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Post-Exilic Religion (800-600 BCE) The most profound spiritual and cognitive crisis in Hebrew history was the Exile. Defeated by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC, the Judaean population was in part deported to Babylon, mainly the upper classes and craftsmen.
Table of Contents | Ancient Jewish History | Modern Jewish History. Click on a Time Period to Expand: Note: Dates regarding biblical figures and events cannot be confirmed. [expand/decrease] Ancient Israelite Religion. (2000-587 BCE) [expand/decrease] After the Babylonian Exile. (538 BCE-70 CE) [expand/decrease] Rule of Rome. (230 BCE-400 CE)
- The Importance of Covenant
- The First Temple
- The Babylonian Exile
- The Second Temple
- The Second Temple’s Destruction and The Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism
The Israelites’ relationship with YHWH, however, set them apart from their neighbors. This relationship was based on a covenant binding YHWH and Israel to one another through a series of obligations. Thus, the biblical authors depicted a direct correlation between the patriarchs’ (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) prosperity and their fidelity to YHWH. Si...
The establishment of the Temple under David and Solomon(c. 1000 BCE) marked a major development in Israelite religion. The Temple, intended to be the official focal point for Israelite religion replacing the family shrines and cultic places of earlier periods, served as a primary place for sacrifices, worship, and regular pilgrimages. Perhaps most ...
The Babylonian exilehad a grave impact on Israelite religion. The Temple was destroyed, the “eternal” Davidic dynasty interrupted, and the people driven from the land YHWH had given them. Little is known about religious life during the exile except that solemn days were designated to mourn the loss of Israelite institutions. The prophets attempted ...
The return from exile witnessed efforts to unify the Jews by the likes of Ezra and Nehemiah (early leaders of the Second Temple period) including the canonization of scripture and reaffirmation of the covenant with YHWH. Such measures, however, were countered by growing discontent, as evident from the apocalyptic writings of the period and the emer...
The destruction of the Temple, which had served as the religious and political center for the Jewish people, presented a major challenge. The Jews survived this crisis by giving new prominence to institutions that played only minor roles during the Second Temple period. Synagogues absorbed the role of the Temple as places for worship and learning; ...
Judaism is the world’s oldest monotheisticreligion. According to the Bible, Abraham and Sarahwere the first to recognize God, and they are considered the ancestors of all Jews today. Some people think that Judaism is a culture, like being Irish or Indian. Others view it as a religion.
Originally led by priests and centered on the Temple in Jerusalem and its sacrificial system, and inspired and challenged by prophets, Judaism evolved into a post-prophetic religionthat could function in the Diaspora, with local places of worship–synagogues– and religious leaders and teachers–rabbis–in many locations.
Judaism - Monotheism, Torah, Covenant: A paradigmatic statement is made in the narrative that begins with Genesis and ends with Joshua. In the early chapters of Genesis, the divine is described as the creator of humankind and the entire natural order.
