Greetings Brethren:
Are you who you are? Yet, can one be
who his Father was? What is most impacting on the human personality and soul:
religion or race? Also, how does the original man fit into this scheme of religion
and race? Have they manipulated the historic position of the people of God (The
Hebrews) for material gain?
Peace,
Carl A. Patton,
FreedomJournal
THE ENIGMATIC HEBREWS
Part 5: Judah: Hebrews, Jews,
Christians, Jesus
In the
name of God, Master of the universe, Ruler of the earth.
The Kingdom of Judah has a direct relationship to the origin of the
word Jew and Judaism. Therefore, Judah most likely is a key element in
determining the origin of the confusion of the Hebrew race with religion. All
people of a particular race do not automatically embrace a certain religion.
However, God chose the Hebrew people to speak to the Gentile nations about God.
They were also told of the coming Messiah. Therefore this historical relationship
with God is a good argument for the notion that all Hebrews are Jews. Thus
those that accept this position also argue that all Jews, Hebrews, and
Israelites ascribe to the religion of Judaism. For the record the Godliness of
a man or woman is noted in Love, Respect, and the will to coexist with other
people of the world. People of God do not abuse, exploit and dehumanize other
people. God created all of humankind and all people are eligible for God's
grace and mercy.
Canaan was one of the old names for
Palestine. The settlement of the Hebrew people in Canaan after the exodus from
Egypt was a time of division and disunity. Most of the Hebrew tribes were
independent and did not want to yield tribal sovereignty to a central ruler.
However there was a period when all the Kingdoms were united. Saul
was the first King of Israel (I Samuel 8; II Samuel 1). The rule of Saul was
not a great success, when he died around 1000 B.C. civil war developed among
the Hebrew tribes. Out of this division and strife emerged David (II Samuel 1;
I Kings 2). David was a member of the tribe of Judah. His dynasty ruled in
Jerusalem until the destruction of the Babylonians in 587 B.C.
David and his son Solomon (I Kings
2-11) unified the Hebrew nation. This was the period of greatness among the
Hebrew people. However, with the death of Solomon the Hebrew nation was
divided. Most of the tribes seceded from Judah and formed the Northern Kingdom
of Israel. Meanwhile, the descendants of David continued to rule over the few
tribes left. This small remnant was called the Kingdom of Judah.
The Biblical sources for the history
of Judah are found in the Books of Kings and Chronicles. The history of Israel
and Judah are often tied together, but Israel is often the most dominant
element in the historical accounts. Therefore we bring up for review the
relationship of Judah to race and religion among the Hebrew people. The
following is a brief look at the history of Judah.
We may divide the history of Judah
from the death of Solomon to the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians into
three periods:
1. Judah from the death of Solomon to
the mid-eight century, 922-742 B.C.
For almost two centuries Judah and
Israel lived side by side. However, the first two generations the various kings
of Judah fought against Israel to reunite all of the Hebrew nations.
2. Judah during Assyrian ascendancy,
742-687 B.C.
The Assyrian conquests to capture the
civilized world destroyed Israel in 722 B.C. Also, Judah was damaged. As Judah
was brought under Syrian control spiritual and religious subordination
resulted. The Assyrians brought paganism to Judah. As paganism plagued Judah
the prophets Micah and Isaiah sought religious reforms.
3. The last century of the Kingdom of
Judah, 687-587 B.C.
During the last century of Judah's
existence there were on-going wars until the Babylonians conquered Judah. Thus
with the fall of the Assyrian empire (612 B.C.) the new Babylonian empire under
Nebuchadnezzar ruled Judah. Meanwhile Jerusalem was destroyed and the people
taken captive.
Josiah the last good Hebrew King
tried to revive Judah. The rediscovery of the Mosaic Law in the temple aided
him. Meanwhile, Josiah tried to rid Judah of paganism. The great prophet
Jeremiah began his career during Josiah's reign and it extended into the period
of captivity. Jeremiah also predicted the fall of the nation because of her
sins. By 587 B.C. the Babylonians destroyed all of
the cities of Judah. Some historians argue that the Hebrew nation was
annihilated. Also the record shows that the other nations conquered by the
Assyrians and Babylonians ceased to exist. However, the prophets proclaimed a
better hope for the chosen people.
"A remnant shall return"
Isaiah had said, and in time this remnant, became the basis on which they would
build a new Israel.
Meanwhile, how is the new Israel
distinguished? Also did the word's Jew and Judaism originate in Judah? What
impact did the assimilation with the Gentiles have on the Hebrew people? The
word Jew does not occur before the period of Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
Most sources note that it originally identified one belonging to the tribe of
Judah or the two tribes of the Southern Kingdom (II Kings 16:10; 25: 25). It is
also recorded that they later extended the meaning of Jew to include any one of
the Hebrew race who returned from the Captivity. The record further notes that
most of the exiles came from Judah. These exiles were also the main historical
representatives of ancient Israel.
Thus the term Jew became the word
used to define the entire Hebrew race throughout the world (Esther 2: 5: 3:
2-6; 10: 3 and Matthew 2: 2).
Early in the history of Judah and
Israel the language of Judah was called Jewish. Also in the Old Testament the
adjective Jewish applies to the Jews language or speech (II Kings 18: 26, 28:
Nehemiah 13: 24; Isaiah 36: 11, 13). In the New Testament Gospels
"Jews" is always plural and is the usual term for Israelites. The
Apostle Paul warns us of Jewish fables in Titus 1: 14; he also speaks of the
Jews religion in Galatians 1: 13, 14. Thus if we then accept the
notion that Jew, Hebrew and Israelite are concerning race there is no
confusion. However, they often note a Jew as race and religion. Thus, are all
Hebrews, Israelites and Jews automatically followers of God? For example are
all Black Americans Christians? Are all Arabs Muslims? Does race then identify
religious preference? Also, what is Judaism?
Judaism is the religious beliefs of
many people described and labeled as Hebrews, Jews and Israelites. Also, one does
not have to be a Hebrew to become a Jew. Nor do you have to be Arab to become a
Muslim and embrace Islam. The teachings of Judaism come from the Old Testament,
especially the Law of Moses found in Exodus 20 through Deuteronomy. Judaism is
also described in Mark 7: 3-13, and some of which the Lord condemned. However
the major elements of Judaism include circumcision, a strict monotheism a
rejection of idolatry and the keeping of the Sabbath.
Cont. Part 6: Judaism: Christ and
Christianity
Return to Enigmatic Hebrews Page
carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net