The Hebrews were originally desert nomads. Their religion - Judaism was the oldest monotheistic religion ( the worship of one God - Jahweh ).Judaism originated in the Middle East around 1500 BC. The central ideas and laws of Judaism are contained in sacred texts such as the Torah.
The God created the Earth, but man broke his law. Jewish people were chosen by God and given rules to live by "Ten commandments". Hebrews believed in the practice of ethical behavior ( acting based on ideas what is right and wrong ).
Key people in Judaism are: Abraham, Moses and king David. God told Abraham to leave his home in Mesopotamia and to settle in Canaan. A leader named Moses led his people out of slavery in Egypt in a journey called Exodus.
The Hebrews believed that they:
- were chosen people of the God,
- God was fair and just.