History of Israel

Israel as a nation has a very rich history that dates back to over three thousand years ago. It is believed to be the only nation that occupies the same land, worships the same God, speaks the same language and still retains the name it did 3,000 years ago. If you dig up the scrolls aged 2,000 years that look the same as the ones used to advertise candy shops and other business in Israel today. If you are lucky, you may also find coins from Bar Kokhba, Davidic times pottery and other artifacts that show the rich history of Israel. The Jewish people who occupy Israel trace their origin to the famous father of Faith in the Bible Abraham. Israel was God’s promise to Abraham. This promise came to be through Isaac his son and Abraham’s grandson. The three are referred to as the patriarchs of the great twelve tribes of the Israelites.

The Name Israel

Israel has its origin to Abraham and through him, the Jewish and Christians as a whole established the belief that the universe by one Universal God. All the three patriarchs lived in the land promised Canaan to the Israelites after they were moved from Egypt. Canaan later came to be named the land of Israel. Jacob was given the name Israel in Genesis 32:29. He bore twelve sons that are the kernels of the twelve tribes of Israel. Later the twelve tribes of Jacob and their descendants crystallized into the nation of Israel. This happened in 1300 BCE after the Exodus and the journey from Egypt. The Israelites were ruled or governed by the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God at Mount Sinai. The Israelites were not left to die in the wilderness after they defied God. When Moses died, Joshua took over and led the Israelites to the Promised Land.

Rule of Israelites

After Joshua’s conquest in 1250 BCE, the period that followed and precisely between 1,000-587 BCE is referred to as the period of Kings. This period is when Israelites had the most noteworthy kings during this period. King David ruled between 1010 and 970 BCE. He was followed by King Solomon, who ruled in 970-031BCE. During his reign, King Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem for the Lord. This was after his father David was told that he was not the one to build the temple. In 587 BCE, Jerusalem was captured by Nebuchadnezzar’s army. They destroyed the temple and exiled Jews to the present day Iraq.