The Ancient IsraelitesChapter 3

Early Israelites

• Canaan was a kingdom established on the Mediterranean Sea• The Israelites

Early Israelites (cont.)

• Small population•Most known for their religion: Judaism• Monotheism

Early Israelites

• The Hebrew Bible• Written in Hebrew• Contained history and religious beliefs• Values and religion to spread to Europe.

Early Israelites

• According to the Bible they came from Mesopotamia and settled Canaan.• Herders and Traders

Early Israelites

• Belief system• descended from Abraham• God told Abraham to establish Canaan.• Told if they worshiped the one true God, the

land would be theirs.

Early Israelites

• Abraham had a grandson named Jacob• Called Israel, the name was later given to his

descendants

• Jacob had 12 sons which later became known as the 12 tribes of Israel

Early Israelites

• They lived in Canaan for about 100 years until a long drought forced them to leave.• To survive they traveled to Egypt.

The Israelites

• The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt by the Pharaoh • The Pharaoh did many horrible things to

maintain control of the Israelites• One mother saved her son by placing him in the

Nile - Moses

The Israelites

• Moses lived just outside of Egypt• Moses saw a burning bush and heard a voice,

which he said was God, telling him to lead the Israelites to freedom

The Israelites

• To help the Israelites God sent ten plagues to trouble to Egyptians.

• The plague convinced the Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave.

• Passover

• the Pharaoh Changes his mind and sends his army after them.

The Israelites

• According to the Bible God parted the Red Sea and allowed Moses and the Israelites to pass through• This event is known as the Exodus

The Israelites

• The Israelites traveled through Mount Sinai, where he received laws from god• Known as The Torah• Large part of the Torah is the Ten Commandments• In order to return to Canaan the Israelites had to enter a

covenant, or agreement with God to follow these laws.

The Israelites

• It took 40 years to reach Canaan• New leader: Joshua• Once Canaan was reached it was occupied by the

Canaanites• The Israelites believed it was God’s will to conquer

them

The Israelites

• Joshua led the Israelites into battle• According to the story the walls of Jericho

crumbled and the Israelites overran the city.• Land divided the land among the 12 tribes.

The Walls of Jericho

The Israelites

• The fighting judges• After Joshua died the Israelites looked to

judges for leadership• Military leader• Male or female• Controlled 1 or 2 tribes

The Israelites

• The fighting judges• The Israelites won control of the hilly region of central

Canaan • the Canaanites stayed in the flat coastal region.• Israelites adopted the Canaanite alphabet and

calendar.

The Israelites

• The Phoenician Alphabet• The Phoenicians were a group of Canaanites along the

Mediterranean Sea.• Skilled sailors and traders.• Carried goods to Greece, Spain, and West Africa.• Through trade they spread goods and ideas