The ancient Hebrews had many battles to fight. They had to push back invaders who wanted their land. They also had to fight to keep their faith, laws, and culture alive.
It was hard, because foreign rulers used force to bring their own beliefs and traditions to Israel. Even though it was dangerous, brave men and women always helped preserve Hebrew culture.
Many elements of this culture live on, even beyond religion. From the time of the Exodus, Israel was a theocracy. That means its rulers followed laws written by God, not by other people. Everyone had to obey these laws, even the rulers themselves, which meant that all people were equal under the law. That’s an idea that still matters today in America and many other countries.
