Later, Abraham's grandson Jacob, who took the name Israel, meaning "God ruled," organized the people into 12 tribes. Some of these tribes remained in Cannan while others, perhaps fleeing drought and famine, settled in Egypt and became subjects of the Pharaohs. To these numbers were added many slaves taken captive by the Egyptians during their conquest of Cannan in the fifteenth through thirteenth centuries BCE.
Perhaps the most important and famous part of the history of Israel concerns Moses, who led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. The oppression suffered by the Israelites was considerable. Under Ramses II, Egypt was undergoing its most ambitious period of construction since the days of the pyramids. Much of the labour required was supplied by conscripted foreigners, like the Israelites. They were forced to serve in the army, till the fields, pave the roads, build temples, and construct a new palace and two new cities. In the face of harsh treatment, many wanted to escape their oppression by Egypt. Some time around the end of the thirteenth century BCE, there was amass migration of Israelites from Egypt (called Exodus) under the leadership of a man with the Egyptian name Moses. Moses organized the tribes of Israel into a confederation bound by a covenant (a solemn agreement) to a god named Yahweh. According to the Old Testament, Moses received instructions directly from Yahweh, including what are called the Ten Commandments, a body of laws based on right conduct and stating, above all, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Four the first time, the Israelites were united under one god (monotheism) and the foundations were laid for the religion that would profoundly shape Western civilization.
The Israelites established themselves in Palestine, and in 1230 BCE, guided by Joshua, the successor to Moses, invaded Cannan and took the city of Jericho by siege. Despite being delivered from Egypt and led to victory by Joshua, the Israelites still had no central government, and over the years, the tries drifted aprat. Eventually, about 1020 BCe, a man named Saul became the first king of the Israelites and led them against their greatest enemy, the Philistines. Under David, Saul's successor, the Israelites captured the city of Jerusalem and extended the kingdom's boundaries to its greatest extent.
David's son Solomon is best remembered for his wisdom and skillful administration. He has also been credited with writing some of the books of the bible, including Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, although it is quite certain that these were written much alter. Solomon ruled at a time when many Near Eastern powers were weak, and he was able to maintain peace through a series of alliances and by increasing the size of the standing army he equipped with chariots.
the greatest monument to Solomon's rule was the Temple of Jerusalem, which he had built to house the Arc of the Covenant, a sacred box used to hold the holy text called the Torah. The temple has been described as :a marvel of cedar beams, cast-bronze pillars, ivory-paneled doors, golden vessels, and carved stone ornaments..." This magnificent temple was destroyed during a Babylonian invasion, rebuilt in the sixth century BCE, and destroyed again in 70 CE by the Romans. All that remains today is a party of the western wall of the outer court *(now called the Wailing Wall). Solomon's other great building was his new palace, said to be sufficiently large to house his 700 wives and to have stables for 12000 horses!
Following the death of Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel split in two. While the northern part retained the name of Israel, the southern half, with Jerusalem as its capital, became known as Judah. Weakened by internal divisions, Israel was conquered by the powerful Assyrians in 722 BCE, and its leaders dispersed throughout the Assyrian Empire. The scattered people became known as the ten lost tribes of Israel. Judah was all that remained of the former kingdom of Israel, and it too would fall. In 586 BCE, Judah fell to Chaldea, or New Babylon, and the captives were deported to Babylon. Slowly, the Israelites trickled back into Palestine, but the Kingdom of Israel had passed.
Although the ancient Israelites may not have established a vast empire or left a great deal of monumental architecture, their spiritual ideas have profoundly influenced much of Western culture, and continue to exert tremendous force on the modern world. Central to understanding the development of the Jewish faith is the concept of the Covenant. The Covenant was a formal agreement between the Hebrews and their god, Yahweh, that was first made at the time of Abraham and later renewed under Moses. According to this contract, the Hebrews were to worship Yahweh as their only god, and they, in turn, were to be Yahweh's chosen people and promised the land of Cannan.
Initially, Yahweh was likely just one god among many that were worshiped in the Near East. as the main god of the Hebrews, Yahweh would have faced competition from other gods such as Baal, Enlil, Marduk, and Amon-Re. Over time, the Hebrews came to regard Yahweh as the only true God, thus laying the foundations for a monotheistic (one god) religion. Yahweh, as he appears in the Old Testament, is an all-powerful and all-knowing god who created the world and then stood outside of it. He is, at times, portrayed as a jealous, vindictive, and intolerant god, but despite his often harsh nature, Yahweh was a god for everyone; a god who cared for all classes, and was not too aloof to care for the individual. The Hebrews believed that their god intervened in human affairs and forgave those who truly regretted their wrongs.
What made the Jewish faith stand apart from other faiths at the time of Moses was that it was a religion of the people. It was deeply and passionately felt from within, not imposed from above. It must be remembered that leaders such as Moses were not kings and, therefore, could not force the people to obey laws. These men of ordinary status were able to exert tremendous influence on the ethical behaviour of a society -- an influence that has lasted for over 3000 years.
Critical to the success and development of Judaism was the passion of the prophets who emerged throughout Israel's history. A theme common to all the prophets was the corruption of society and God's forgiveness if people repented their sins. The prophets declared that God would prove his love for his people by providing a Messiah ( a person with divine power) to lead the nation of Israel. from about 200 BCE on, Jewish thought maintained that a king would someday appear to lead the people of Israel and restore their power and glory.
History Continues to Unfold
Despite the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout Europe and around the world that began with the Diaspora in 70 CE, Jewish culture and religious beliefs have influenced all the ancient cultures of the Near East. Many of the traditions of the Israelites live on today -- not only among the Jews, but also among several other major religions. It has been said that without Moses, there could have been no Jesus or Muhammad. to what degree this is true is difficult to say, but it is certain that the three of the world's most dominant religions -- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam -- all find their spiritual roots in the beliefs of the ancient Israelites.
Writing: ECHOES from the Past, published by McGraw-Hill Ryderson Ltd.
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