Chapter 6

1. Chapter 6 02.07.12

2. Poem • Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, • All of them were famous Hebrews like Moses • The pharaoh decreed newborn Jews to be drowned • But Moses, placed in a basket, was found. • God sent ten plagues on Egypt to show • The pharaoh he must let Israelites go. • The pharaoh gave in when his eldest son died, • And allowed Israelites to escape to Sinai • These men, faithful followers of early Judaism, • Were unique in their beliefs based on monotheism.

3. Abraham • The ancient Hebrews are ancestors of present-day Jews. • Judaism is the religion of Jewish people. It was the first monotheistic religion. • The Torah is the oldest religious writing of Jewish people. The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible. • Tanakh begins with Abraham, who lived in Mesopotamia around 2000 B.C. • People in Mesopotamia believed in many gods, but Abraham believed in one god. • Abraham became known as the father of the Jews.

4. Israelites Abraham Isaac Jacob 12 sons, including Joseph

5. Israelites • Like his father, and grandfather, Joseph believed in one god. • Since, he was Isaac’s favorite, Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery. • He ended up in Egypt, second in power to the pharaoh, who was polytheistic. • The pharaoh was afraid the Israelites would conquer Egypt, so he enslaved them. • Joseph’s brothers and entire family moved from Canaan to Egypt due to famine.

6. Moses • Moses was born when the pharaoh ordered all newborn Israelites to be drowned. • The pharaoh’s daughter saved him and raised him like an Egyptian. • God told Moses to order the pharaoh to free the Israelites. The pharaoh refused. • God sent ten plagues, like blood in the Nile, swarms of insects, and failures of crops. • The pharaoh freed the Israelites, and they went to Sinai by the Red Sea. This is called the Exodus. There is no archaeological evidence that this happened. • The Bible says that God told Moses the Ten Commandments, and Moses presented them to the Israelites on two tablets from Mount Sinai.

8. Lesson 2 2.15.12

9. Poem • Twelve tribes of Israelites lived in Canaan • A leader was need to guide them as one • The first king was chosen by Samuel and Saul. • He expanded his territory but defied God’s law. • Then David was chosen as Israel’s new king, • He promptly defeated the strong Philistines. • David’s son Solomon started taxes and forced labor • But made Israel strong through alliance with neighbors.

10. Israelites Get A King • Forty years after the Exodus from Egypt through the Sinai Peninsula, the Israelites reach Canaan. • In Canaan, Israelites lived as 12 tribes, but they needed a union for strength. • To make a union, Israelites appointed Samuel to choose a king in 1020 B.C. • Samuel believed that God should rule, but reluctantly he chose Saul to rule.

11. Saul and David • Saul defended the Israelites and defeated many of their enemies, but not the Philistines. • Saul did not follow God’s commands and is killed in war. • Samuel appointed David as King in 1000 B.C. • The kingdom of Israel grew under David, extending from Egypt to Mesopotamia. • David named Jerusalem as the capital of the kingdom of the Israelites.

12. The Kingdom of Solomon • Under Solomon, Israel grew rich and strong. It was rich due to trade with Egypt and Phoenicia. It was strong due to a large army and alliances with neighbors. • Solomon built a temple for the Ark of the Covenant, the box with the Ten commandments. • To afford his projects, he forced Israelites to pay a large tax and to work as builders.

13. Life in Ancient Israel • Men were farmers, metalworkers, carpenters, government officials, and soldiers. • Women cooked, cleaned, collected water, and made clothing. • Solomon was respected by his people and many rulers. • Some people were not happy with Solomon because of taxes and forced labor.

14. Lesson 3 02.22.12

15. Poem • An end to taxes and forced labor they demanded • But were refused, so ten northern tribes from Judah disbanded • A prophet warned Israel of losing Canaan For refusing to follow the commandments God gave them. • Assyrians took the new Israel by storm. • Ten tribes disappeared, and Samaritans were born. • Jerusalem and Judah remained independent, • Attacked by Assyria but wisely defended.

17. Israel and Judah • Northern Israelite tribes did not like Solomon because he forced taxes and labor on them. • Solomon’s son Rehoboam took over when Solomon died. Northern tribes demanded that Rehoboam stop forcing taxes and labor on them. He refused, so Israel was divided. • Northern Israelites made their own kingdom called Israel. The capital was Samaria. • Southern Israelites stayed with Rehoboam in Judah, where Jerusalem was the capital. • Life was difficult, so many Israelites rejected their old beliefs in God.

18. Israel Falls to Assyria • In 750 B.C., the prophet Ahijah warned Israel of punishment for not following God. • Assyrians from Mesopotamia conquered Israel in 721 B.C. • Assyrians did two things to keep power in new places: made the people leave their homeland, especially, rich people and leaders, and bring Assyrians into the new place. • The Israelites forced to leave disappeared and are called the ten lost tribes of Israel. • The mixed populations of Assyrians and Israelites in Samaria were called Samaritans.

19. Judah Remains Independent • The Assyrians also attacked Judah, but in 701 B.C. Hezekiah protected Jerusalem. • The Assyrians had surrounded Jerusalem. Israelites could not leave without being killed. Hezekiah built a tunnel so water could flow into the city. With water, the Israelites were able to stay in Jerusalem until the Assyrians left.