HANDOUT FOR SEPT. 14: ANCIENT ISRAEL

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Names of Peoples and Lands:

Canaan/Canaanites: original name for the land and its earliest inhabitants. Semitic-speaking, worshippers of Baal and other gods.

Philistines: Peleset, "Sea Peoples" of unknown (possibly Mycenean Greek) origin, who occupied the coastal plain of Canaan after 1200 BC. Thus "Palestine, Palestinians."

Hebrews: from Apiru or Habiru, name used in Egyptian and Canaanite texts of late second millennium to refer to pastoralist hill-tribes.

Israel: Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham (according to Genesis). Name for the people who believed themselves descended from him. Also: name of the Northern Kingdom, from 931 to 722.

Judah (Yehud, or "Judaea"): Name of the Southern Kingdom, ruled from Jerusalem, from 931 to 587. Thus "Judaism, Jews."

Yahweh (or "Jehovah"): The God of Israel.

Chronology: dates before 1050 BC are highly uncertain; 1050-900 approximate; after 900 BC fairly exact.

c.2000: Time of Abraham (according to traditional chronology)

c.1750-1550: Semitic-speaking Hyksos charioteers invade and rule Egypt. Possible background to biblical story of Joseph in Egypt.

c.1300-1250: Time of Exodus from Egypt, according to tradition.

c.1200: Joshua leads Israelites in conquest of "Promised Land" of Canaan.

c.1200-1025: Israelites politically fragmented in twelve tribes; time of the "Judges."

c.1025-1005: Saul chosen by prophet Samuel as Israel’s first king.

c.1005-970: King David.

c.970-931: King Solomon.

931: On Solomon’s death, kingdom splits in two: Israel in north (capital at Shechem) and Judah in south (capital at Jerusalem).

c.950-800: Oldest parts of Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Judges, Samuel) written down.

873-852: Ahab king of Israel; marries foreign princess Jezebel; clashes with prophet Elijah.

842-814: Jehu king of Israel; suppresses worship of Baal; forced to pay tribute to Assyrians.

c.750-600: Various prophets put in writing.

721: Assyrian Empire destroys Northern Kingdom of Israel; takes people into captivity ("Ten Lost Tribes" of Israel.)

701: Assyrian king Sennacherib attacks Jerusalem, but plague decimates his army.

639-609: Josiah king of Judah. Religious revival and "rediscovery" of scrolls of the Law.

c.620-580: The prophet Jeremiah.

587: Nebuchadnezzar sacks Jerusalem and forcibly resettles Jews in Babylon ("Babylonian Captivity").

538: Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon, returns Jews to Jerusalem; Jews hail him as Messiah ("anointed one").