The Israelites - Lesson 1 The Beginnings

The Israelites

Lesson 1
The Beginnings

Beginnings

• A group of people on Southwest Asia known as the Israelites believed in only one just and all powerful God, which was different from other cultures of the time.

• Belief in one just and all powerful God is MONOTHEISM.

• Israelites believed that God sent PROPHETS, or messengers to share God's word with the people.

• Believed people could connect personally with God through prayer, religious study and good and just acts.

The Hebrew Bible

• The Israelites recorded their beliefs and history which became known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible.

• Followers of the Ancient Israelites faith became known as Jews and the religion as Judaism.

• Judaism played an important role in the development and influence of two other religions: Christianity and Islam.

Multiple Choice

The belief in ONE just and all poweful God

• monotheism

• polytheism

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of a prophet?

• Money made when you run a business.

• A person who is a messenger that is sent by God to spread God's word.

• The person that organizes religious ceremonies.

• Th only person who can pray to God.

Abraham

• Lived in Mesopotamia when God called on him to take his family to the land of Canaan.

• God told Abraham that the land of Canaan would belong to him and is descendants forever.

• This is why Canaan is often called the Promised Land.

• Abraham is considered the "Father" or founder of the Jewish religion.

​Isaac and Jacob

• Isaac is the son of Abraham and Jacob is Isaac's son.

• Jacob was given the name Israel from an angel. Jacob then had 12 sons which became the 12 tribes of Israel.A tribe is a family group.

• After a famine came to Canaan, the Israelites left and went to Egypt where they lived in peace until the Pharaoh got nervous and enslaved the Israelites.

​Moses and the Exodus

• God spoke to Moses through a burning bush and told Moses to tell the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.

• The pharaoh refused so God sent 10 plagues upon Egypt. This convinced the pharaoh to let the Israelites be free. (then he changed his mind)

• When Moses reached the Red Sea God parted the seas so the Israelites could cross. (and the waters came back and drowned the pharaoh's army)

• This is known as the Exodus.

​The Covenant

• The Israelites received a covenant, agreement with God, that if they promised to follow God's teachings He would return them to the Promised Land. (Canaan)

• Moses went up o Mount Sinai and returned with the Torah (teachings Moses received from God, and the 10 Commandments which laid out rules for the people to follow.

Match

Match the following

• Abraham

• Jacob

• Moses

• Isaac

founder of the Jewish religion

had 12 sons that became the 12 tribes of

led the Exodus out of Egypt

Abraham's son

• founder of the Jewish religion

• had 12 sons that became the 12 tribes of

• led the Exodus out of Egypt

• Abraham's son

Multiple Choice

What is the Torah?

• agreement with God

• belief in just one God

• the teacings that became the first partof the Hebrew Bible

The Land of Canaan

​Who were the Canaanites and the Philistines?

• When the Israelites got back to the land of Canaan, people lived there that worshipped many gods and goddesses.

• The Phoenicians became great traders and had purple dye. They came up with an alphabet to keep track of trade.

• The Philistines moved in to the area andwere skilled in makeing iron tools and weapons.

​Military Conquest

• When the Israelites returned to Canaan, they had to fight to take their land back. Joshua led the battle of Jericho where the walls of the city crumbled as the trumpets sounded on Joshua's command.

• Joshua led many battles and the land seized was divided among the 12 tribes.

The Israelites worshipped in a tent-like structure called a tabernacle. It was believed to house God's presence and also the Ark of the Covenant which the 10 Commandments were written on.

​The Tabernacle

Most Israelites farmed and herded animals. Through irrigation they grew olives, flax, barley and grapes. Peolple lived in small white houses with two levels.

​Life in Canaan

Canaan

Multiple Choice

What is the Exodus?

• Anytime people leave their country.

• A time when people leave their homeland for better opportunities.

• The time when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Multiple Choice

What is the modern day country that the land of Canaan was in?

• Iran

• Israel

• Iraq