Ancient Hebrew and Jewish History

Ancient Hebrew history begins with the patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, forming the foundations of the Israelite identity. The Israelites, descendants of Jacob, faced slavery in Egypt before their Exodus under Moses, eventually settling in Canaan. The period of the united monarchy featured kings like Saul, David, and Solomon. Afterward, Israel split into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. Assyrian and Babylonian conquests led to exile and the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE. Jewish history evolved through traditions, laws, and texts, with the Second Temple period marking significant developments in Jewish culture and religion, culminating in the emergence of Rabbinic Judaism.