JUDAISM RELIGION 

 Judaism

 

                       Judaism is the oldest of the monotheistic faiths. It affirms the existence of one God. Yahweh who entered into covenant with the descendants of Abraham; God's chosen people. Judaism's holy writing reveal how God has been present with them throughout their history. These writing are known as the Torah, specifically the five books of Moses, but most broadly conceived as the Hebrew Scriptures (traditionally called the Old  Testament by Christians) and the compilation of the oral tradition known as the Talmud (which includes the the Mishnah, the oral law). 

                      According to Scripture, the Hebrew patriarch Abraham (20th century? B.C) founded the faith that would become known as Judaism. He obeyed the call of God to depart northern Mesopotamia and travel to Canaan. God promised to place his descendants if they remained the faithful in worship. Abraham's line descended through Isaac. then Jacob (also called Israel; his descendants came to be called Israelites) According to Scripture, 12 family that descended from Jacob migrated to Egypt, where they were enslaved. They were led out of bondage (13th century? B.B) by Moses, who united them in the worship of  Yahweh. The Hebrew returned to Canaan after a 40 years sojourn in the desert conquering from the local peoples the "promised land" that God had provided for them.

                      The 12 tribes of lived in a covenant association during the period of the judges (1200?-1000? B.C), leaders known for wisdom and heroism. Saul first established a monarchy (r. 1025?-1005? B.C): his successor David (r. 968?-928? B.C), A golden era culminated in a building of a temple, replacing the portable  sanctuary in use until that time. Following Solomon's Death, the kingdom was split into Israel  in the North and Judah in the south. Political conflicts resulted in the conquest of Israel by Assyria (721 B.C) and he defeat of Judah by Babylon (586 B.C). Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed, and may Judeans were exiled o Babylon.

                     During the era of the kings, the prophets were active in the Israel and Judah. Their writing's emphasize faith in Yahweh as God of Israel and of the entire universe, and they warn the dangerous of worshiping of other gods. They also cry out for social justice.

                     The Judeans were permitted to return in 539 B.C to Judea, where they were ruled as a Persian province. Though temple and cult were restored in Jerusalem, during the exile a new class of religious leader had emerged-the scribes. They became the rivals to the temple hierarchy and would eventually evolve into the party known as the phrases.

                    Persian ruled ended when Alexander the great conquered Palestine in 332 B.C after his death, rule of Judea alternated between Egypt and Syria. When the Syrian ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes tried to prevent the practice of Judaism, a revolt was led by the Maccabees (a Jewish Family), winning Jewish independence in 128 B.C. The Romans conquered Jerusalem in 63 B.C.