2. The First Israelites
C. 1400 B.C. – Israelites left Canaan because of a
drought, head to Egypt
Canaan is located in southwest Asia
3. Who were the Israelites?
They were monotheistic
Their religion is now known as Judaism
They spoke Hebrew
They were descended from Abraham
Abraham is connected to all three monotheistic
religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Abraham’s descendents from the 12 tribes of Israel
4. From Slavery to Freedom
Arrived in Egypt because of drought, became enslaved
Moses saved by the pharaoh’s daughter
10 plagues of Egypt
C. 1290 – Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, this was
known as the Exodus
5. What are the Ten
Commandments?
Laws received by Moses on Mt. Sinai
Laws became part of the Torah
Torah became holy book of the Hebrews
Torah describes covenant with God (Israelites return to
Canaan)
6. The Promise Land
Took 40 yrs. to return to Canaan
Israelites regained Jericho
Took judges as leaders
One group of Israelites, Phoenicians,
were skilled sailors and traders
Phoenicians created an alphabet (basis
for the English alphabet)
7. The Israelites chose a King
C. 1000 B.C. – Philistines were the
strongest people in Canaan
The Israelites wanted a king to unite
them against the Philistines
The prophet Samuel was asked to
choose the King
Samuel warned against this
8. The Israelites chose a King
Israelites chose Saul, a warrior-farmer
Samuel anointed Saul
God displeased with Saul disobeying
Him
Samuel anoints David as king
9. David and Solomon
David defeats enemies and creates an
empire
Requires tribute to be paid
Heavy taxes to expand Jerusalem, new
capital
Wrote the Psalms
Solomon becomes king, after David
died
