Journey of the Hebrew People

Abraham

• In the Torah, God chose a shepherd named Abraham to be the father of the Hebrew people. 

• Abraham lived in Ur, a city in Mesopotamia. 

• Around 1800 B.C, Abraham led Hebrews, his family, and their herds and made their way to Canaan.

Jacob

• Over time, the Hebrews in Canaan took a new name-the Israelites. Their name came from Abraham’s grandson Jacob. According to the Torah, he was also called Israel.

• Jacob had 12 sons. ten of these sons and two grandsons were the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Moses

• The Torah tells of a terrible famine in Canaan. 

• The Torah tells how God commanded Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The migration of the Israelites from Egypt is known as the Exodus.

• Moses climbed up Mount Sinai, where God spoke to him. Moses came down the mountain with two stone tablets on which God had written the Ten Commandments.

• Moses picked Joshua to lead the Israelites back into Canaan.

• The Israelites returning to Canaan were organized into 12 tribes. The men of these tribes became Joshua’s troops.

Joshua

• During the 200 years of war, no single powerful leader led the Israelites. Instead, they sought advice from many different leaders called judges. 

• The first judges acted as military leaders. 

• Later judges gave advice on legal matters. 

• The judges played a key role in keeping the 12 tribes united.

Judges