World Civilization
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THE HEBREWS
OBJECTIVES:
1. Be able to discuss the early history of the Hebrews from Abraham through the collapse of Israel and Judah. 2. Be able to discuss the achievements of the important Hebrew kings. 3. Be able to discuss the foundations of the Hebrew faith, and to compare and contrast these ideas with those of the other cultures we have studied. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: In what ways did the Hebrews contribute to democratic ideas? It has often been remarked that some of the world's greatest ideas are born of tribulation, not comfort. Could this be applied to Hebrew history? The Torah calls the Hebrews the "fewest of all nations." Nevertheless, despite all attempts to exterminate or assimilate them, they remain a distinctive group. Historians have puzzled over whether to call the Hebrews a nation, for they are dispersed across the world, a race, for they are many races, or a single religion, for one can find those who call themselves Jews but who do not practice Judaism. Just how to define Jewish identity is problematic. In this unit, we focus on the ancient political and religious history of the Hebrews. We trace them through years of wandering and captivity, and forty years of prosperity under Solomon. Despite their limited success politically, their contributions to world religion are undeniable. The Hebrews developed a sophisticated abstract idea of a creator God who was intimately involved in human history. Their God was the only God, and thus Abraham departed from this polytheistic Mesopotamian contemporaries. From this fewest of all nations emerged the three greatest world religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Thy name shall be Abraham, for a father of many nations have I made thee. Genesis 17:15 Behold, the bush burned with fire and the bush was not consumed........ Put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place whereon thy standest is Holy ground. And Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God...... And God said to Moses I AM THAT I AM..... Exodus 3:2-14 Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me and live. Exodus 33:20 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. Exodus 20:3-4 OUTLINE I. History and evidence for Hebrews A. The Old Testament: i. as a historical source ii. Description of Hebrew texts and definition of terms: a. The Pentateuch (Greek for five rolls) 5th b.c. (earliest written texts 9th b.c.) b. The Torah i)the word means Guidance or Direction in Hebrew ii) the written Torah: five Mosaic books iii) the oral Torah: teachings revealed to Moses iv) not written down until later v) Bible in the form we know it: the Old Testament by 2nd century a.d. c. The Talmud B. brief account of Hebrew history as presented in the old Testament i. word origins: a) "Ibri" -- from the other side b) Abraham fron Ur, on the east side of the Euphrates c) "abiru" -- the dusty ones ii. Abraham from Ur (2000 b.c.) a. the covenant b. circumcision iii. Moses and the exodus 13th b.c. a. prophet -- from profetes (greek) : one who speaks for another b. the Mosaic covenant i) "you shall be as my own people" ii) singled out to live in an ethical way iii) "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" c. the ten commandments i) the ten words ii) broken tablets iii) new tablets in the Ark of the Covenant iv) there is only one God: no other before me!!!! v) negative theology d. the exodus: i) word origins: a)Palestine: eastern Mediterrranean b) modern Israel, Jordon, Egypt Holy Land c) from Philistines: 12th b.c. Philisitia d) 2nd a.d. -- Romans renamed Syria Palestine (included Judea) e) revived when British got mandate to govern west of Jordan after WWI f) split in 1947: Israel and Jordan g) Arabs: six sons of Abraham by second wife iv. 1200 b.c. a. David 1010-970 B.C. -- the united kingdoms i) Jerusalem as capital ii) ark to Jerusalem iii) theories concerning the fate of the Ark b. Solomon: The temple in Jerusalem 970-930 b.c. i) great wealth ii) the queen of Sheba c. The kingdoms of Israel and Judah i) Israel in North ii) Jacob, grandson of Abraham iii) Israel = soldier of god iv) his twelve sons = twelve tribes v) originally not united d. Judah in South i) Judah, son of Israel -- ii) meaning of "Jew" e. 922 b.c.: kingdoms divided into two parts. f. The collapse of the kingdoms i. Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 b.c. ii. dispersion of ten tribes: lost ten tribes and the Diaspora a) Theories iii. Judah falls to Babylonians: 586 b.c. a) the Babylonian Captivity. i) the rabbis ii) the Talmud b) Babylonians defeated by Persians in 539 and Hebrews returned to Palestine. iv. second temple in 516 b.c. a) the Wailing Wall today g. The Diaspora i) Romans sacked the temple in Jerusalem in 70 a.d. amd 132 a.d. C. lack of textual references to the Hebrews in other cultures/comparison of Hebrew texts to texts of other cultures of antiquity D Film: Testament: As it Was in the Beginning" E. Archaeological evidence: film clip "Testament" II. Hebrew religion A. Monotheism B. The Hebrew concept of God i. no use of images ii. Yahweh as a name: jhvh (no vowels): a) translators wrote eoa above it: which was read as adonai: the lord; and later mistaken for a name. b) G-d's name cannot be uttered. iii. "I Am Who Am" a) pure being who causes all things to exist. iv. relationship between G-d and humans C. Hebrew creation vs. Mesopotamian pessimism i. orderly and rational ii. "and behold, it was good" D. Hebrew social justice: i. the ten commandments ii. Leviticus and Deuteronomy: a) concern for poor b) protection of people vs. property (Code of Hammurabi) c. texts iii. application of laws to an entire community -- equality under the law III. Impact of Hebrews on western culture FILM GUIDE -- THE HEBREWS "TESTAMENT: AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING" 1. What are some problems with dating and/or proving the veracity of the Old Testament accounts of the Hebrews? List at least two examples. 2. What are some examples of evidence that suggest that the Old Testament may be an accurate account of the early history of the Hebrews? List at least two examples given in the film. 3. Are the examples you listed in #2 considered conclusive historical evidence or indirect evidence? 4. What is the relationship between Mesopotamian mythology and the book of Genesis? List two points of similarity between Mesopotamian creation myths and Genesis. 5. Based on class discussion, what are some important differences between Mesopotamian myths and Genesis? List at least three differences.