BIBLE PLACES | JUDAH, JEWISH HOMELAND

1. Judah, the southern part of the Jewish homeland

a) Judah - the place - refers to the southern part of the land of Israel and includes the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. It covers most of the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. Judah is named after one of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel, a man who lived about 4000 years ago, and for whom the country of Israel is named.

b) Judah existed as an independent kingdom for about 300 years. This began about 2900 years ago when the country of Israel broke up into two separate kingdoms. The northern kingdom kept the name Israel and the southern kingdom became known as the Kingdom of Judah. Judah ceased as a kingdom when the Babylonians conquered it about 2600 years ago.