Map It Out!
What body of water forms the western border of ancient Israel?
Mediterranean Sea
What sacred collection of Jewish texts is also known as the Hebrew Bible?
Tanakh
Who was chosen as the very first king of the unified Kingdom of Israel around 1020 BCE?
Saul
What moral principles and divine laws were handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai?
Ten Commandments
What happened to the unified Kingdom of Israel after King Solomon died?
It split into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah)
Which river carved a deep, fertile valley right through the heart of ancient Israel?
Jordan River
What are the first five books of the Hebrew Bible called?
Torah
Which leader was saved as a baby in a basket on the Nile River and grew up in the Egyptian royal court?
Moses
What term means a sacred contract or agreement, such as the one between God and Abraham?
Covenant
What was the name of the southern kingdom that retained Jerusalem as its capital?
Judah
Why can travelers easily float in the landlocked Dead Sea without even trying?
Because it has a very high salt content.
What term describes the religious belief in only one God?
Monotheism
Which general succeeded Moses and led the conquest of Canaan, starting with Jericho?
Joshua
Why did the Egyptian pharaoh force the Israelites into slavery?
He feared their growing population would turn against the Egyptians
Which king of Babylon conquered Judah and destroyed Solomon's Temple?
King Nebuchadnezzar
What is the historical name of the region that included ancient Israel, Lebanon, and parts of Jordan and Syria?
Caanan
What famous 1940s archaeological discovery in the Judean Desert contained early manuscript copies of the Hebrew Bible?
Dead Sea Scrolls
Which city did King David capture and establish as the capital of Israel?
Jerusalem
What musical instrument did young David play before joining Saul's army?
Lyre
Why did King Nebuchadnezzar take skilled craftsmen and professionals to Babylon rather than enslaving everyone?
To help revive and build the struggling Babylonian economy
Which triangular peninsula in Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea?
Sinai Peninsula
What term describes the male head of a family or tribe, such as Abraham?
Patriarch
Which tribe did King Saul belong to before becoming king?
Benjamin
From which ancient region in Mesopotamia did Abraham migrate before traveling to Canaan?
Ur
Which empire invaded and conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE, scattering its people?
Assyrian