Day 1 Jewish Faith Beginnings

Jewish Faith Beginnings

The Oldest Monotheistic Religion

Jewish Beginnings

• Between 2000 and 1500 BC a new people appeared in Southwest Asia. They were the Hebrews (HEE-brooz), ancestors of the Israelites and Jews.

• The early Hebrews were simple herders, but they developed a culture that became a major influence on later civilizations.

Multiple Select

What does Hebrew mean? (Pick 2)

• ancestors of the Israelites and Jews

• A religion in Western Asia

• simple herders

Evidence

• Much of what is known about their early history comes from archaeologists and from Hebrew scribes.

• The writings from the scribes describe their early history and the laws of Judaism ( JOO -dee-i-zuhm).

• Judaism is the religion of the Hebrews

Multiple Choice

How do we know anything about the Jewish faith?

• ancient writings

• archaeologist

• archaeologist and ancient writings

Hebrew Bible

• In time these accounts became the Hebrew Bible.

• The Hebrew Bible is largely the same as the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.

• The major differences are the wording and timeline.

Poll

The Hebrew Bible is similar to

• The New Testament

• The Old Testament

• The Christian Bible

It Started With Abraham

The Hebrew Bible traces the Hebrews back to a man named Abraham. One day, the Hebrew Bible says, God told Abraham to leave his home in Mesopotamia. He was to take his family on a long journey to the west. God promised to lead Abraham to a new land and make his descendants into a mighty nation. 

Settled In Canaan and then Egypt

• Abraham left Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan (KAY-nuhn), on the Mediterranean Sea.

• Some of his descendants, the Isra- elites, lived in Canaan for many years.

• Later, however, some Israelites moved to Egypt, perhaps because of famine in Canaan. 

Open Ended

What natural features did Abraham follow on his long journey?

Multiple Select

Why did the Hebrews leave Caanan?

• They wanted riches

• They wanted a better ruler

• They were starving