)

4.  promise land (Canaan or Israel)

5.  legal system (Ten Commandments)