Judaism: Origins and Development

• Judaism is a monotheistic religion originating with the Hebrew people, documented starting in the first millennium BCE.
• Despite never being widespread, Judaism's concepts heavily influenced later belief systems and spread through diasporas.

Introduction

• Traditions were written down during the first millennium BCE, including those of the Hebrews.
• The Hebrews briefly formed two small kingdoms in Canaan, between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River.
• Though politically minor compared to empires like Egypt and Babylon, the Hebrews developed a new monotheistic religion.
• Their faith centered on worshipping an all-powerful god, "YHWH" (often spelled "Yahweh").
• The Hebrews began writing down their traditions, laws, history, and ethics from the late 600s BCE, compiled into the Torah's five books.
• The Hebrew Bible includes more history, traditions, advice, prayers, hymns, and prophecies; Christians adopted it as the Old Testament.
• These texts form the basis of Judaism, named after the Kingdom of Judah, which significantly shaped these religious traditions.
• Most early Hebrew information comes from the Bible, with some support from archaeological evidence.
• Interpreting biblical findings has led to centuries of scholarly and religious debates.

Religious Ideas

• The core concept in Judaism is the Covenant, an agreement between the people and God.
• God promised Abraham blessings for him and his descendants if they followed God; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam consider this event part of their shared origin as "Abrahamic religions."
• God appeared to Moses, leading the Hebrews out of Egyptian enslavement.
• God's covenant with the Hebrews promised protection as his chosen people if they worshipped only him.
• Prophets like Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Isaiah served as intermediaries between God and the Hebrews.
• Much of the Hebrew Bible consists of their writings, understood as messages from God.
• God gave the Hebrews the Ten Commandments, concerning worship and ethics.
• These commandments covered religious observances and prohibitions like stealing, lying, killing, swearing, and coveting.
• A detailed code of conduct, including rules about eating, holy days, menstruation, sex, and marriage, developed from the Ten Commandments as Hebrew law, though its practice during the biblical period is unclear.
• Jewish rituals demonstrating devotion included prayer, communal worship, studying sacred texts, and household observances.
• Observant Jews in the ancient world were tasked with adhering to God's instructions in sacred texts.

Society and Family Life

• The Hebrews were originally nomadic pastoralists, herding sheep and goats, and organized into related tribes.
• They transitioned to settled agriculture in Canaan, with some living in cities.
• Communal land use shifted to family or private ownership, and Jewish traditions replaced tribal identity.
• Urban life led to specialized economic roles, especially in crafts and trade, often passed down through families.
• Women worked in fields in rural areas and in shops in cities.
• Marriage and family were central in Jewish life, with celibacy discouraged and thinkers/priests (male) were typically married.
• Marriage was considered a family matter, and having children was viewed as a religious duty.
• Sons were especially valued for maintaining the family line and property.
• The firstborn son inherited the household leadership.
• Mothers initially educated children, with fathers taking over as boys aged.
• Formal schooling included religious texts in schools or synagogues.

Political Developments and the Spread of Judaism

• The Hebrews faced spiritual, military, and political challenges upon settling in Canaan, sometimes worshipping local agricultural gods despite prophetic warnings.
• The Bible identifies the Philistines as the greatest military threat to the Hebrews.
• Saul led the Hebrews against the Philistines and established a monarchy.
• David captured Jerusalem and made it the religious and political center.
• Solomon constructed cities, palaces, fortresses, roads, and the Temple of Jerusalem, symbolizing Hebrew unity and divine approval in the tenth century BCE.
• The kingdom split after Solomon's death into Israel (north) and Judah (south), with Jerusalem as Judah's center.
• War between the two weakened both, leading to conquest by stronger neighbors and exile.
• The area became part of empires, including Persian, Greek, and Roman.
• Jews did regain their own state until the establishment of Israel in the twentieth century.