Origins of the Jewish Religion
The Jewish history plays a significant role in many religions today. From Hebrews, many Jews, Christians, and Muslims spouted. The Jewish religion, also known as Judaism, is the earliest monotheist religion in the world. Jews and Christians have many similarities in their beliefs, since the use partially similar scriptures from the Old Testament. This paper uses the original sources such as the Bible and Josephus to evaluate the nature of the ancient Jewish God, the core values and organization of the Jewish faith, as well as the outstanding differences between Jews and Christians.
The Old Testament introduces all of the Jewish patriarchs in the Torah. The Torah contains the first five books of the Jewish and Christian Bible. These are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The first of the Jewish patriarchs is Abraham, a nomadic leader, who lived in Ur. Genesis chapters 12 to 25 describe Abraham’s calling and life story (Nelson, 33). According to these chapters, God revealed Himself to Abraham, who worshipped a deity called Elohim. Although Abraham had never had of this God, he believed and followed His instructions. God commanded Abraham to migrate from his home Ur, to Canaan (the Promised Land). In Canaan, God seemingly blessed Abraham with a legitimate son, Isaac, after years of infertility. Previously, Abraham’s wife Sarah had given him her handmaiden, and they had a son, Ishmael. Isaac and Ishmael, according to Josephus, were the founders of Israelites and Arabs respectively (Mason, 52). Other vital patriarchs in the Jewish religion are Jacob, his son Joseph, and Moses. Jacob’s twelve sons make up the 12 Jewish tribes (Mason, 165). Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Before the Mosaic God, Jews believed in many gods. Their polytheist nature is evident in Abraham’s life story. Abraham believed in Elohim, with means many lords (Jewish Virtual Library, np). Abraham’s father also made a living through selling idols. Moreover, there is no evidence of the existence of a monotheist God at that time. Monotheist gradually grew as the Torah books continuously state that God called Himself the Lord Almighty when speaking to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as seen in Genesis 35: 11, and 17:1 (Nelson, 45, 70). However, Jewish Monotheism stood out more during the Israelite migration from Egypt to Canaan.
Moses, a Jew brought up in the Egyptian palace by the Pharaoh’s daughter, killed an Egyptian found mistreating Israelite slaves. Fearing for his life, Moses ran to the desert country of the Midian, where God communicates to him. The name Yahweh originates from the Mosaic journey, as God instructs Moses to use this name to describe His nature to Jews. The original variant of the name Yahweh is YHWH. In the Sematic or Jewish language, the name means ‘He causes to be’ while in English it signifies ‘I AM’ (Jewish Virtual Library, np). Yahweh gives Moses commandments that Jews should follow on Mt Sinai.
The nature of the ancient Jewish Yahweh evolved from the Mosaic age to the Post-Mosaic era. During the Mosaic age, the Hebrew God demanded animal and blood sacrifices. Blood, in the Jewish culture, serves as a tie to Yahweh. Yahweh asked for compete faith and obedience, had human qualities, was the law maker, and was often angered by the Jews acts. Post- Mosaic, Yahweh was incorporeal, the ruler, forgiving, and resided above the clouds. Moreover, the Jewish Yahweh rejected any idols of His image.
The ancient Jewish religion followed strict laws and had Mosaic core values. They believed in the centrality of Israel as Yahweh’s nation and its people as the chosen people (Nelson, 91). Also, they trusted in the scriptures written in their Bible, Tanakh, and followed all laws in the Torah. The Hebrews also followed the Mosaic laws, also known as the 10 commandments. Their rituals involved circumcision of all males, days of atonement, fasting and making burnt offerings (Mason, 142). The Hebrews also observed the Passover.
The prophetic revolution occurred after Moses led Israelites from Egypt. The revolution transpired due to factors such as conflicts from the twelve tribes of Jacob, civil wars, and constant threats from other nations (Jewish Virtual Library, np). Jews tried to unite all of Abraham’s descendants by forming a monarchial government. As Jews believed that Yahweh was their sole ruler, they understood that choosing a king would portray as disobedience and, thus anger Him. Samuel, one of Yahweh’s prophets cautioned Jews of God’s wrath but they did not heed to the warning. As seen in 1st and 2nd Kings, Yahweh reduced His protection on Hebrews and King Nebuchadnezzar exiled them in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, the central worship place of Jews hence, wounding their faith (Nelson, 110). At this time, many Jews started converting to Canaanite polytheist religions. However, even without their places of worship and Yahweh’s favor, Jewish reformers reoriented the Jewish beliefs according to Mosaic laws.
Christianity and Judaism parallel in several ways. Both religions are monotheist; they have the same origin (Israel), and believe in Abraham as their ancestor. However, while Christians worship in churches, Jews worship in Synagogues and temples. Furthermore, Jews believe that the Messiah is yet to come while Christians believe in Jesus.
The ancient Jewish religion is wide and although original sources try to explain the Hebrew history, critics argue that the records may prove wrong. Issues such as the polytheist and monotheist nature of the Jewish worship are still incomprehensive. However, original sources offer sufficient accounts on Jewish worship and beliefs at the end of Babylonian captivity.
Works Cited
Jewish Virtual Library. Ancient Jewish history: The birth and evolution of Judaism, 2020, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-birth-and-evolution-of-judaism. Accessed February 12, 2020
Mason, Steve. Josephus, Judea, and Christian origins. Michigan, Baker Academic, 2009