Ancient

HEBREW HEROES Written in Stone

PSINGING AND PSPEAKING PSALMS

A WHALE OF A TALE!

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Ancient_Hebrews_Cover.indd 1 1/30/17 5:08 PM 2 What would you do if you were asked to believe something no one else believed? Would you pick up your family and Origins of travel hundreds of miles in search of a place you knew nothing about? The Hebrew , or , tells us a man named Abraham did just that, more than 3,000 years ago. Bucharest Abraham had a vision that told him to believe in only one Constanta Shevchenko BULGARIA Varna Sochi God. Abraham’sOrdzhonikidze covenant with, or promise to, God was the Stara ZagoraBurgas Nukus Poti GEORGIA Tbilisi Zonguldak beginning of monotheism – the belief in oneUZBEKISTAN God. It was also the ARMENIAstart of the world’s first monotheistic religion: Judaism. Ankara Yerevan Baku TURKEY l ABRAHAM AND . over.” They finally Izmir Tabriz Ashkhabad Ardabil his family left After they crossed arrived in Canaan, M E S O P O T A M AI Antalya Adana their home in the Euphrates a place in the Halab Eu Mosel ph T River, they becameMeymaneh Fertile Crescent. Aleppo ra i Tehran te g Iraklion Nicosia s r i and migrated known as Hebrews, Abraham knew they Riv s er R iv Herat LEBANON e Bakhtaran hundreds of miles which means had found it at last: Mari r Mediterranean Beirut CANAANDamascusDamascus in search of the “those who crossed the Promised Land. Sea Baghdad AFGHANISTAN Babylon Esfahan BethelAmman IRAQ Port Said ARABIAN “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, JORDANDead Ur Kerman Suez DESERT Al Basrah Cairo Sea KUWAIT and Shirazsaid: ‘Unto thyZahedan seed will I give this Beni Suef Kuwait Bam El-Minya land’; and he builded there an altar unto Nile River Fertile Crescent Bandar Abbas Abraham’s BAHRAINthe LORD, who appeared unto him.” SAUDI ARABIA Al Manamah Migration QATAR Red AFRICA Ad Dawhah — Genesis 12:7* Sea Medina Riyadh Aswan *GenesisAbu Dhabi 12:7, The Holy Scriptures,Muscat The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917. U. A. E.

OMAN Mecca ABRAHAM VOWED TO Al Khaluf worship one God. Port Sudan The tells us that God Atbarah promised to make Salalah Abraham and his Al Ghaydan Khartoum Asmara descendants the ERITREA SUDAN Chosen People. Al Mukalla He promised to Al Fashir Mekele Taizz Aseb lead them to the DJIBOUTI Promised Land. Djibouti Berbera SOMALIA

ancient_hebrews_sp1_B.indd 16 1/30/17 5:11 PM GREEK GOD ZEUS 3

u OTHER ANCIENT r ABRAHAM HAD religions were a great-grandson polytheistic, named Joseph, meaning they whose brothers embraced a belief sold him into slav- in many . ery in Egypt. Later, Ancient Romans the pharaoh (the and Greeks ruler of Egypt) freed developed myths, Joseph, because he or stories, about was a great thinker their gods and and storyteller. goddesses. The Joseph became a Egyptians believed powerful adviser to in many gods that the pharaoh. Years they showed with later, Joseph’s human bodies brothers and father and animal heads. moved to Egypt to In Canaan, people escape a terrible worshipped famine in Canaan. deities like Ba’al, When Joseph saw the god of rain his brothers again, and thunder. he forgave them for how they had treated him.

u MOSESCLIMBED Mount Sinai and spent 40 days and 40 nights up there. When he came down, he had two large stone tablets, on which were carved the Ten Commandments. The Torah says God gave Moses these commandments. They are the basic u ACCORDINGTO the Hebrew slaves disasters, to the mass departure miracles, including laws of Judaism the Hebrew Bible, from Egypt. Moses Egyptians, until was called the the parting of the and of , Moses was born a told the pharaoh the pharaoh finally “Exodus.” The Red Sea. which is the reli- Hebrew but raised to “let my people said yes. Moses Hebrew Bible gion based on the *Exodus 9:1, The Holy as an Egyptian go,”* but the led thousands of says that during Scriptures, The Jewish life and teachings prince. He had a pharaoh refused. Hebrews out of the Exodus, the Publication Society of America, of Jesus Christ. vision that God Then God brought Egypt and into the Hebrews had 1917. told him to free many plagues, or Sinai Desert. This the help of many

ancient_hebrews_sp1_B.indd 17 1/30/17 5:12 PM You’re a great king, defending your nation against enemies on all sides. Or maybe you’re a farmer, The Age turning a rocky hillside into a lush orchard. Maybe you’re a builder, helping to erect a temple. Perhaps you’re a prophet who’s believed to be able to see the future of kings and pharaohs. These were the kinds of Kings of people who transformed Israel into a powerful nation – a nation that would have to fight to survive.

MOSESNEVERMADE grandsons of it to the Promised Jacob (Abraham’s Land, but a new grandson). leader named Jacob’s name was Joshua led the changed to Israel Hebrews into after he wrestled Canaan. He divided with an angel. the land among the Then the Hebrews Twelve Tribes of became known Israel. Their leaders as . were the sons and

r THETRIBES wanted one king to rule over them so they could be unified against their enemies. The prophet Samuel chose a soldier named Saul to become the first King of Israel. Saul defeated many enemies and expanded the Israelites’ territory. u DAVID WAS A must be killed, soldier, a musician, so David fled and a poet to the land of who was so the . popular in King After Saul died Saul’s court that in battle, David the king became returned. He jealous of him. became the new He said David King of Israel.

ancient_hebrews_sp2_B.indd 16 1/30/17 5:16 PM Black Sea 5 l THE HEBREW Caspian Sea Bible tells many Under David’s rule, the Israelite territory, or region, grew to stories about David. five times the size of modern Israel. In one, he defeats

a giant named TURKEY Goliath. In another, IRAN Euph rat he brings the Ark of es Ri the Covenant – the SYRIA ver IRAQ cabinet that holds Mediterranean LEBANON Sea David’s the original Ten Kingdom Commandments – ISRAEL back to the city of JORDAN in Israel. Under King David’s EGYPT SAUDI ARABIA reign, Israel became a united monarchy. Persian Gulf

l ACCORDINGTO as builders, but theRed Torah, Sea King he charged the , David’s people high tax- son, built the es to pay for his First Temple in projects. Solomon Jerusalem in was known for his 957 BCE and also great wisdom. It built up Israel’s is said he wrote infrastructure. He the Song of Songs expanded trade and the Book of with Phoenicia and Proverbs, a col- Egypt. Solomon lection of moral put thousands of teachings found in Israelites to work the HebrewGulf Bible. of Aden

What job would you have held in ancient Israel? Warrior? Shepherd? Farmer? Builder?

d PEOPLEWERE had been. When d ISRAELBEGAN living in villages. metalworkers. Deborah, had jobs already unhap- they rebelled, the as an agricultural As the country Most women took outside the home. py about forced kingdom became a society, with most grew, many men care of the children Deborah became a labor and high divided monarchy. people working became builders, and the household. powerful judge. taxes when Israel was in the as farmers or carpenters, and Some women, like Solomon’s son, north, and Judah King Rehoboam, was in the south. took over. He Jeroboam, who told the Israelites had been one of that he would Solomon’s officials, be even harsher became King of than his father Judah.

ancient_hebrews_sp2_B.indd 17 1/30/17 5:15 PM 6 Who’s your favorite hero? Is he or she an athlete or a movie star? Maybe it’s someone in your family or community who Heroes of inspires you to dream big and be the best you can be. The people of ancient Israel had many heroes – men and women who fought for the ’ right to worship and live as they Judaism pleased. They were warriors, judges, prophets, poets, and even “regular” people brave enough to stand up for what they believed in.

l ABRAHAM, THE u ACCORDINGTOTHE first Hebrew proph- Torah, when Moses et, was a simple was a baby, the shepherd who had pharaoh said all great courage, Hebrew baby boys according to the must die. Moses’s Torah. He also mother put him in had great faith a basket and sent in a God no one him floating down else believed even the Nile River. The existed. Abraham pharaoh’s daughter believed in himself, found Moses in the too. He could have reeds and raised been laughed at him as her son. because his beliefs When Moses grew seemed strange to up, he had a vision others, but he kept that God told him his faith and led to lead the Hebrew his family to a new slaves out of Egypt. land – where he Moses led thou- began a whole new sands of Jews out religion. of Egypt and into the Sinai desert. He climbed Mount Sinai alone and, after 40 days and nights, he returned with the Ten Commandments.

ancient_hebrews_sp3_B.indd 16 1/30/17 5:18 PM 7

u WHEN RUTH and thy God my wanted to follow God.” The Torah says Naomi to Judah, Ruth was the first Naomi told her not convert (someone to come, because who switches reli- she had not been gions) to Judaism. born a . Ruth *Ruth 1:16, The Holy Scriptures, followed anyway, The Jewish Publication Society of saying, “thy people America, 1917. shall be my people, u AFTERHER had been born. Her but kept going are always called husband died, daughter-in-law, and made it back back home, even if Naomi left Ruth, went with to Judah. Naomi the trip may seem and returned to her. They faced represents the idea impossible. Judah, where she many hardships that Jewish people

l DEBORAH WAS A respected judge and prophet. She inspired a great soldier named Barak to lead more than 10,000 men into battle against a powerful enemy u KING DAVID army. Barak said wrote many of the to Deborah, “If Psalms (poems thou wilt go with that can be sung me, then I will or spoken) found go.” She agreed, in the Torah. One and the Israelites of them is Psalm won, even though 23, which begins, the other army “The LORD is my had hundreds of shepherd; I shall chariots. Deborah not want.”* The became a hero and Star of David was still symbolizes the originally thought important role of of as a shield or . protector. Now it is *Judges 4:8, The Holy the symbol of the Scriptures, The Jewish Jewish faith and Publication Society of America, the State of Israel. 1917.

*Psalm 23, The Holy Scriptures, The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917. Who’s Your Hero? Of all the Hebrew heroes, which one do you admire most, and why?

ancient_hebrews_sp3_B.indd 17 1/30/17 5:19 PM 8 l JACOB, Abraham’s grand- War and Peace son, was the father of 12 sons. Ten Ancient Israel grew to be a major sons and two of his power in the . But you grandsons would become the leaders know what they say: more power, of the Twelve Tribes more problems! It was a bit more of Israel. Before complicated than that, with Israel became a united nation, each neighboring countries invading and tribe had its own civil war brewing. The people of territory. The terri- tory ruled by Judah ancient Israel faced many conflicts. was named after Would it all be enough to destroy him. Jerusalem the nation? How would it survive? was located in Judah, and the In war and in peace, Israel continued words “Judaism” to be a land rich in commerce, and “Jews” come agriculture, and military might. from “Judah.”

r KING REHOBOAM the people in the sparked civil North (Israel) and unrest when he the South (Judah). built a temple in Bethel was located Bethel to rival the in Israel, while one in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was in It caused great Judah. tension between

l KING OMRIOF Israel reigned in u PROPHETS, storm caught the the 9th century thought to convey ship. Jonah told the BCE. He moved the God’s messages, sailors to throw him capital of Israel were important in overboard. They from Tirza to ancient Israel. Most refused at first, but , and Israel warned Jews to be once they did, the wasn’t invaded observant or risk storm passed. A for another ten God’s punishment. whale swallowed years. Then, in 722 According to the Jonah but spat him BCE, Sargon II led Torah, God told out after he swore the Assyrians in Jonah to warn the he’d obey God. conquering Israel. people of Nineveh Then Jonah went Sargon II was so to obey God or face to Nineveh and afraid that the destruction. Jonah preached to the Jews would rebel, sailed away to hide king. The city was he made most of from God, but a saved! them leave Israel.

ancient_hebrews_sp4_v3_B.indd 16 1/30/17 5:21 PM 9 l KING HEZEKIAH d EXILESARETHE tice their faith. In Covenant. That reigned over Judah people who have Jerusalem, which had been lost. The from approximately been forced Cyrus also ruled, 715 to 686 BCE. to leave their the Hebrews stood from about He also fought the homeland. When built the Second 516 BCE to 70 CE. Assyrian invaders. Temple, right At that time, the Legend tells us of Persia (c. 590 where the First Romans destroyed Jerusalem was to 529 BCE) freed Temple had stood. it and exiled the spared when a the Jewish It was simpler Jews again. plague nearly in Babylon, he than the first and destroyed the let them return did not house Assyrian army. home and prac- the Ark of the

l ATMANYTIMES known as the They preserve their There they worship in history, Jews Jewish . heritage and faith and learn about have left Israel – The first Diaspora in many ways. their faith under either by choice was caused by Many go to temple the guidance of or because they the Assyrian (or , a , who is a were forced to. of 722 BCE Today, which means spiritual leader and This scattering of Jews live all “assembly” or a scholar of Jewish the Jews became around the world. “congregation”). faith and law.

ancient_hebrews_sp4_v3_B.indd 17 1/30/17 5:21 PM What Is the Torah? It is the five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. (In the Christian Bible, they make up part of what is called the .) The Torah is believed to contain all of God’s divine revelations to the Jewish people. The word Torah also describes the entire Hebrew Bible, which includes other writings besides the Books of Moses. Every Torah is handwritten with great care by just one person on a parchment scroll made of animal skin. Each is copied in the same way it was in ancient times. If the scribe makes a mistake, he or she must start all over again from the very beginning.

ancient_hebrews_sp5_B.indd 16 1/30/17 5:22 PM ancient_hebrews_sp5_B.indd 17 1/30/17 5:22 PM 12 From Greek Rule to Rebellion Greek statues in Jerusalem? Jews playing Greek games in the streets? What happened to ancient Israel? , that’s what. One of the greatest warriors who ever lived, Alexander the r AROUND 329 BCE, Alexander the Great conquered Israel in approxi- Great conquered mately 329 BCE, and a lot of things Israel – just as he had conquered changed. Over the centuries, first much of the known Greek and then Roman rule would world. Soon, dominate Israel. Some foreign Greek culture was everywhere. Many emperors allowed the ancient Jews feared they Hebrews to practice their religion were losing their in peace, but own religion and culture. Some was always an issue. Brave men like rebelled, but they Judah Maccabee and Simon bar were ultimately Kokhba led Jewish rebellions, but defeated by one of Alexander’s Roman soldiers had numbers and successors, time on their side. Emperor Antiochus.

r SIMON BAR Kokhba led a rebellion in from 132 to 135 CE. When the Romans crushed this insurrection, nearly all Judean Jews were forced into exile. Emperor changed Judea’s name to Syria Palestina. This ancient scroll is believed to have been written by Bar Kokhba. It was found near the Dead Sea in a cave.

u EMPEROR foods forbidden Some say it was the Maccabees Antiochus out- by the Torah, such the world’s first took back the lawed the Sabbath as pork. All this . They Second Temple in (the weekly day of angered the Jews, were outnum- 164 BCE. The land rest and prayer) and in 167 BCE, bered, but thanks of Judea had won and other Jewish Judah Maccabee to clever tactics its independence traditions. He and his four broth- (such as ambush- again . . . for a forced Jews to eat ers led a rebellion. es and sabotage), while.

ancient_hebrews_sp6_B.indd 16 1/30/17 5:24 PM 13 d IN 70 CE, THE and killed or drove (at right in the Roman army once all the Jews out picture below). As again laid siege of the city. To this Judaism’s holiest to Jerusalem and day, the temple site, it attracts slowly conquered has never been visitors from the city. The rebuilt. Only the around the world, Romans destroyed Western Wall of the many of whom the Second Temple temple still stands come there to pray.

r MASADA WAS A great fortress on a mountaintop in Judea. There, in 73 CE, the Jews made their final stand against the Romans. It took more than two years and 15,000 Roman soldiers to conquer Masada, which was defended by only 1,000 men. Masada remains a powerful symbol of resistance and perseverance.

ancient_hebrews_sp6_B.indd 17 1/30/17 5:24 PM 14 Keeping the Faith The ancient Hebrews had many battles to fight. They had to defeat invaders who want- ed their land. They also had to fight to keep their faith, laws, and culture alive. That was a challenge, because foreign rulers used force to spread their own beliefs and practic- es throughout Israel. Despite the dangers, there were always brave men and women who helped preserve Hebrew culture. Many elements of this culture live on, even beyond religion. From the time of the u INTHE 5TH Because of this, he brought Mosaic Exodus, Israel was a theocracy. That means century BCE, a he is known as the (meaning “from its rulers followed laws written by God, not Jewish leader “Second Moses.” Moses”) law back by other people. Everyone had to obey these named led He is also called to Jerusalem. This the Exodus from the “scribe of helped rebuild the laws, even the rulers themselves, which Babylon back law of the God of Jewish faith. meant that all people were equal under the to Jerusalem. heaven,” because law. That’s an idea that still matters today in America and many other countries.

r YOHANANBEN ZAKKAI was a schol- ar, philosopher, rabbi, and prophet. In about 68 CE, with Jerusalem under siege, he snuck out of the city, hiding in a coffin. He went to the Roman general, , and told him he would become emperor. When that came true, Vespasian let ben Zakkai build a Jewish school, or yeshivah. In 69 CE, ben Zakkai founded u JEREMIAH WAS to God was even the first yeshivah, a very important more important in Yavneh. This prophet who lived than religious rit- began a new form near Jerusalem uals. He said that of Judaism based in the 6th and 7th the Exodus showed more on Torah centuries BCE. His that Jews could study and laws courage helped practice their faith than on temple preserve Judaism anywhere, not just worship. It helped throughout the in the Temple. This Judaism survive the Babylonian inva- new idea became burning of the tem- sion and the big central to the ple in 70 CE. Shown Exodus that fol- Jewish Diaspora here is a modern lowed. Jeremiah experience. yeshivah. said that loyalty

ancient_hebrews_sp7_B.indd 16 1/30/17 5:27 PM 15 r IN THE 11TH century CE, Isaac ben Jacob Alfasi wrote his codifica- tion, or explanation, of the (the book of Jewish Laws). In it, this judge and scholar focused on the basic, original text. He left out other explanations that

had been added to Vorkuta

u Ob it. Alfasi’s enemies Ikateq AFTERTHE gathering places. forced him to flee Second Temple By praying and Hammerfest his home in Fez, was destroyed,Kirkenes studying together Alta Siglufjordhur Murmansk which is today a city Harstad with the help of a in Morocco. He went (smallerKiruna temples) rabbi (a religious

to , where he became vitalRovaniemi scholar and lead- Mo Arkhangelsk started a commu- toLulea keeping the Severodvinsker), Jews were able Skelleftea Syktyvkar nity and Talmudic ICELAND Jewish faith alive. to worship wherev- Kama school. Because of Trondheim UmeaMany synagogues er they lived. These Ostersund him, Spain became Torshavn weren’tVaasa even build- synagogues also Kirov Perm FINLAND ings. They were Izhevsk a major center for helped communi-Vologda Talmudic study. Lerwick Bergen Gavlesimple outdoor ties stay together. NORWAY SWEDEN St. Petersburg Volga VolgaKazan Novgorod Yaroslavl Inverness Rostov Pskov Gorkiy The Jewish DiasporaParnu Volga Goteborg 1st to 2nd Centuries CE Glasgow Edinburgh Tol Yatti Liepaja Belfast Kaluga Vejle Atlantic OceanSunderland Klaipeda Don IRELAND Smolensk Leeds Dnieper Saratov Limerick Gdansk Orel Manchester Liverpool Hamburg Olsztyn Voronezh Cork Elbe Birmingham Gomel Voronezh Rotterdam Poznan Volgograd Volga Plymouth Leipzig Lodz Lutsk Kharkov Bonn Seine Krakow Lvov Donetsk Dnieper Frankfurt Dnestr Don GERMANYNurnberg Brno Krivoy Rog Danube NantesLoire Strasbourg Zurich Frunze Krasnodar EUROPEGraz Gyor Danube Cluj Odessa Geneva Pecs Arad Braila Simferopol La Coruna Garonne Lyon Sochi Bordeaux Po Milano Timisoara Poti Bayonne Rijeka Genova Rhone Varna Porto Valladolid Firenze Danube Coimbra Rio Douro Marseille Burgas Zaragoza SPAIN Tagus River Barcelona TURKEY Istanbul GREECE Valencia Naples Bursa Cordoba Ioannina Larisa Izmir Agrinion Adana Malaga Euphrates R. MOROCCO Palermo Antalya Aleppo Tangier Mediterranean Patrai IRAQ Annaba Oran Sea Catania Constantine Khania Iraklion Casablanca Batna

Marrakech Gafsa Sfax ISRAEL Medenine Port Said EGYPT AFRICA Misratah Alexandria Ouargla Banghazi Suez

Timimoun Beni Suef El-Minya Nile

u WHEN JEWS roots in other areas America, and other Some Jews who have been forced of the Middle East, parts of the world. resettled became to leave Israel, they southwestern Asia, Wherever they scholars and stud- have resettled all and . Later went, Jews kept ied the Talmud and over the world. At they also settled their faith by build- Torah at . first they put down in , North ing communities.

ancient_hebrews_sp7_B.indd 17 1/30/17 5:27 PM 16 l INTHE 11TH century CE, a French scholar Faith and Feasts named (an acronym for Rabbi Through many hardships and Shlomo Yitzchaki) victories, Judaism has survived wrote a thorough set of commentar- for more than 3,000 years. ies (explanations) Today, Jews still honor the on the Tanakh teachings of Abraham and and the Talmud. Throughout history, Moses. These teachings, and many other Jewish the lessons of prophets and scholars have writ- , evolved into a system ten commentaries. One such scholar of Jewish laws and ethics that was Sa’adia ben inspire Jews to live up to a Joseph. He clarified Talmudic law in high moral standard. That the 10th century means more than just going CE. Another was to Temple. It means being Moses . He wrote about honest, just, and virtuous, as the Mishna, or oral the Torah commands. This Jewish law, in the strong faith also teaches Jews 12th century CE. to honor their history – the good times and the bad – with holy days, celebrations, and traditions.

u THE HEBREW Bible is also known as the Tanakh. That word is an acro- nym (a kind of abbreviation) made from the first letters of the names of the three parts of the Hebrew Bible: Torah (Five Books of Moses), Nevi’im (Prophets), and (Writings).

ancient_hebrews_sp8_v2_B.indd 16 1/31/17 10:02 AM 17 l Jewish Holy Days commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. r HOLY DAYS HELP It is celebrated with Jews remember a seder – a meal d ROSH HASHANAH, their heritage. with many symbolic the Jewish New The Jewish cal- foods. The name Year, marks the endar is based on Passover represents beginning of the the cycles of the how the Jews were Jewish High Holy moon’s phases. spared – or passed Days. Jews eat Our modern calen- over – when, apples with honey dar is based on the r according to the to symbolize the Earth’s position in celebrates the Torah, the angel sweet new year relation to the sun, survival of Jews of death came to they hope lies so Jewish holy in ancient Persia. Egypt. ahead. days seem to fall Queen Esther of on different dates Persia hid her true every year. identity as a Jew to help save her peo- ple. That is why, on Purim, many Jews dress up like kings, queens, and other characters of the period.

d YOM KIPPUR, fast for 25 hours r the Day of to remember celebrates the Atonement, is ten tragedies and ask fall harvest. For days after Rosh forgiveness for one week, Jews HaShanah. Jews their sins. gather for meals in a sukkah, a small outdoor hut built with palm fronds, reeds, or other vegetation.

l HANUKKAH is the eight- day Festival of Lights, which usually occurs in December. It celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple and the Maccabee revolt. Lighting candles on a menorah sym- u THE SABBATH working or bolizes a miracle, is a day of rest lighting a fire in which a small and prayer. It lasts on the Sabbath, amount of sacred from sunset on Orthodox Jews lamp oil burned Friday to sunset don’t work, drive, in the Temple for on Saturday every write, or turn on eight days instead week. To obey electricity on the of just one. the law against Sabbath.

ancient_hebrews_sp8_v2_B.indd 17 1/31/17 10:03 AM 18 Activities

TIMELINE OF MOSES’S LIFE Moses is a key figure in the history of the ancient Hebrews. Make a diagram or timeline of major events in Moses’s life. To begin, list the events in chronological order, identifying the year whenever possible. Then write a summary or brief description of each event.

A GAME OF PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS The history of the Hebrews is rich with stories of important people, places, and events. Work with a partner to create and play a card game to help you remember key information. You will need an index card for each person, event, or place. On one side of a card, write the name of a person, event, or place. On the other side, write a description. Use the cards to play a question-answer or answer-question game with your partner.

Ancient_Hebrews_18-19.indd 18 1/30/17 5:31 PM 19 MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THESE RELATED TITLES

Ancient Egypt Christianity and Language Pyramids. Pharaohs. Mummies. And Rome’s Legacies It’s more than just the words and Gods. This once-powerful civiliza- As an empire, Rome’s expansive sounds we use to communicate. The tion left behind such breathtaking reach stretched far and wide across study of language helps us understand monuments and priceless treasures. the ancient world. Today, we see its our past. From ancient hieroglyphs Discover the people and practices that impact and influence across the globe. and the first papyrus scrolls, to sign make ancient Egypt so alluring, as Paramount to Rome’s empire was the language and computer programming, historians uncover the mysteries of religion of Christianity, a centerpiece in language is at the center of human this ancient civilization. the empire’s growth and legacy. society.

CALIFORNIA STANDARDS

HSS 6.3 Students analyze the geographic, politi- cal, economic, religious, and social structures of the Ancient Hebrews. 6.3.1 Describe the origins and significance of Judaism as the first monotheistic religion based on the concept of one God who sets down moral laws for humanity. 6.3.2 Identify the sources of the ethical teachings and central beliefs of Judaism (the Hebrew Bible, the Commentaries): belief in God, observance of law, practice of the concepts of righteousness and justice, and importance of study; and describe how the ideas of the Hebrew traditions are reflected in the moral and ethical traditions of Western civilization. 6.3.3 Explain the significance of Abraham, Moses, Naomi, Ruth, David, and Yohanan ben Zaccai in the development of the Jewish religion. 6.3.4 Discuss the locations of the settlements and movements of Hebrew peoples, including the Exodus and their movement to and from Egypt, and outline the significance of the Exodus to the LEARN MORE ONLINE! Jewish and other people. 6.3.5 Discuss how Judaism survived and developed despite the continuing disper- sion of much of the Jewish population from Jerusalem • Jerusalem, which dates back • Cyrus the Great was a Persian and the rest of Israel after the destruction of the sec- ond Temple in A.D. 70. to 3000 BCE, still remains the king who ordered the writing of holiest city in Israel, as well as the . What was its political capital. the Cyrus Cylinder? What is its Historical and Social Sciences Analysis Skills: relevance today? • King Solomon was not only a Historical Interpretation mighty king, he is credited • What was the role of women 6. Students interpret basic indicators of economic performance and conduct cost-benefit analyses of with writing the Book of in ancient Israel? Who was economic and political issues. Proverbs. But what were Deborah, and what position they used for? did she hold?

Ancient_Hebrews_18-19.indd 19 1/30/17 5:31 PM hmhco.com

EDITOR: Jennifer Dixon PROOFREADER: Margaret Mittelbach ART DIRECTION: Brobel Design FACT-CHECKER: David Stienecker DESIGNERS: Ian Brown, Ed Gabel, David Ricculli, Jeremy Rech AUTHOR: Emily Dodi PHOTO RESEARCH: Ted Levine, AUTHOR TEAM LEAD: Barak Zimmerman Elisabeth Morgan ACTIVITIES WRITERS: Whitney Davidson, PRESIDENT AND CEO: Ted Levine Marjorie Frank CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER: Mark Levine

GRADE 6 TITLES Ruth); RMN-Grand Palais: René-Gabriel Ojéda: p.8 middle left (Jonah and the whale). Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia: p.15 top left (). Doré’s English World’s Early People Ancient Bible: p.7 bottom right (Deborah praises Jael). Elie Wiesel: Guillaume de : p.16 top right (Rashi); Getty Images: Superstock: James Tissot: p.5 top left (David slings the Mesopotamia Indian Empires stone); Gustave Doré: p. 6 right (Baby Moses); Musee Des Beaux-Arts: Victor Orsel: p.6 Ancient Egypt Ancient left (Abraham); Benjamin Rondel: pp.12–13 bottom center (Western Wall). Granger Collection: Erhard Schoen: p.3 bottom left (parting of Red Sea); Gustave Doré: p.4 top Archaeology Early Romans left (Israelites in Canaan); Granger Collection, NYC: p.5 bottom left (King Rehoboam), Language p.12 bottom left (Judas Maccabeus). iStock Images: duncan1890: p.3 center right (Moses with tablets), p.14 top right (Ezra); Kenneth Wiedemann: p.4 bottom left Ancient Hebrews Christianity and Rome’s Legacies (Saul); stevenallan: p.13 top right (Masada); ivan-96: p.14 middle left (Jeremiah); Tova Early Greeks Olmec and Maya Teitelbaum: pp.16–17 (lighting the menorah), p.17 middle right (Sukkot); Andrew Soundarajan: p.17 top center (seder plate); stellalevi: p.17 middle left (stellalevi). Library Greece’s Golden Age Civil Rights of Congress: p.8 top center (ancient city of Jerusalem). Museo del Prado, Madrid: Ancient Persia pp.12–13 top center (Alexander the Great). National Gallery, : Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld: p.7 top left (Ruth). Shutterstock: Pidgorna Levgeniia: p.3 top left (Zeus); edelmar: pp.10–11 (Torah); LeonP: p.17 top center (matzah); Ekaterina Lin: p.17 middle center (Purim); tomertu: p.17 bottom right (Sabbath); Sigapo: p.16 middle left (Hebrew ON THE COVER: Moses descending Mt. Sinai, wood engraving after Gustave Doré: Granger Bible); K_Boonnitrod: p.19 bottom (Jerusalem); JJ_SNIPER: p.19 top left (ancient Collection, NYC. Egypt); TTstudio: p.19 top center (Vatican); Vladimir Zhoga: p.19 top right (Japanese hieroglyphs); dedMazay: p.18 top (cartoon of Moses). www.deadseascrolls.org: Shai PICTURE CREDITS: Alamy: North Wind Picture Archives: p.3 top right (Joseph of Egypt); Halevi: p.13 bottom right (Dead Sea Scrolls). Lebrecht Music and Arts Photo Library: p.8 middle right (Rehoboam), p.8 bottom right (fall of Samaria); Mary Evans Picture Library: p.9 top left (Hezekiah and Isaiah); Godong: ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS: pp.14–15 bottom (); Valentyn Semenov: p.17 top right (Rosh Hashanah). Art Brobel Design: Maps on pp.2,5,15. Resource: Lucas van Leyden: p.4 bottom right (Saul and David); Balage Balogh: p.5 middle left (Solomon’s Temple), p.5 bottom right (Israelite house), p.9 center (Temple Michael Kline Illustration: Hebrew Heroes, A Whale of a Tale, cover; Jewish Diaspora, of Herod); Tate Gallery, London: Thomas Matthews Rooke: p.7 top right (Naomi and p.9; Keeping the Faith, p.15; A Game of People, Places, and Events, p.18.

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