From Egypt to the Land of Israel

I will free you from the labors of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage ... I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession.


Abraham, the father of Israel, was the first person to spread the idea of monotheism - belief in one God. God commanded him to leave his birthplace and go ... to the land that I will show you.
(Gen. 12:1)
This bond between the People of Israel and their land was reaffirmed to succeeding generations through his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob:
The land that I assigned to Abraham and Isaac I assign to you and to your offspring to come.
(Gen. 35:12)

Abraham's migration to the Land of Israel was the beginning of a long journey that the People of Israel would travel before finally settling in their land. This journey would comprise a long and difficult exile in Egypt, followed by a miraculous exodus and culminating in the receiving of the Torah (Divine Law). Later they would settle in the Land of Israel, where King David would rule over his people, and King Solomon, his son, would establish his mighty kingdom and build the First Temple. The journey would continue with the exile to Babylonia, the return and the building of the Second Temple - the destruction of which would mark the beginning of the longest and most bitter exile. Over the next 2000 years, the Jewish people would suffer terrible persecutions until they would finally be able to return home and establish the State of Israel

c.18th-16th century BCE Abraham, Isaac, Jacob settle in the Land of Israel; Famine forces Israelites to migrate to Egypt
c.13th century BCE Exodus from Egypt; Ten Commandments and Torah received at Mount Sinai; Israelites enter the Promised Land
c. 1020 BCE Saul anointed as first king of Israel
c. 1000 BCE King David makes Jerusalem capital of his kingdom
c. 960 BCE First Temple built in Jerusalem by King Solomon
586 BCE Babylonians destroy First Temple and Jerusalem; Most Jews exiled to Babylonia
538-515 BCE Many Jews return to the Land; Second Temple built
70 CE Destruction of Second Temple and Jerusalem by Romans; Jews exiled