The First Israelites
What happened in the first Israelites history, and what are their beliefs?
A change took place around 1200 BCE, and people started to develop small kingdoms. People called the Israelites developed a kingdom in Canaan. The Israelites started out as a small group, but their religion would become widely known around the world.
This religion was very different to most during this time. The belief in one God is monotheism, but most people were polytheistic, and worshipped many gods or goddesses. This faith that one there was only one God later became known as Judaism, and they were known as Jews.
Judaism influenced Christianity and Islam. The Israelites spoke Hebrew.
According to the Bible, the Israelites came from Mesopotamia. God promised Canaan (Promised Land) to Abraham and his descendants. Abraham had a grandson, Jacob, or Israel. (Israel-"one who struggles with God") This land was then given to Jacob and his descendants. Jacob raised 12 sons in Canaan, and his family was divided into tribes--12 tribes of Israel. For about 100 years, they lived in Canaan until a drought killed their crops, and the Israelites embarked for Egypt.
Life was hard and troubling in Egypt for the Israelites. They were enslaved by the pharaoh who needed his pyramid built. He ordered all new Hebrew babies to be thrown into the Nile River. A mother had hidden her baby for some time, and put him in a basket, and let him out near a riverbank. The pharaoh's daughter found the baby and named him Moses.
When Moses grew up (around 1290 B.C.), he saw a burning bush and heard a voice. Moses believed that this was God telling the Israelites to go back to Canaan. To convince the pharaoh to free the Israelites, God sent 10 plagues to Egypt. The 10th plague caused all first born children to die unless they marked their doorway with the lamb's blood.
The pharaoh was convinced to let the Israelites go, but then changed his mind and sent his army after them. God parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass. This drowned all of the soldiers coming after them.
On their embarkment, the traveled through the Sinai desert. Moses traveled to Mount Sinai where God gave him a set of laws, known as the Ten Commandments, or Torah. This told people to not to steal, murder, or lie about others. It told people to avoid jealousy, and honor their parents.
Vocabulary:
Israelites-a member of the ancient Hebrew nation, especially in the period from the Exodus to the Babylonian Captivity ( circa 12th to 6th centuries BC).
Monotheism-the belief that there is only one God
Abraham-grandfather of Jacob
Jacob-Grandson of Abraham
12 Tribes-Jacob's family
Canaan-city that the Israelites settled in
Hebrew-the language that the Israelites spoke
Covenant-agreement
Moses- Hebrew baby that the pharaoh's daughter found in the Nile
Passover-the major Jewish spring festival that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, lasting seven or eight days from the 15th day of Nisan
Mount Sinai-place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God
Torah-Ten Commandments
Jericho-Canaan city destroyed when it's walls fell down
10 Commandments-the laws that God gave Moses
Rule of Law-the boundaries that limit you from right and wrong
The Promised Land-Canaan, the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants later to be Jacob and his descendants
Deborah-the Biblical prophetess who summoned Barak to battle against an army of invaders. After the battle she wrote a victory song which is part of the Book of Judges.
Phoenicians-a member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Phoenicia and its colonies. The Phoenicians prospered from trade and manufacturing until the capital, Tyre, was sacked by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.
Alphabet-standard set of letters that the letters represent phonemes
Canaanites- a member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Palestine and Phoenicia from about 3000 B.C.
Monotheism-the belief that there is only one God
Abraham-grandfather of Jacob
Jacob-Grandson of Abraham
12 Tribes-Jacob's family
Canaan-city that the Israelites settled in
Hebrew-the language that the Israelites spoke
Covenant-agreement
Moses- Hebrew baby that the pharaoh's daughter found in the Nile
Passover-the major Jewish spring festival that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, lasting seven or eight days from the 15th day of Nisan
Mount Sinai-place where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God
Torah-Ten Commandments
Jericho-Canaan city destroyed when it's walls fell down
10 Commandments-the laws that God gave Moses
Rule of Law-the boundaries that limit you from right and wrong
The Promised Land-Canaan, the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants later to be Jacob and his descendants
Deborah-the Biblical prophetess who summoned Barak to battle against an army of invaders. After the battle she wrote a victory song which is part of the Book of Judges.
Phoenicians-a member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Phoenicia and its colonies. The Phoenicians prospered from trade and manufacturing until the capital, Tyre, was sacked by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.
Alphabet-standard set of letters that the letters represent phonemes
Canaanites- a member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Palestine and Phoenicia from about 3000 B.C.
Three things that the Israelites should have done Differently:
Paragraph 1: The Israelites should have had a faster transportation system. Moses might have survived if they had something better to get there. This might have helped all of them, not just Moses survive. They could have gotten there faster. Also, Moses would still be able to help them.
Paragraph 2: The Israelites should have made sure that there were more judges. The judges would control two tribes at one time. It would make it much easier for them if they had more judges. This would allow them to not have to work as hard.
Paragraph 3: The Israelites should have made sure that they had weapons. This would prepare them if they were outside of Jericho. This would have been very helpful for them. It also would have added extra protection to guarantee their safety.
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