Changes

97:0.1 The [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] of the [[Hebrews]] did what no others before them had ever succeeded in doing—they deanthropomorphized their [[God]] [[concept]] without converting it into an [[abstraction]] of [[Deity]] [[comprehensible]] only to philosophers. Even common people were able to regard the [[matured]] [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] as a [[Father]], if not of the [[individual]], at least of the [[race]].

97:0.1 The [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] of the [[Hebrews]] did what no others before them had ever succeeded in doing—they deanthropomorphized their [[God]] [[concept]] without converting it into an [[abstraction]] of [[Deity]] [[comprehensible]] only to philosophers. Even common people were able to regard the [[matured]] [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] as a [[Father]], if not of the [[individual]], at least of the [[race]].

97:0.2 The [[concept]] of the [[personality]] of [[God]], while clearly taught at [[Salem]] in the days of [[Melchizedek]], was vague and hazy at the time of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_Exodus flight from Egypt] and only [[gradually]] evolved in the [[Hebraic]] [[mind]] from [[generation]] to [[generation]] in [[response]] to the teaching of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]]. The [[perception]] of [[Yahweh]]'s [[personality]] was much more continuous in its [[progressive]] [[evolution]] than was that of many other of the [[Deity]] [[attributes]]. From [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi Malachi] there occurred an almost unbroken ideational [[growth]] of the [[personality]] of [[God]] in the [[Hebrew]] [[mind]], and this [[concept]] was [[eventually]] heightened and [[glorified]] by the teachings of [[Jesus]] about [[the Father]] in [[heaven]].

97:0.2 The [[concept]] of the [[personality]] of [[God]], while clearly taught at [[Salem]] in the days of [[Melchizedek]], was vague and hazy at the time of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_Exodus flight from Egypt] and only [[gradually]] evolved in the [[Hebraic]] [[mind]] from [[generation]] to [[generation]] in [[response]] to the teaching of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]]. The [[perception]] of [[Yahweh]]'s [[personality]] was much more continuous in its [[progressive]] [[evolution]] than was that of many other of the [[Deity]] [[attributes]]. From [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi Malachi] there occurred an almost unbroken ideational [[growth]] of the [[personality]] of [[God]] in the [[Hebrew]] [[mind]], and this [[concept]] was [[eventually]] heightened and [[glorified]] by the teachings of [[Jesus]] about [[the Father]] in [[heaven]].

==97:1. SAMUEL—FIRST OF THE HEBREW PROPHETS==

==97:1. SAMUEL—FIRST OF THE HEBREW PROPHETS==

97:1.1 Hostile [[pressure]] of the [[surrounding]] peoples in [[Palestine]] soon taught the [[Hebrew]] sheiks they could not [[hope]] to [[survive]] unless they [[confederated]] their [[tribal]] [[organizations]] into a centralized [[government]]. And this centralization of [[administrative]] [[authority]] afforded a better [[opportunity]] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] to [[function]] as a [[teacher]] and reformer.

97:1.1 Hostile [[pressure]] of the [[surrounding]] peoples in [[Palestine]] soon taught the [[Hebrew]] sheiks they could not [[hope]] to [[survive]] unless they [[confederated]] their [[tribal]] [[organizations]] into a centralized [[government]]. And this centralization of [[administrative]] [[authority]] afforded a better [[opportunity]] for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] to [[function]] as a [[teacher]] and reformer.

97:1.2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] sprang from a long line of the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] who had [[persisted]] in [[maintaining]] the [[truths]] of [[Melchizedek]] as a part of their [[worship]] forms. This teacher was a [[virile]] and resolute man. Only his great [[devotion]], coupled with his extraordinary [[determination]], enabled him to withstand the almost [[universal]] [[opposition]] which he encountered when he started out to turn all [[Israel]] back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] times. And even then he was only partially successful; he won back to the [[service]] of the higher [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] only the more [[intelligent]] half of the [[Hebrews]]; the other half continued in the [[worship]] of the [[tribal]] gods of the country and in the baser conception of [[Yahweh]].

97:1.2 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] sprang from a long line of the [[Salem]] [[teachers]] who had [[persisted]] in [[maintaining]] the [[truths]] of [[Melchizedek]] as a part of their [[worship]] forms. This teacher was a [[virile]] and resolute man. Only his great [[devotion]], coupled with his extraordinary [[determination]], enabled him to withstand the almost [[universal]] [[opposition]] which he encountered when he started out to turn all [[Israel]] back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] times. And even then he was only partially successful; he won back to the [[service]] of the higher [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] only the more [[intelligent]] half of the [[Hebrews]]; the other half continued in the [[worship]] of the [[tribal]] gods of the country and in the baser conception of [[Yahweh]].

97:1.3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was a rough-and-ready type of man, a [[practical]] reformer who could go out in one day with his [[associates]] and overthrow a score of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] sites. The [[progress]] he made was by sheer [[force]] of [[compulsion]]; he did little preaching, less teaching, but he did [[act]]. One day he was mocking the [[priest]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]; the next, chopping in pieces a captive [[king]]. He [[devotedly]] believed in the one [[God]], and he had a clear [[concept]] of that one God as [[creator]] of [[heaven]] and [[earth]]: "The pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he has set the world upon them."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.3 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was a rough-and-ready type of man, a [[practical]] reformer who could go out in one day with his [[associates]] and overthrow a score of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] sites. The [[progress]] he made was by sheer [[force]] of [[compulsion]]; he did little preaching, less teaching, but he did [[act]]. One day he was mocking the [[priest]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]; the next, chopping in pieces a captive [[king]]. He [[devotedly]] believed in the one [[God]], and he had a clear [[concept]] of that one God as [[creator]] of [[heaven]] and [[earth]]: "The pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he has set the world upon them."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.4 But the great [[contribution]] which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] made to the [[development]] of the [[concept]] of [[Deity]] was his ringing pronouncement that [[Yahweh]] was changeless, forever the same [[embodiment]] of unerring [[perfection]] and [[divinity]]. In these times [[Yahweh]] was conceived to be a fitful [[God]] of [[jealous]] whims, always regretting that he had done thus and so; but now, for the first time since the [[Hebrews]] sallied [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_Exodus forth from Egypt], they heard these startling [[words]], "The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man, that he should repent."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_15] [[Stability]] in dealing with [[Divinity]] was [[proclaimed]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] reiterated the [[Melchizedek]] [[covenant]] with [[Abraham]] and declared that the Lord [[God]] of [[Israel]] was the [[source]] of all [[truth]], [[stability]], and constancy. Always had the [[Hebrews]] looked upon their [[God]] as a man, a [[superman]], an exalted [[spirit]] of [[unknown]] [[origin]]; but now they heard the onetime spirit of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] exalted as an unchanging [[God]] of [[creator]] [[perfection]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was aiding the evolving [[God]] [[concept]] to [[ascend]] to heights above the changing [[state]] of men's minds and the [[vicissitudes]] of [[mortal]] [[existence]]. Under his teaching, the [[God]] of the [[Hebrews]] was beginning the ascent from an [[idea]] on the order of the [[tribal]] gods to the [[ideal]] of an [[Omnipotent|all-powerful]] and changeless [[Creator]] and Supervisor of all [[creation]].

97:1.4 But the great [[contribution]] which [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] made to the [[development]] of the [[concept]] of [[Deity]] was his ringing pronouncement that [[Yahweh]] was changeless, forever the same [[embodiment]] of unerring [[perfection]] and [[divinity]]. In these times [[Yahweh]] was conceived to be a fitful [[God]] of [[jealous]] whims, always regretting that he had done thus and so; but now, for the first time since the [[Hebrews]] sallied [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/the_Exodus forth from Egypt], they heard these startling [[words]], "The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man, that he should repent."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_15] [[Stability]] in dealing with [[Divinity]] was [[proclaimed]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] reiterated the [[Melchizedek]] [[covenant]] with [[Abraham]] and declared that the Lord [[God]] of [[Israel]] was the [[source]] of all [[truth]], [[stability]], and constancy. Always had the [[Hebrews]] looked upon their [[God]] as a man, a [[superman]], an exalted [[spirit]] of [[unknown]] [[origin]]; but now they heard the onetime spirit of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Horeb Horeb] exalted as an unchanging [[God]] of [[creator]] [[perfection]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] was aiding the evolving [[God]] [[concept]] to [[ascend]] to heights above the changing [[state]] of men's minds and the [[vicissitudes]] of [[mortal]] [[existence]]. Under his teaching, the [[God]] of the [[Hebrews]] was beginning the ascent from an [[idea]] on the order of the [[tribal]] gods to the [[ideal]] of an [[Omnipotent|all-powerful]] and changeless [[Creator]] and Supervisor of all [[creation]].

97:1.5 And he preached anew the [[story]] of [[God]]'s [[sincerity]], his [[covenant]]-keeping reliability. Said Samuel: "The Lord will not forsake his people."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_12] "He has made with us an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.23] And so, throughout all [[Palestine]] there sounded the call back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]]. Ever this energetic [[teacher]] proclaimed, "You are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.7]

97:1.5 And he preached anew the [[story]] of [[God]]'s [[sincerity]], his [[covenant]]-keeping reliability. Said Samuel: "The Lord will not forsake his people."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_12] "He has made with us an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.23] And so, throughout all [[Palestine]] there sounded the call back to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]]. Ever this energetic [[teacher]] proclaimed, "You are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.7]

97:1.6 Theretofore the [[Hebrews]] had regarded the [[favor]] of [[Yahweh]] mainly in terms of [[material]] [[prosperity]]. It was a great shock to [[Israel]], and almost cost [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] his life, when he dared to proclaim: "The Lord enriches and impoverishes; he debases and exalts. He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts up the beggars to set them among princes to make them inherit the throne of glory."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Not since [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had such comforting [[promises]] for the [[humble]] and the less fortunate been proclaimed, and thousands of despairing among the poor began to take [[hope]] that they could improve their [[spiritual]] [[status]].

97:1.6 Theretofore the [[Hebrews]] had regarded the [[favor]] of [[Yahweh]] mainly in terms of [[material]] [[prosperity]]. It was a great shock to [[Israel]], and almost cost [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] his life, when he dared to proclaim: "The Lord enriches and impoverishes; he debases and exalts. He raises the poor out of the dust and lifts up the beggars to set them among princes to make them inherit the throne of glory."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Not since [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had such comforting [[promises]] for the [[humble]] and the less fortunate been proclaimed, and thousands of despairing among the poor began to take [[hope]] that they could improve their [[spiritual]] [[status]].

97:1.7 But [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] did not [[progress]] very far beyond the [[concept]] of a [[tribal]] [[god]]. He [[proclaimed]] a [[Yahweh]] who made all men but was occupied chiefly with the [[Hebrews]], his [[chosen people]]. Even so, as in the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses], once more the [[God]] [[concept]] portrayed a [[Deity]] who is [[holy]] and upright. "There is none as holy as the Lord. Who can be compared to this holy Lord God? "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.7 But [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] did not [[progress]] very far beyond the [[concept]] of a [[tribal]] [[god]]. He [[proclaimed]] a [[Yahweh]] who made all men but was occupied chiefly with the [[Hebrews]], his [[chosen people]]. Even so, as in the days of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses], once more the [[God]] [[concept]] portrayed a [[Deity]] who is [[holy]] and upright. "There is none as holy as the Lord. Who can be compared to this holy Lord God? "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]

97:1.8 As the years passed, the grizzled old leader [[progressed]] in the [[understanding]] of [[God]], for he [[declared]]: "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth, showing mercy to the merciful, and with the upright man he will also be upright."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Even here is the [[dawn]] of [[mercy]], albeit it is [[limited]] to those who are merciful. Later he went one step further when, in their [[adversity]], he exhorted his people: "Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great." "There is no restraint upon the Lord to save many or few."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_24]

97:1.8 As the years passed, the grizzled old leader [[progressed]] in the [[understanding]] of [[God]], for he [[declared]]: "The Lord is a God of knowledge, and actions are weighed by him[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2]. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth, showing mercy to the merciful, and with the upright man he will also be upright."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_2] Even here is the [[dawn]] of [[mercy]], albeit it is [[limited]] to those who are merciful. Later he went one step further when, in their [[adversity]], he exhorted his people: "Let us fall now into the hands of the Lord, for his mercies are great." "There is no restraint upon the Lord to save many or few."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_24]

97:1.9 And this [[gradual]] [[development]] of the [[concept]] of the [[character]] of [[Yahweh]] continued under the [[ministry]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]'s successors. They attempted to present [[Yahweh]] as a [[covenant]]-keeping [[God]] but hardly [[maintained]] the [[pace]] set by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]; they failed to [[develop]] the [[idea]] of the [[mercy]] of [[God]] as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had later conceived it. There was a steady drift back toward the [[recognition]] of other gods, despite the [[maintenance]] that [[Yahweh]] was above all. "Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all."

97:1.9 And this [[gradual]] [[development]] of the [[concept]] of the [[character]] of [[Yahweh]] continued under the [[ministry]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]'s successors. They attempted to present [[Yahweh]] as a [[covenant]]-keeping [[God]] but hardly [[maintained]] the [[pace]] set by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]; they failed to [[develop]] the [[idea]] of the [[mercy]] of [[God]] as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had later conceived it. There was a steady drift back toward the [[recognition]] of other gods, despite the [[maintenance]] that [[Yahweh]] was above all. "Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all."

97:1.10 The keynote of this era was [[divine]] [[power]]; the [[prophets]] of this age preached a [[religion]] designed to foster the [[king]] upon the [[Hebrew]] throne. "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. In your hand is power and might, and you are able to make great and to give strength to all." And this was the [[status]] of the [[God]] [[concept]] during the time of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] and his immediate successors.

97:1.10 The keynote of this era was [[divine]] [[power]]; the [[prophets]] of this age preached a [[religion]] designed to foster the [[king]] upon the [[Hebrew]] throne. "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. In your hand is power and might, and you are able to make great and to give strength to all." And this was the [[status]] of the [[God]] [[concept]] during the time of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] and his immediate successors.

==97:2. ELIJAH AND ELISHA==  

==97:2. ELIJAH AND ELISHA==  

97:2.1 In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_BC tenth century before Christ] the [[Hebrew]] [[nation]] became divided into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah two kingdoms]. In both of these [[political]] divisions many [[truth]] teachers endeavored to stem the [[reactionary]] [[tide]] of [[spiritual]] [[decadence]] that had set in, and which continued disastrously after the war of separation. But these [[efforts]] to advance the [[Hebraic]] [[religion]] did not prosper until that [[determined]] and fearless [[warrior]] for [[righteousness]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah], began his teaching. Elijah restored to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Kingdom northern kingdom] a [[concept]] of [[God]] comparable with that held in the days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] had little [[opportunity]] to present an advanced [[concept]] of [[God]]; he was kept [[busy]], as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had been before him, overthrowing the [[altars]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal [Baal] and demolishing the [[idols]] of false gods. And he carried forward his reforms in the face of the [[opposition]] of an [[idolatrous]] [[monarch]]; his task was even more gigantic and [[difficult]] than that which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had faced.

97:2.1 In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_BC tenth century before Christ] the [[Hebrew]] [[nation]] became divided into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah two kingdoms]. In both of these [[political]] divisions many [[truth]] teachers endeavored to stem the [[reactionary]] [[tide]] of [[spiritual]] [[decadence]] that had set in, and which continued disastrously after the war of separation. But these [[efforts]] to advance the [[Hebraic]] [[religion]] did not prosper until that [[determined]] and fearless [[warrior]] for [[righteousness]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah], began his teaching. Elijah restored to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Kingdom northern kingdom] a [[concept]] of [[God]] comparable with that held in the days of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] had little [[opportunity]] to present an advanced [[concept]] of [[God]]; he was kept [[busy]], as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had been before him, overthrowing the [[altars]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal [Baal] and demolishing the [[idols]] of false gods. And he carried forward his reforms in the face of the [[opposition]] of an [[idolatrous]] [[monarch]]; his task was even more gigantic and [[difficult]] than that which [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had faced.

97:2.2 When [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] was [[Fusion|called away]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha Elisha], his [[faithful]] associate, took up his [[work]] and, with the invaluable [[assistance]] of the little-known [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIcaiah Micaiah], kept the [[light]] of [[truth]] alive in [[Palestine]].

97:2.2 When [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] was [[Fusion|called away]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha Elisha], his [[faithful]] associate, took up his [[work]] and, with the invaluable [[assistance]] of the little-known [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIcaiah Micaiah], kept the [[light]] of [[truth]] alive in [[Palestine]].

97:2.3 But these were not times of [[progress]] in the [[concept]] of [[Deity]]. Not yet had the [[Hebrews]] [[ascended]] even to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] [[ideal]]. The era of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha Elisha] closed with the better classes returning to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]] and [[witnessed]] the restoration of the [[idea]] of the [[Universal]] [[Creator]] to about that place where [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had left it.

97:2.3 But these were not times of [[progress]] in the [[concept]] of [[Deity]]. Not yet had the [[Hebrews]] [[ascended]] even to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] [[ideal]]. The era of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha Elisha] closed with the better classes returning to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]] and [[witnessed]] the restoration of the [[idea]] of the [[Universal]] [[Creator]] to about that place where [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] had left it.

==97:3. YAHWEH AND BAAL==     

==97:3. YAHWEH AND BAAL==     

97:3.1 The long-drawn-out [[controversy]] between the believers in [[Yahweh]] and the followers of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Kings#Chapter_18] was a socioeconomic clash of [[ideologies]] rather than a [[difference]] in [[religious]] [[beliefs]].

97:3.1 The long-drawn-out [[controversy]] between the believers in [[Yahweh]] and the followers of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal][https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Kings#Chapter_18] was a socioeconomic clash of [[ideologies]] rather than a [[difference]] in [[religious]] [[beliefs]].

97:3.2 The [[inhabitants]] of [[Palestine]] differed in their [[attitude]] toward [[private]] ownership of [[land]]. The southern or wandering [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia Arabian] tribes (the [[Yahweh]]ites) looked upon [[land]] as an inalienable—as a gift of [[Deity]] to the [[clan]]. They held that land could not be sold or mortgaged. "Yahweh spoke, saying, `The land shall not be sold, for the land is mine.'"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Leviticus#Chapter_.25]

97:3.2 The [[inhabitants]] of [[Palestine]] differed in their [[attitude]] toward [[private]] ownership of [[land]]. The southern or wandering [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia Arabian] tribes (the [[Yahweh]]ites) looked upon [[land]] as an inalienable—as a gift of [[Deity]] to the [[clan]]. They held that land could not be sold or mortgaged. "Yahweh spoke, saying, `The land shall not be sold, for the land is mine.'"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Leviticus#Chapter_.25]

97:3.3 The northern and more settled [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] (the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalites]) freely bought, sold, and mortgaged their [[lands]]. The word Baal means owner. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[cult]] was founded on two major [[doctrines]]: First, the validation of [[property]] exchange, contracts, and [[covenants]]—the right to buy and sell land. Second, Baal was supposed to send rain—he was a god of [[fertility]] of the [[soil]]. Good crops depended on the [[favor]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]. The [[cult]] was largely concerned with [[land]], its ownership and [[fertility]].

97:3.3 The northern and more settled [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] (the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalites]) freely bought, sold, and mortgaged their [[lands]]. The word Baal means owner. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[cult]] was founded on two major [[doctrines]]: First, the validation of [[property]] exchange, contracts, and [[covenants]]—the right to buy and sell land. Second, Baal was supposed to send rain—he was a god of [[fertility]] of the [[soil]]. Good crops depended on the [[favor]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]. The [[cult]] was largely concerned with [[land]], its ownership and [[fertility]].

97:3.4 In general, the Baalites owned houses, [[lands]], and [[slaves]]. They were the [[aristocratic]] landlords and lived in the [[cities]]. Each Baal had a [[sacred]] place, a [[priesthood]], and the "holy women," the [[ritual]] [[prostitutes]].

97:3.4 In general, the Baalites owned houses, [[lands]], and [[slaves]]. They were the [[aristocratic]] landlords and lived in the [[cities]]. Each Baal had a [[sacred]] place, a [[priesthood]], and the "holy women," the [[ritual]] [[prostitutes]].

97:3.5 Out of this basic [[difference]] in the regard for [[land]], there evolved the bitter [[antagonisms]] of [[social]], [[economic]], [[moral]], and [[religious]] attitudes exhibited by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] and the [[Hebrews]]. This socioeconomic [[controversy]] did not become a definite [[religious]] issue until the times of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah]. From the days of this aggressive [[prophet]] the issue was fought out on more strictly [[religious]] lines—[[Yahweh]] vs. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]—and it ended in the triumph of [[Yahweh]] and the subsequent drive toward [[monotheism]].

97:3.5 Out of this basic [[difference]] in the regard for [[land]], there evolved the bitter [[antagonisms]] of [[social]], [[economic]], [[moral]], and [[religious]] attitudes exhibited by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] and the [[Hebrews]]. This socioeconomic [[controversy]] did not become a definite [[religious]] issue until the times of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah]. From the days of this aggressive [[prophet]] the issue was fought out on more strictly [[religious]] lines—[[Yahweh]] vs. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal]—and it ended in the triumph of [[Yahweh]] and the subsequent drive toward [[monotheism]].

97:3.6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] shifted the [[Yahweh]]-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[controversy]] from the [[land]] issue to the [[religious]] aspect of [[Hebrew]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanite] [[ideologies]]. When [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab Ahab] murdered the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naboth Naboths][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Kings#Chapter_21] in the [[intrigue]] to get [[possession]] of their [[land]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] made a [[moral]] issue out of the olden land [[mores]] and launched his vigorous [[campaign]] against the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalites]. This was also a fight of the [[Rural|country]] folk against [[domination]] by the [[cities]]. It was chiefly under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] that [[Yahweh]] became [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim Elohim]. The [[prophet]] began as an agrarian reformer and ended up by exalting [[Deity]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baals] were many, [[Yahweh]] was one —[[monotheism]] won over [[polytheism]].

97:3.6 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] shifted the [[Yahweh]]-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[controversy]] from the [[land]] issue to the [[religious]] aspect of [[Hebrew]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanite] [[ideologies]]. When [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab Ahab] murdered the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naboth Naboths][https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=First_Book_of_Kings#Chapter_21] in the [[intrigue]] to get [[possession]] of their [[land]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] made a [[moral]] issue out of the olden land [[mores]] and launched his vigorous [[campaign]] against the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalites]. This was also a fight of the [[Rural|country]] folk against [[domination]] by the [[cities]]. It was chiefly under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] that [[Yahweh]] became [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim Elohim]. The [[prophet]] began as an agrarian reformer and ended up by exalting [[Deity]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baals] were many, [[Yahweh]] was one —[[monotheism]] won over [[polytheism]].

==97:4. AMOS AND HOSEA==

==97:4. AMOS AND HOSEA==

97:4.1 A great step in the [[transition]] of the [[tribal]] [[god]]—the god who had so long been served with [[sacrifices]] and [[ceremonies]], the [[Yahweh]] of the earlier [[Hebrews]]—to a [[God]] who would punish [[crime]] and immorality among even his own people, was taken by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos], who appeared from among the southern hills to denounce the [[criminality]], [[drunkenness]], [[oppression]], and immorality of the northern tribes. Not since the times of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had such ringing [[truths]] been [[proclaimed]] in [[Palestine]].

97:4.1 A great step in the [[transition]] of the [[tribal]] [[god]]—the god who had so long been served with [[sacrifices]] and [[ceremonies]], the [[Yahweh]] of the earlier [[Hebrews]]—to a [[God]] who would punish [[crime]] and immorality among even his own people, was taken by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos], who appeared from among the southern hills to denounce the [[criminality]], [[drunkenness]], [[oppression]], and immorality of the northern tribes. Not since the times of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] had such ringing [[truths]] been [[proclaimed]] in [[Palestine]].

97:4.2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] was not merely a restorer or reformer; he was a [[discoverer]] of new [[concepts]] of [[Deity]]. He [[proclaimed]] much about [[God]] that had been announced by his predecessors and courageously attacked the [[belief]] in a [[Divine]] [[Being]] who would countenance [[sin]] among his so-called [[chosen people]]. For the first time since the days of [[Melchizedek]] the ears of man heard the denunciation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_standard double standard] of [[national]] [[justice]] and [[morality]]. For the first time in their [[history]] [[Hebrew]] ears heard that their own [[God]], [[Yahweh]], would no more tolerate [[crime]] and [[sin]] in their lives than he would among any other people. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] envisioned the stern and just God of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah], but he also saw a God who thought no differently of the [[Hebrews]] than of any other [[nation]] when it came to the punishment of wrongdoing. This was a direct [[attack]] on the [[egoistic]] [[doctrine]] of the "[[chosen people]]," and many [[Hebrews]] of those days bitterly resented it.

97:4.2 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] was not merely a restorer or reformer; he was a [[discoverer]] of new [[concepts]] of [[Deity]]. He [[proclaimed]] much about [[God]] that had been announced by his predecessors and courageously attacked the [[belief]] in a [[Divine]] [[Being]] who would countenance [[sin]] among his so-called [[chosen people]]. For the first time since the days of [[Melchizedek]] the ears of man heard the denunciation of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_standard double standard] of [[national]] [[justice]] and [[morality]]. For the first time in their [[history]] [[Hebrew]] ears heard that their own [[God]], [[Yahweh]], would no more tolerate [[crime]] and [[sin]] in their lives than he would among any other people. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] envisioned the stern and just God of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah], but he also saw a God who thought no differently of the [[Hebrews]] than of any other [[nation]] when it came to the punishment of wrongdoing. This was a direct [[attack]] on the [[egoistic]] [[doctrine]] of the "[[chosen people]]," and many [[Hebrews]] of those days bitterly resented it.

97:4.3 Said [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos]: "He who formed the [[mountains]] and created the [[wind]], seek him who formed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades_(star_cluster) seven stars] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion Orion], who turns the [[shadow]] of [[death]] into the morning and makes the day dark as night." And in denouncing his half-[[religious]], timeserving, and sometimes immoral fellows, he sought to portray the inexorable [[justice]] of an unchanging [[Yahweh]] when he said of the evildoers: " Though they dig into [[hell]], thence shall I take them; though they climb up to [[heaven]], thence will I bring them down." " And though they go into [[captivity]] before their enemies, thence will I direct the sword of [[justice]], and it shall slay them. " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] further startled his hearers when, pointing a reproving and accusing finger at them, he declared in the name of [[Yahweh]]: " Surely I will never forget any of your [[works]]. " "And I will sift the house of [[Israel]] among all nations as wheat is sifted in a sieve."

97:4.3 Said [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos]: "He who formed the [[mountains]] and created the [[wind]], seek him who formed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades_(star_cluster) seven stars] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion Orion], who turns the [[shadow]] of [[death]] into the morning and makes the day dark as night." And in denouncing his half-[[religious]], timeserving, and sometimes immoral fellows, he sought to portray the inexorable [[justice]] of an unchanging [[Yahweh]] when he said of the evildoers: " Though they dig into [[hell]], thence shall I take them; though they climb up to [[heaven]], thence will I bring them down." " And though they go into [[captivity]] before their enemies, thence will I direct the sword of [[justice]], and it shall slay them. " [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] further startled his hearers when, pointing a reproving and accusing finger at them, he declared in the name of [[Yahweh]]: " Surely I will never forget any of your [[works]]. " "And I will sift the house of [[Israel]] among all nations as wheat is sifted in a sieve."

97:4.4 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] proclaimed [[Yahweh]] the "God of all nations" and warned the [[Israelites]] that [[ritual]] must not take the place of [[righteousness]]. And before this [[courageous]] teacher was stoned to [[death]], he had spread enough leaven of [[truth]] to save the [[doctrine]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]]; he had insured the further [[evolution]] of the [[Melchizedek]] [[revelation]].

97:4.4 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] proclaimed [[Yahweh]] the "God of all nations" and warned the [[Israelites]] that [[ritual]] must not take the place of [[righteousness]]. And before this [[courageous]] teacher was stoned to [[death]], he had spread enough leaven of [[truth]] to save the [[doctrine]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]]; he had insured the further [[evolution]] of the [[Melchizedek]] [[revelation]].

97:4.5 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] followed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] and his [[doctrine]] of a [[universal]] [[God]] of [[justice]] by the [[resurrection]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] [[concept]] of a God of [[love]]. Hosea preached [[forgiveness]] through [[repentance]], not by [[sacrifice]]. He [[proclaimed]] a gospel of loving-kindness and [[divine]] [[mercy]], saying: "I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and judgment and in loving-kindness and in mercies. I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.2] " I will love them freely, for my anger is turned away."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.14]

97:4.5 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] followed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] and his [[doctrine]] of a [[universal]] [[God]] of [[justice]] by the [[resurrection]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Mosaic] [[concept]] of a God of [[love]]. Hosea preached [[forgiveness]] through [[repentance]], not by [[sacrifice]]. He [[proclaimed]] a gospel of loving-kindness and [[divine]] [[mercy]], saying: "I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and judgment and in loving-kindness and in mercies. I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.2] " I will love them freely, for my anger is turned away."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.14]

97:4.6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] faithfully continued the [[moral]] [[warnings]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos], saying of God, "It is my desire that I chastise them."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/] But the [[Israelites]] regarded it as cruelty bordering on [[treason]] when he said: "I will say to those who were not my people, `you are my people'; and they will say, `you are our God.'[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.2] " He continued to preach [[repentance]] and [[forgiveness]], saying, "I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely, for my anger is turned away."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.14] Always [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] proclaimed [[hope]] and [[forgiveness]]. The burden of his [[message]] ever was: " I will have mercy upon my people. They shall know no God but me, for there is no savior beside me. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.2]

97:4.6 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] faithfully continued the [[moral]] [[warnings]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos], saying of God, "It is my desire that I chastise them."[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/] But the [[Israelites]] regarded it as cruelty bordering on [[treason]] when he said: "I will say to those who were not my people, `you are my people'; and they will say, `you are our God.'[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.2] " He continued to preach [[repentance]] and [[forgiveness]], saying, "I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely, for my anger is turned away."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.14] Always [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] proclaimed [[hope]] and [[forgiveness]]. The burden of his [[message]] ever was: " I will have mercy upon my people. They shall know no God but me, for there is no savior beside me. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.2]

97:4.7 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] quickened the [[national]] [[conscience]] of the [[Hebrews]] to the [[recognition]] that [[Yahweh]] would not condone [[crime]] and [[sin]] among them because they were supposedly the [[chosen people]], while [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] struck the opening notes in the later [[merciful]] chords of [[divine]] [[compassion]] and loving-kindness which were so exquisitely [[sung]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] and his associates.

97:4.7 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos] quickened the [[national]] [[conscience]] of the [[Hebrews]] to the [[recognition]] that [[Yahweh]] would not condone [[crime]] and [[sin]] among them because they were supposedly the [[chosen people]], while [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] struck the opening notes in the later [[merciful]] chords of [[divine]] [[compassion]] and loving-kindness which were so exquisitely [[sung]] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] and his associates.

==97:5. THE FIRST ISAIAH==   

==97:5. THE FIRST ISAIAH==   

97:5.1 These were the times when some were [[proclaiming]] threatenings of punishment against [[personal]] [[sins]] and [[national]] [[crime]] among the northern clans while others predicted [[calamity]] in retribution for the transgressions of the southern kingdom. It was in the wake of this arousal of [[conscience]] and [[consciousness]] in the [[Hebrew]] nations that the [http://www.archive.org/details/fourprophetsamos012976mbp first Isaiah] made his [[appearance]].

97:5.1 These were the times when some were [[proclaiming]] threatenings of punishment against [[personal]] [[sins]] and [[national]] [[crime]] among the northern clans while others predicted [[calamity]] in retribution for the transgressions of the southern kingdom. It was in the wake of this arousal of [[conscience]] and [[consciousness]] in the [[Hebrew]] nations that the [https://www.archive.org/details/fourprophetsamos012976mbp first Isaiah] made his [[appearance]].

97:5.2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] went on to preach the [[eternal]] [[nature]] of [[God]], his [[infinite]] [[wisdom]], his unchanging [[perfection]] of reliability. He [[represented]] the [[God]] of [[Israel]] as saying: "Judgment also will I lay to the line and [[righteousness]] to the plummet."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.28] " The Lord will give you rest from your sorrow and from your [[fear]] and from the hard bondage wherein man has been made to serve."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.14] "And your ears shall hear a [[word]] behind you, saying, `this is the way, walk in it.' "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.30] " Behold [[God]] is my [[salvation]]; I will [[trust]] and not be afraid, for the Lord is my [[strength]] and my [[song]]. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.12] " `Come now and let us [[reason]] together,' says the Lord, `though your [[sins]] be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like the crimson, they shall be as wool.' "

97:5.2 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] went on to preach the [[eternal]] [[nature]] of [[God]], his [[infinite]] [[wisdom]], his unchanging [[perfection]] of reliability. He [[represented]] the [[God]] of [[Israel]] as saying: "Judgment also will I lay to the line and [[righteousness]] to the plummet."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.28] " The Lord will give you rest from your sorrow and from your [[fear]] and from the hard bondage wherein man has been made to serve."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.14] "And your ears shall hear a [[word]] behind you, saying, `this is the way, walk in it.' "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.30] " Behold [[God]] is my [[salvation]]; I will [[trust]] and not be afraid, for the Lord is my [[strength]] and my [[song]]. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.12] " `Come now and let us [[reason]] together,' says the Lord, `though your [[sins]] be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like the crimson, they shall be as wool.' "

97:5.3 Speaking to the [[fear]]-ridden and [[soul]]-hungry [[Hebrews]], this [[prophet]] said: "Arise and shine, for your [[light]] has come, and the [[glory]] of the Lord has risen upon you. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.60] " The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good tidings to the [[meek]]; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to [[proclaim]] [[liberty]] to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.61] " I will greatly [[rejoice]] in the Lord, my [[soul]] shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of [[salvation]] and has covered me with his robe of [[righteousness]]. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.61] " In all their [[afflictions]] he was afflicted, and the [[angel]] of his [[presence]] saved them. In his [[love]] and in his pity he redeemed them. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.63]

97:5.3 Speaking to the [[fear]]-ridden and [[soul]]-hungry [[Hebrews]], this [[prophet]] said: "Arise and shine, for your [[light]] has come, and the [[glory]] of the Lord has risen upon you. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.60] " The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good tidings to the [[meek]]; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to [[proclaim]] [[liberty]] to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.61] " I will greatly [[rejoice]] in the Lord, my [[soul]] shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of [[salvation]] and has covered me with his robe of [[righteousness]]. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.61] " In all their [[afflictions]] he was afflicted, and the [[angel]] of his [[presence]] saved them. In his [[love]] and in his pity he redeemed them. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.63]

97:5.4 This [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] was followed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet) Micah] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obadiah Obadiah], who [[confirmed]] and embellished his [[soul]]-satisfying gospel. And these two [[brave]] [[messengers]] boldly denounced the [[priest]]-ridden [[ritual]] of the [[Hebrews]] and fearlessly attacked the whole [[sacrificial]] [[system]].

97:5.4 This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] was followed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet) Micah] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obadiah Obadiah], who [[confirmed]] and embellished his [[soul]]-satisfying gospel. And these two [[brave]] [[messengers]] boldly denounced the [[priest]]-ridden [[ritual]] of the [[Hebrews]] and fearlessly attacked the whole [[sacrificial]] [[system]].

97:5.5 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet) Micah] denounced "the rulers who [[judge]] for reward and the [[priests]] who teach for hire and the [[prophets]] who divine for [[money]]."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Micah#Chapter_.2] He taught of a day of [[freedom]] from [[superstition]] and priestcraft, saying: "But every man shall sit under his own vine, and no one shall make him afraid, for all people will live, each one according to his [[understanding]] of [[God]]."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Micah#Chapter_.4]

97:5.5 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet) Micah] denounced "the rulers who [[judge]] for reward and the [[priests]] who teach for hire and the [[prophets]] who divine for [[money]]."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Micah#Chapter_.2] He taught of a day of [[freedom]] from [[superstition]] and priestcraft, saying: "But every man shall sit under his own vine, and no one shall make him afraid, for all people will live, each one according to his [[understanding]] of [[God]]."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Micah#Chapter_.4]

97:5.6 Ever the burden of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet)  Micah]'s [[message]] was: "Shall I come before God with [[Sacrifice|burnt offerings]]? Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand rams or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my [[body]] for the [[sin]] of my [[soul]]? He has shown me, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly and to [[love]] [[mercy]] and to walk [[humbly]] with your God."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Micah#Chapter_.6] And it was a great age; these were indeed stirring times when [[mortal]] man heard, and some even believed, such [[emancipating]] [[messages]] more than two and a half [[millenniums]] ago. And but for the stubborn [[resistance]] of the [[priests]], these [[teachers]] would have overthrown the whole bloody [[ceremonial]] of the [[Hebrew]] [[ritual]] of [[worship]].

97:5.6 Ever the burden of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet)  Micah]'s [[message]] was: "Shall I come before God with [[Sacrifice|burnt offerings]]? Will the Lord be pleased with a thousand rams or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my [[body]] for the [[sin]] of my [[soul]]? He has shown me, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly and to [[love]] [[mercy]] and to walk [[humbly]] with your God."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Micah#Chapter_.6] And it was a great age; these were indeed stirring times when [[mortal]] man heard, and some even believed, such [[emancipating]] [[messages]] more than two and a half [[millenniums]] ago. And but for the stubborn [[resistance]] of the [[priests]], these [[teachers]] would have overthrown the whole bloody [[ceremonial]] of the [[Hebrew]] [[ritual]] of [[worship]].

==97:6. JEREMIAH THE FEARLESS==  

==97:6. JEREMIAH THE FEARLESS==  

97:6.1 While several [[teachers]] continued to expound the [http://books.google.com/books?id=aKbdqTh-D3cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+fifth+gospel&source=bl&ots=dLDBxoTCSV&sig=CFhR3P8vtOSYKsQmEPXYUVBq15w&hl=en&ei=HFedTLqAFYa0lQfKkoz8CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false gospel of Isaiah], it remained for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] to take the next bold step in the internationalization of [[Yahweh]], [[God]] of the [[Hebrews]].

97:6.1 While several [[teachers]] continued to expound the [https://books.google.com/books?id=aKbdqTh-D3cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+fifth+gospel&source=bl&ots=dLDBxoTCSV&sig=CFhR3P8vtOSYKsQmEPXYUVBq15w&hl=en&ei=HFedTLqAFYa0lQfKkoz8CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false gospel of Isaiah], it remained for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] to take the next bold step in the internationalization of [[Yahweh]], [[God]] of the [[Hebrews]].

97:6.2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] fearlessly declared that [[Yahweh]] was not on the side of the [[Hebrews]] in their [[military]] struggles with other [[nations]]. He asserted that [[Yahweh]] was [[God]] of all the [[earth]], of all [[nations]] and of all peoples. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah]'s teaching was the crescendo of the rising [[wave]] of the [[internationalization]] of the God of Israel; finally and forever did this intrepid preacher proclaim that [[Yahweh]] was God of all nations, and that there was no [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris Osiris] for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_(god) Bel] for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashur_%28god%29 Ashur] for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyrians], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagon Dagon] for the [[Philistines]]. And thus did the [[religion]] of the [[Hebrews]] [[share]] in that [[renaissance]] of [[monotheism]] throughout the world at about and following this time; at last the [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] had [[ascended]] to a [[Deity]] level of [[planetary]] and even [[cosmic]] [[dignity]]. But many of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah]'s associates found it difficult to conceive of [[Yahweh]] apart from the [[Hebrew]] [[nation]].

97:6.2 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] fearlessly declared that [[Yahweh]] was not on the side of the [[Hebrews]] in their [[military]] struggles with other [[nations]]. He asserted that [[Yahweh]] was [[God]] of all the [[earth]], of all [[nations]] and of all peoples. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah]'s teaching was the crescendo of the rising [[wave]] of the [[internationalization]] of the God of Israel; finally and forever did this intrepid preacher proclaim that [[Yahweh]] was God of all nations, and that there was no [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osiris Osiris] for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_(god) Bel] for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashur_%28god%29 Ashur] for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyrians], or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagon Dagon] for the [[Philistines]]. And thus did the [[religion]] of the [[Hebrews]] [[share]] in that [[renaissance]] of [[monotheism]] throughout the world at about and following this time; at last the [[concept]] of [[Yahweh]] had [[ascended]] to a [[Deity]] level of [[planetary]] and even [[cosmic]] [[dignity]]. But many of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah]'s associates found it difficult to conceive of [[Yahweh]] apart from the [[Hebrew]] [[nation]].

97:6.3 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] also preached of the just and loving [[God]] described by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah], declaring: "Yes, I have [[loved]] you with an everlasting [[love]]; therefore with loving-[[kindness]] have I drawn you."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Jeremiah#Chapter_.31] "For he does not afflict willingly the children of men."

97:6.3 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] also preached of the just and loving [[God]] described by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah], declaring: "Yes, I have [[loved]] you with an everlasting [[love]]; therefore with loving-[[kindness]] have I drawn you."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Jeremiah#Chapter_.31] "For he does not afflict willingly the children of men."

97:6.4 Said this fearless [[prophet]]: "[[Righteous]] is our Lord, great in [[counsel]] and mighty in [[work]]. His eyes are open upon all the ways of all the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Jeremiah#Chapter_.32] But it was considered [[blasphemous]] [[treason]] when, during the siege of [[Jerusalem]], he said: "And now have I given these [[lands]] into the hand of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar], the king of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon], my servant."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Jeremiah#Chapter_.27] And when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] [[counseled]] the [[surrender]] of the [[city]], the [[priests]] and civil rulers cast him into the miry pit of a dismal dungeon.

97:6.4 Said this fearless [[prophet]]: "[[Righteous]] is our Lord, great in [[counsel]] and mighty in [[work]]. His eyes are open upon all the ways of all the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Jeremiah#Chapter_.32] But it was considered [[blasphemous]] [[treason]] when, during the siege of [[Jerusalem]], he said: "And now have I given these [[lands]] into the hand of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar], the king of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon], my servant."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Jeremiah#Chapter_.27] And when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] [[counseled]] the [[surrender]] of the [[city]], the [[priests]] and civil rulers cast him into the miry pit of a dismal dungeon.

==97:7. THE SECOND ISAIAH==  

==97:7. THE SECOND ISAIAH==  

97:7.1 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah#Destruction_of_Israel destruction of the Hebrew nation] and their [[captivity]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] would have [[proved]] of great benefit to their expanding [[theology]] had it not been for the determined [[action]] of their [[priesthood]]. Their [[nation]] had fallen before the armies of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_Empire Babylon], and their [[nationalistic]] [[Yahweh]] had suffered from the [[international]] preachments of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]]. It was resentment of the loss of their [[national]] god that led the [[Jewish]] [[priests]] to go to such lengths in the [[invention]] of fables and the multiplication of [[miraculous]] appearing [[events]] in [[Hebrew]] [[history]] in an [[effort]] to restore the [[Jews]] as the [[chosen people]] of even the new and expanded [[idea]] of an [[internationalized]] [[God]] of all nations.

97:7.1 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah#Destruction_of_Israel destruction of the Hebrew nation] and their [[captivity]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia Mesopotamia] would have [[proved]] of great benefit to their expanding [[theology]] had it not been for the determined [[action]] of their [[priesthood]]. Their [[nation]] had fallen before the armies of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_Empire Babylon], and their [[nationalistic]] [[Yahweh]] had suffered from the [[international]] preachments of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]]. It was resentment of the loss of their [[national]] god that led the [[Jewish]] [[priests]] to go to such lengths in the [[invention]] of fables and the multiplication of [[miraculous]] appearing [[events]] in [[Hebrew]] [[history]] in an [[effort]] to restore the [[Jews]] as the [[chosen people]] of even the new and expanded [[idea]] of an [[internationalized]] [[God]] of all nations.

97:7.2 During [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity] the [[Jews]] were much [[influenced]] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonian traditions] and legends, although it should be noted that they unfailingly improved the [[moral]] [[tone]] and [[spiritual]] significance of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldea Chaldean] stories which they adopted, notwithstanding that they invariably distorted these [[legends]] to [[reflect]] [[honor]] and [[glory]] upon the [[ancestry]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_israel history of Israel].

97:7.2 During [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity] the [[Jews]] were much [[influenced]] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonia Babylonian traditions] and legends, although it should be noted that they unfailingly improved the [[moral]] [[tone]] and [[spiritual]] significance of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaldea Chaldean] stories which they adopted, notwithstanding that they invariably distorted these [[legends]] to [[reflect]] [[honor]] and [[glory]] upon the [[ancestry]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_israel history of Israel].

97:7.3 These [[Hebrew]] [[priests]] and scribes had a single [[idea]] in their [[minds]], and that was the [[rehabilitation]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaea_%28Roman_province%29 Jewish nation], the [[glorification]] of [[Hebrew]] [[traditions]], and the exaltation of their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Jews racial history]. If there is resentment of the [[fact]] that these [[priests]] have fastened their erroneous [[ideas]] upon such a large part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occidental world], it should be remembered that they did not [[intentionally]] do this; they did not claim to be [[writing]] by [[inspiration]]; they made no [[profession]] to be writing a [[sacred]] [[book]]. They were merely [[preparing]] a [[textbook]] designed to bolster up the dwindling [[courage]] of their fellows in [[captivity]]. They were definitely aiming at improving the [[national]] [[spirit]] and morale of their compatriots. It remained for later-day men to assemble these and other [[writings]] into a guide [[book]] of supposedly [[infallible]] teachings.

97:7.3 These [[Hebrew]] [[priests]] and scribes had a single [[idea]] in their [[minds]], and that was the [[rehabilitation]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaea_%28Roman_province%29 Jewish nation], the [[glorification]] of [[Hebrew]] [[traditions]], and the exaltation of their [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Jews racial history]. If there is resentment of the [[fact]] that these [[priests]] have fastened their erroneous [[ideas]] upon such a large part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occidental world], it should be remembered that they did not [[intentionally]] do this; they did not claim to be [[writing]] by [[inspiration]]; they made no [[profession]] to be writing a [[sacred]] [[book]]. They were merely [[preparing]] a [[textbook]] designed to bolster up the dwindling [[courage]] of their fellows in [[captivity]]. They were definitely aiming at improving the [[national]] [[spirit]] and morale of their compatriots. It remained for later-day men to assemble these and other [[writings]] into a guide [[book]] of supposedly [[infallible]] teachings.

97:7.4 The [[Jewish]] [[priesthood]] made [[liberal]] use of these [[writings]] subsequent to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity], but they were greatly hindered in their [[influence]] over their fellow captives by the [[presence]] of a young and indomitable [[prophet]], [http://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm Isaiah the second], who was a full [[convert]] to the [[elder]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Isaiah]'s [[God]] of [[justice]], [[love]], [[righteousness]], and [[mercy]]. He also believed with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] that [[Yahweh]] had become the [[God]] of [[Internationalism|all nations]]. He preached these [[theories]] of the [[nature]] of [[God]] with such telling [[effect]] that he made converts equally among the [[Jews]] and their captors. And this young preacher left on [[record]] his teachings, which the hostile and unforgiving [[priests]] sought to [[divorce]] from all [[association]] with him, although sheer [[respect]] for their [[beauty]] and grandeur led to their incorporation among the [[writings]] of the earlier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]. And thus may be found the writings of this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah second Isaiah] in the [[book]] of that name, embracing chapters [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 forty to fifty-five inclusive].

97:7.4 The [[Jewish]] [[priesthood]] made [[liberal]] use of these [[writings]] subsequent to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity], but they were greatly hindered in their [[influence]] over their fellow captives by the [[presence]] of a young and indomitable [[prophet]], [https://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm Isaiah the second], who was a full [[convert]] to the [[elder]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Isaiah]'s [[God]] of [[justice]], [[love]], [[righteousness]], and [[mercy]]. He also believed with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] that [[Yahweh]] had become the [[God]] of [[Internationalism|all nations]]. He preached these [[theories]] of the [[nature]] of [[God]] with such telling [[effect]] that he made converts equally among the [[Jews]] and their captors. And this young preacher left on [[record]] his teachings, which the hostile and unforgiving [[priests]] sought to [[divorce]] from all [[association]] with him, although sheer [[respect]] for their [[beauty]] and grandeur led to their incorporation among the [[writings]] of the earlier [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]. And thus may be found the writings of this [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah second Isaiah] in the [[book]] of that name, embracing chapters [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 forty to fifty-five inclusive].

97:7.5 No [[prophet]] or religious teacher from [[Machiventa]] to the time of [[Jesus]] [[attained]] the high [[concept]] of [[God]] that [http://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm Isaiah the second] proclaimed during these days of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity]. It was no small, [[anthropomorphic]], man-made [[God]] that this [[spiritual]] leader [[proclaimed]]. " Behold he takes up the isles as a very little thing. "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40] " And as the [[heavens]] are higher than the [[earth]], so are my ways higher than your ways and my [[thoughts]] higher than your thoughts."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.55]

97:7.5 No [[prophet]] or religious teacher from [[Machiventa]] to the time of [[Jesus]] [[attained]] the high [[concept]] of [[God]] that [https://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm Isaiah the second] proclaimed during these days of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity]. It was no small, [[anthropomorphic]], man-made [[God]] that this [[spiritual]] leader [[proclaimed]]. " Behold he takes up the isles as a very little thing. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40] " And as the [[heavens]] are higher than the [[earth]], so are my ways higher than your ways and my [[thoughts]] higher than your thoughts."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.55]

97:7.6 At last [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]] beheld [[human]] [[teachers]] [[proclaiming]] a real [[God]] to [[mortal]] man. Like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] the first, this [[leader]] preached a [[God]] of [[universal]] [[creation]] and upholding. "I have made the [[earth]] and put man upon it. I have created it not in vain; I formed it to be inhabited."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45] " I am the first and the last; there is no God beside me."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45] Speaking for the Lord God of Israel, this new [[prophet]] said: " The [[heavens]] may vanish and the [[earth]] wax old, but my [[righteousness]] shall [[endure]] forever and my [[salvation]] from [[generation]] to generation."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45] " [[Fear]] you not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your [[God]]."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.41] " There is no [[God]] beside me—a just God and a Savior."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45]

97:7.6 At last [[Machiventa]] [[Melchizedek]] beheld [[human]] [[teachers]] [[proclaiming]] a real [[God]] to [[mortal]] man. Like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] the first, this [[leader]] preached a [[God]] of [[universal]] [[creation]] and upholding. "I have made the [[earth]] and put man upon it. I have created it not in vain; I formed it to be inhabited."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45] " I am the first and the last; there is no God beside me."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45] Speaking for the Lord God of Israel, this new [[prophet]] said: " The [[heavens]] may vanish and the [[earth]] wax old, but my [[righteousness]] shall [[endure]] forever and my [[salvation]] from [[generation]] to generation."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45] " [[Fear]] you not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your [[God]]."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.41] " There is no [[God]] beside me—a just God and a Savior."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.45]

97:7.7 And it [[comforted]] the [[Jewish]] captives, as it has thousands upon thousands ever since, to hear such [[words]] as: " Thus says the Lord, `I have [[created]] you, I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.' "[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.43] " When you pass through the [[waters]], I will be with you since you are precious in my [[sight]]."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.43] "Can a [[woman]] forget her suckling [[child]] that she should not have [[compassion]] on her son? Yes, she may forget, yet will I not forget my [[children]], for behold I have graven them upon the palms of my hands; I have even covered them with the [[shadow]] of my hands."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.49] " Let the [[wicked]] forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his [[thoughts]], and let him return to the Lord, and he will have [[mercy]] upon him, and to our [[God]], for he will [[abundantly]] pardon."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.55]

97:7.7 And it [[comforted]] the [[Jewish]] captives, as it has thousands upon thousands ever since, to hear such [[words]] as: " Thus says the Lord, `I have [[created]] you, I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.' "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.43] " When you pass through the [[waters]], I will be with you since you are precious in my [[sight]]."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.43] "Can a [[woman]] forget her suckling [[child]] that she should not have [[compassion]] on her son? Yes, she may forget, yet will I not forget my [[children]], for behold I have graven them upon the palms of my hands; I have even covered them with the [[shadow]] of my hands."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.49] " Let the [[wicked]] forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his [[thoughts]], and let him return to the Lord, and he will have [[mercy]] upon him, and to our [[God]], for he will [[abundantly]] pardon."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.55]

97:7.8 [[Listen]] again to the [[gospel]] of this new [[revelation]] of the [[God]] of [[Salem]]: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his [[bosom]].[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40] He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might he increases [[strength]][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40]. Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40]

97:7.8 [[Listen]] again to the [[gospel]] of this new [[revelation]] of the [[God]] of [[Salem]]: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his [[bosom]].[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40] He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might he increases [[strength]][https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40]. Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.40]

97:7.9 [http://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm This Isaiah] conducted a far-flung [[propaganda]] of the [[gospel]] of the enlarging [[concept]] of a [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]]. He vied with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] in the [[eloquence]] with which he portrayed the Lord [[God]] of [[Israel]] as the [[Universal]] [[Creator]]. He was [[poetic]] in his portrayal of the [[infinite]] [[attributes]] of the [[Universal Father]]. No more [[beautiful]] [[pronouncements]] about the [[heavenly Father]] have ever been made. Like the [[Psalms]], the [[writings]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] are among the most [[sublime]] and true presentations of the [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of [[God]] ever to greet the ears of [[mortal]] man prior to the arrival of [[Michael]] on [[Urantia]]. Listen to his portrayal of [[Deity]]: "I am the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.57] " I am the first and the last, and beside me there is no other God."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.44] "And the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.59] And it was a new [[doctrine]] in Jewry when this benign but commanding [[prophet]] [[persisted]] in the preachment of [[divine]] constancy, God's [[faithfulness]]. He declared that "God would not forget, would not forsake."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.49]

97:7.9 [https://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm This Isaiah] conducted a far-flung [[propaganda]] of the [[gospel]] of the enlarging [[concept]] of a [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]]. He vied with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] in the [[eloquence]] with which he portrayed the Lord [[God]] of [[Israel]] as the [[Universal]] [[Creator]]. He was [[poetic]] in his portrayal of the [[infinite]] [[attributes]] of the [[Universal Father]]. No more [[beautiful]] [[pronouncements]] about the [[heavenly Father]] have ever been made. Like the [[Psalms]], the [[writings]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] are among the most [[sublime]] and true presentations of the [[spiritual]] [[concept]] of [[God]] ever to greet the ears of [[mortal]] man prior to the arrival of [[Michael]] on [[Urantia]]. Listen to his portrayal of [[Deity]]: "I am the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.57] " I am the first and the last, and beside me there is no other God."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.44] "And the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.59] And it was a new [[doctrine]] in Jewry when this benign but commanding [[prophet]] [[persisted]] in the preachment of [[divine]] constancy, God's [[faithfulness]]. He declared that "God would not forget, would not forsake."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.49]

97:7.10 This daring [[teacher]] [[proclaimed]] that man was very closely related to [[God]], saying: "Every one who is called by my name I have created for my glory, and they shall show forth my praise. I, even I, am he who blots out their transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember their sins."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.43]

97:7.10 This daring [[teacher]] [[proclaimed]] that man was very closely related to [[God]], saying: "Every one who is called by my name I have created for my glory, and they shall show forth my praise. I, even I, am he who blots out their transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember their sins."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.43]

97:7.11 Hear this great [[Hebrew]] demolish the [[concept]] of a [[national]] [[God]] while in [[glory]] he proclaims the [[divinity]] of the [[Universal Father]], of whom he says, "The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.66] And Isaiah's God was none the less [[holy]], majestic, [[just]], and unsearchable. The [[concept]] of the angry, vengeful, and [[jealous]] [[Yahweh]] of the [[desert]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouins] has almost vanished. A new [[concept]] of the [[supreme]] and [[universal]] [[Yahweh]] has appeared in the [[mind]] of [[mortal]] man, never to be lost to human view. The [[realization]] of [[divine]] [[justice]] has begun the destruction of [[primitive]] [[magic]] and [[biologic]] [[fear]]. At last, man is introduced to a [[universe]] of [[law]] and order and to a [[universal]] [[God]] of dependable and final [[attributes]].

97:7.11 Hear this great [[Hebrew]] demolish the [[concept]] of a [[national]] [[God]] while in [[glory]] he proclaims the [[divinity]] of the [[Universal Father]], of whom he says, "The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.66] And Isaiah's God was none the less [[holy]], majestic, [[just]], and unsearchable. The [[concept]] of the angry, vengeful, and [[jealous]] [[Yahweh]] of the [[desert]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin Bedouins] has almost vanished. A new [[concept]] of the [[supreme]] and [[universal]] [[Yahweh]] has appeared in the [[mind]] of [[mortal]] man, never to be lost to human view. The [[realization]] of [[divine]] [[justice]] has begun the destruction of [[primitive]] [[magic]] and [[biologic]] [[fear]]. At last, man is introduced to a [[universe]] of [[law]] and order and to a [[universal]] [[God]] of dependable and final [[attributes]].

97:7.12 And this preacher of a [[supernal]] [[God]] never ceased to proclaim this God of [[love]]. "I dwell in the high and [[holy]] place, also with him who is of a contrite and [[humble]] [[spirit]]."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.57 And still further [[words]] of [[comfort]] did this great [[teacher]] speak to his contemporaries: "And the Lord will [[guide]] you continually and satisfy your [[soul]]. You shall be like a watered [[garden]] and like a spring whose waters fail not. And if the enemy shall come in like a flood, the [[spirit]] of the Lord will lift up a [[defense]] against him."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.58] And once again did the [[fear]]-destroying gospel of [[Melchizedek]] and the [[trust]]-breeding [[religion]] of [[Salem]] shine forth for the [[blessing]] of [[mankind]].

97:7.12 And this preacher of a [[supernal]] [[God]] never ceased to proclaim this God of [[love]]. "I dwell in the high and [[holy]] place, also with him who is of a contrite and [[humble]] [[spirit]]."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.57 And still further [[words]] of [[comfort]] did this great [[teacher]] speak to his contemporaries: "And the Lord will [[guide]] you continually and satisfy your [[soul]]. You shall be like a watered [[garden]] and like a spring whose waters fail not. And if the enemy shall come in like a flood, the [[spirit]] of the Lord will lift up a [[defense]] against him."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.58] And once again did the [[fear]]-destroying gospel of [[Melchizedek]] and the [[trust]]-breeding [[religion]] of [[Salem]] shine forth for the [[blessing]] of [[mankind]].

97:7.13 The farseeing and [[courageous]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] effectively [[eclipsed]] the nationalistic [[Yahweh]] by his [[sublime]] portraiture of the [[majesty]] and [[universal]] [[omnipotence]] of the [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], [[God]] of [[love]], ruler of the [[universe]], and [[affectionate]] [[Father]] of all [[mankind]]. Ever since those eventful days the highest [[God]] [[concept]] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occident] has [[embraced]] [[universal]] [[justice]], [[divine]] [[mercy]], and [[eternal]] [[righteousness]]. In superb [[language]] and with matchless [[grace]] this great [[teacher]] portrayed the [[Omnipotent|all-powerful]] [[Creator]] as the all-loving [[Father]].

97:7.13 The farseeing and [[courageous]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] effectively [[eclipsed]] the nationalistic [[Yahweh]] by his [[sublime]] portraiture of the [[majesty]] and [[universal]] [[omnipotence]] of the [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], [[God]] of [[love]], ruler of the [[universe]], and [[affectionate]] [[Father]] of all [[mankind]]. Ever since those eventful days the highest [[God]] [[concept]] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occident Occident] has [[embraced]] [[universal]] [[justice]], [[divine]] [[mercy]], and [[eternal]] [[righteousness]]. In superb [[language]] and with matchless [[grace]] this great [[teacher]] portrayed the [[Omnipotent|all-powerful]] [[Creator]] as the all-loving [[Father]].

97:7.14 This [[prophet]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity] preached to his people and to those of many [[nations]] as they [[listened]] by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates river] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon]. And this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 second Isaiah] did much to counteract the many wrong and racially [[egoistic]] [[concepts]] of the mission of the promised [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah Messiah]. But in this [[effort]] he was not wholly successful. Had the [[priests]] not [[dedicated]] themselves to the [[work]] of building up a misconceived [[nationalism]], the teachings of the two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiahs] would have [[prepared]] the way for the [[recognition]] and [[reception]] of the promised [[Messiah]].

97:7.14 This [[prophet]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity the captivity] preached to his people and to those of many [[nations]] as they [[listened]] by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates river] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon]. And this [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 second Isaiah] did much to counteract the many wrong and racially [[egoistic]] [[concepts]] of the mission of the promised [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah Messiah]. But in this [[effort]] he was not wholly successful. Had the [[priests]] not [[dedicated]] themselves to the [[work]] of building up a misconceived [[nationalism]], the teachings of the two [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiahs] would have [[prepared]] the way for the [[recognition]] and [[reception]] of the promised [[Messiah]].

==97:8. SACRED AND PROFANE HISTORY==

==97:8. SACRED AND PROFANE HISTORY==

97:8.1 The [[custom]] of looking upon the [[record]] of the [[experiences]] of the [[Hebrews]] as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] and upon the [[transactions]] of the rest of the world as [[profane]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Beatrizet#Subjects_of_profane_history history] is [[responsible]] for much of the [[confusion]] existing in the [[human]] [[mind]] as to the [[interpretation]] of [[history]]. And this [[difficulty]] arises because there is no [[secular]] history of the [[Jews]]. After the [[priests]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylonian exile] had [[prepared]] their new [[record]] of [[God]]'s supposedly [[miraculous]] dealings with the [[Hebrews]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] of [[Israel]] as portrayed in the [[Old Testament]], they carefully and completely destroyed the existing [[records]] of [[Hebrew]] affairs—such [[books]] as "The Doings of the Kings of Israel" and "The Doings of the Kings of Judah," together with several other more or less accurate [[records]] of [[Hebrew]] [[history]].

97:8.1 The [[custom]] of looking upon the [[record]] of the [[experiences]] of the [[Hebrews]] as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] and upon the [[transactions]] of the rest of the world as [[profane]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Beatrizet#Subjects_of_profane_history history] is [[responsible]] for much of the [[confusion]] existing in the [[human]] [[mind]] as to the [[interpretation]] of [[history]]. And this [[difficulty]] arises because there is no [[secular]] history of the [[Jews]]. After the [[priests]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylonian exile] had [[prepared]] their new [[record]] of [[God]]'s supposedly [[miraculous]] dealings with the [[Hebrews]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] of [[Israel]] as portrayed in the [[Old Testament]], they carefully and completely destroyed the existing [[records]] of [[Hebrew]] affairs—such [[books]] as "The Doings of the Kings of Israel" and "The Doings of the Kings of Judah," together with several other more or less accurate [[records]] of [[Hebrew]] [[history]].

97:8.2 In order to [[understand]] how the devastating [[pressure]] and the inescapable [[coercion]] of [[secular]] [[history]] so terrorized the captive and alien-ruled [[Jews]] that they attempted the complete rewriting and recasting of their [[history]], we should briefly survey the [[record]] of their perplexing [[national]] [[experience]]. It must be remembered that the [[Jews]] failed to [[evolve]] an adequate nontheologic [[philosophy]] of life. They struggled with their [[original]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptian concept] of [[divine]] rewards for [[righteousness]] coupled with dire punishments for [[sin]]. The [[drama]] of [[Book of Job|Job]] was something of a [[protest]] against this erroneous [[philosophy]]. The frank pessimism of [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] was a worldly [[wise]] [[reaction]] to these overoptimistic [[beliefs]] in [[Providence]].

97:8.2 In order to [[understand]] how the devastating [[pressure]] and the inescapable [[coercion]] of [[secular]] [[history]] so terrorized the captive and alien-ruled [[Jews]] that they attempted the complete rewriting and recasting of their [[history]], we should briefly survey the [[record]] of their perplexing [[national]] [[experience]]. It must be remembered that the [[Jews]] failed to [[evolve]] an adequate nontheologic [[philosophy]] of life. They struggled with their [[original]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion Egyptian concept] of [[divine]] rewards for [[righteousness]] coupled with dire punishments for [[sin]]. The [[drama]] of [[Book of Job|Job]] was something of a [[protest]] against this erroneous [[philosophy]]. The frank pessimism of [[Book of Ecclesiastes|Ecclesiastes]] was a worldly [[wise]] [[reaction]] to these overoptimistic [[beliefs]] in [[Providence]].

97:8.3 But [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity five hundred years of the overlordship] of alien rulers was too much for even the [[patient]] and long-suffering [[Jews]]. The [[prophets]] and [[priests]] began to cry: "How long, O Lord, how long?"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.6] As the [[honest]] [[Jew]] searched the [[Scriptures]], his [[confusion]] became worse confounded. An olden [[seer]] promised that God would protect and deliver his "[[chosen people]]." [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos_(prophet) Amos] had threatened that God would abandon [[Israel]] unless they re-[[established]] their [[standards]] of [[righteousness]]. The scribe of [[Book of Deutoronomy|Deuteronomy]] had portrayed the ''Great Choice''—as between the [[good]] and the [[evil]], the [[blessing]] and the [[curse]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] the first had preached a [[beneficent]] [[king]]-deliverer. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] had [[proclaimed]] an era of inner [[righteousness]]—the [[covenant]] [[written]] on the tablets of the [[heart]]. The [http://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm second Isaiah] talked about [[salvation]] by [[sacrifice]] and redemption. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel] proclaimed deliverance through the [[service]] of [[devotion]], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra Ezra] [[promised]] [[prosperity]] by adherence to the [[law]]. But in spite of all this they lingered on in bondage, and deliverance was deferred. Then [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel] presented the [[drama]] of the impending " [[crisis]] "—the smiting of the great image and the [[immediate]] [[establishment]] of the everlasting reign of [[righteousness]], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_prophecy#Messianic_prophecies_in_Judaism Messianic kingdom].

97:8.3 But [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity five hundred years of the overlordship] of alien rulers was too much for even the [[patient]] and long-suffering [[Jews]]. The [[prophets]] and [[priests]] began to cry: "How long, O Lord, how long?"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.6] As the [[honest]] [[Jew]] searched the [[Scriptures]], his [[confusion]] became worse confounded. An olden [[seer]] promised that God would protect and deliver his "[[chosen people]]." [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos_(prophet) Amos] had threatened that God would abandon [[Israel]] unless they re-[[established]] their [[standards]] of [[righteousness]]. The scribe of [[Book of Deutoronomy|Deuteronomy]] had portrayed the ''Great Choice''—as between the [[good]] and the [[evil]], the [[blessing]] and the [[curse]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] the first had preached a [[beneficent]] [[king]]-deliverer. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] had [[proclaimed]] an era of inner [[righteousness]]—the [[covenant]] [[written]] on the tablets of the [[heart]]. The [https://girardianlectionary.net/res/bvs_2nd-isaiah.htm second Isaiah] talked about [[salvation]] by [[sacrifice]] and redemption. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel] proclaimed deliverance through the [[service]] of [[devotion]], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra Ezra] [[promised]] [[prosperity]] by adherence to the [[law]]. But in spite of all this they lingered on in bondage, and deliverance was deferred. Then [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel] presented the [[drama]] of the impending " [[crisis]] "—the smiting of the great image and the [[immediate]] [[establishment]] of the everlasting reign of [[righteousness]], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_prophecy#Messianic_prophecies_in_Judaism Messianic kingdom].

97:8.4 And all of this false [[hope]] led to such a [[degree]] of racial [[disappointment]] and frustration that the [[leaders]] of the [[Jews]] were so [[confused]] they failed to [[recognize]] and accept the mission and [[ministry]] of a [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:6._THE_MORTAL-BESTOWAL_CAREERS divine Son] of [[Paradise]] when he presently came to them in the likeness of [[mortal]] flesh—[[incarnated]] as the Son of Man.

97:8.4 And all of this false [[hope]] led to such a [[degree]] of racial [[disappointment]] and frustration that the [[leaders]] of the [[Jews]] were so [[confused]] they failed to [[recognize]] and accept the mission and [[ministry]] of a [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:6._THE_MORTAL-BESTOWAL_CAREERS divine Son] of [[Paradise]] when he presently came to them in the likeness of [[mortal]] flesh—[[incarnated]] as the Son of Man.

97:8.5 All [[modern]] [[religions]] have seriously blundered in the attempt to put a [[miraculous]] [[interpretation]] on certain [[epochs]] of [[human]] [[history]]. While it is true that [[God]] has many times thrust a [[Father]]'s hand of [[providential]] [[intervention]] into the [[stream]] of human affairs, it is a mistake to regard [[theologic]] [[dogmas]] and [[religious]] [[superstition]] as a [[supernatural]] sedimentation appearing by [[miraculous]] [[action]] in this [[stream]] of [[human]] [[history]]. The [[fact]] that the "[[Most Highs]] rule in the kingdoms of men"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Daniel#Chapter_4] does not convert [[secular]] history into so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history].

97:8.5 All [[modern]] [[religions]] have seriously blundered in the attempt to put a [[miraculous]] [[interpretation]] on certain [[epochs]] of [[human]] [[history]]. While it is true that [[God]] has many times thrust a [[Father]]'s hand of [[providential]] [[intervention]] into the [[stream]] of human affairs, it is a mistake to regard [[theologic]] [[dogmas]] and [[religious]] [[superstition]] as a [[supernatural]] sedimentation appearing by [[miraculous]] [[action]] in this [[stream]] of [[human]] [[history]]. The [[fact]] that the "[[Most Highs]] rule in the kingdoms of men"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Daniel#Chapter_4] does not convert [[secular]] history into so-called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history].

97:8.6 [[New Testament]] [[authors]] and later [[Christian]] [[writers]] further complicated the [[distortion]] of [[Hebrew]] [[history]] by their well-meant attempts to [[transcendentalize]] the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Hebrew_Prophets Jewish prophets]. Thus has [[Hebrew]] [[history]] been disastrously exploited by both [[Jewish]] and [[Christian]] writers. [[Secular]] [[Hebrew]] [[history]] has been thoroughly [[dogmatized]]. It has been [[converted]] into a [[fiction]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] and has become inextricably bound up with the [[moral]] [[concepts]] and religious teachings of the so-called [[Christian]] [[nations]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Zionism]

97:8.6 [[New Testament]] [[authors]] and later [[Christian]] [[writers]] further complicated the [[distortion]] of [[Hebrew]] [[history]] by their well-meant attempts to [[transcendentalize]] the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Hebrew_Prophets Jewish prophets]. Thus has [[Hebrew]] [[history]] been disastrously exploited by both [[Jewish]] and [[Christian]] writers. [[Secular]] [[Hebrew]] [[history]] has been thoroughly [[dogmatized]]. It has been [[converted]] into a [[fiction]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] and has become inextricably bound up with the [[moral]] [[concepts]] and religious teachings of the so-called [[Christian]] [[nations]].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Zionism]

97:8.7 A brief recital of the high points in [[Hebrew]] [[history]] will [[illustrate]] how the [[facts]] of the [[record]] were so altered in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] by the [[Jewish]] [[priests]] as to turn the everyday [[secular]] [[history]] of their people into a [[fictitious]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history].

97:8.7 A brief recital of the high points in [[Hebrew]] [[history]] will [[illustrate]] how the [[facts]] of the [[record]] were so altered in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] by the [[Jewish]] [[priests]] as to turn the everyday [[secular]] [[history]] of their people into a [[fictitious]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history].

==97:9. HEBREW HISTORY==

==97:9. HEBREW HISTORY==

97:9.1 There never were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites#The_Twelve_Tribes twelve tribes of the Israelites]—only three or four [[tribes]] settled in [[Palestine]]. The [[Hebrew]] nation came into being as the result of the [[union]] of the so-called Israelites and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites]. "And the children of [[Israel]] dwelt among the Canaanites. And they took their daughters to be their [[wives]] and gave their daughters to the sons of the Canaanites."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Judges#Chapter_.3] The [[Hebrews]] never drove the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] out of [[Palestine]], notwithstanding that the [[priests]]' [[record]] of these things unhesitatingly declared that they did.[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Numbers#Chapter_.21]

97:9.1 There never were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites#The_Twelve_Tribes twelve tribes of the Israelites]—only three or four [[tribes]] settled in [[Palestine]]. The [[Hebrew]] nation came into being as the result of the [[union]] of the so-called Israelites and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites]. "And the children of [[Israel]] dwelt among the Canaanites. And they took their daughters to be their [[wives]] and gave their daughters to the sons of the Canaanites."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Judges#Chapter_.3] The [[Hebrews]] never drove the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites] out of [[Palestine]], notwithstanding that the [[priests]]' [[record]] of these things unhesitatingly declared that they did.[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Numbers#Chapter_.21]

97:9.2 The Israelitish [[consciousness]] took [[origin]] in the hill country of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim Ephraim]; the later [[Jewish]] [[consciousness]] originated in the southern [[clan]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah Judah]. The [[Jews]] (Judahites) always sought to defame and blacken the [[record]] of the northern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites Israelites] (Ephraimites).

97:9.2 The Israelitish [[consciousness]] took [[origin]] in the hill country of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim Ephraim]; the later [[Jewish]] [[consciousness]] originated in the southern [[clan]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah Judah]. The [[Jews]] (Judahites) always sought to defame and blacken the [[record]] of the northern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites Israelites] (Ephraimites).

97:9.3 Pretentious [[Hebrew]] [[history]] begins with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s rallying the northern [[clans]] to withstand an [[attack]] by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon_(nation) Ammonites] upon their fellow tribesmen—the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilead Gileadites]—east of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan]. With an army of a little more than three thousand he defeated the enemy, and it was this exploit that led the hill [[tribes]] to make him [[king]]. When the [[exiled]] [[priests]] rewrote this [[story]], they raised [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s army to 330,000 and added "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiJudah Judah]" to the list of [[tribes]] participating in the battle.

97:9.3 Pretentious [[Hebrew]] [[history]] begins with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s rallying the northern [[clans]] to withstand an [[attack]] by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon_(nation) Ammonites] upon their fellow tribesmen—the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilead Gileadites]—east of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_river Jordan]. With an army of a little more than three thousand he defeated the enemy, and it was this exploit that led the hill [[tribes]] to make him [[king]]. When the [[exiled]] [[priests]] rewrote this [[story]], they raised [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s army to 330,000 and added "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiJudah Judah]" to the list of [[tribes]] participating in the battle.

97:9.4 [[Immediately]] following the defeat of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon_(nation) Ammonites], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] was made [[king]] by popular [[election]] by his troops. No [[priest]] or [[prophet]] participated in this affair. But the [[priests]] later on put it in the [[record]] that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] was crowned [[king]] by the [[prophet]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] in accordance with [[divine]] directions. This they did in order to [[establish]] a "divine line of [[descent]]" for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s Judahite kingship.

97:9.4 [[Immediately]] following the defeat of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon_(nation) Ammonites], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] was made [[king]] by popular [[election]] by his troops. No [[priest]] or [[prophet]] participated in this affair. But the [[priests]] later on put it in the [[record]] that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] was crowned [[king]] by the [[prophet]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] in accordance with [[divine]] directions. This they did in order to [[establish]] a "divine line of [[descent]]" for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s Judahite kingship.

97:9.5 The greatest of all [[distortion]]s of [[Jewish]] [[history]] had to do with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]. After [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s victory over the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon_(nation) Ammonites] (which he ascribed to [[Yahweh]]) the [[Philistines]] became alarmed and began attacks on the northern [[clans]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] never could [[agree]]. David with six hundred men entered into a [[Philistine]] alliance and marched up the coast to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esdraelon Esdraelon]. At [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gath_(city) Gath] the [[Philistines]] ordered [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] off the field; they feared he might go over to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]. David retired; the [[Philistines]] attacked and defeated Saul. They could not have done this had [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] been [[loyal]] to [[Israel]]. David's army was a polyglot assortment of malcontents, being for the most part made up of [[social]] misfits and [[fugitive]]s from [[justice]].

97:9.5 The greatest of all [[distortion]]s of [[Jewish]] [[history]] had to do with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]. After [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s victory over the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon_(nation) Ammonites] (which he ascribed to [[Yahweh]]) the [[Philistines]] became alarmed and began attacks on the northern [[clans]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] never could [[agree]]. David with six hundred men entered into a [[Philistine]] alliance and marched up the coast to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esdraelon Esdraelon]. At [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gath_(city) Gath] the [[Philistines]] ordered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] off the field; they feared he might go over to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]. David retired; the [[Philistines]] attacked and defeated Saul. They could not have done this had [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] been [[loyal]] to [[Israel]]. David's army was a polyglot assortment of malcontents, being for the most part made up of [[social]] misfits and [[fugitive]]s from [[justice]].

97:9.6 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s tragic defeat at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Gilboa] by the [[Philistines]] brought [[Yahweh]] to a low point among the gods in the eyes of the [[surrounding]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites]. Ordinarily, Saul's defeat would have been ascribed to [[apostasy]] from [[Yahweh]], but this time the Judahite [[editors]] [[attributed]] it to [[ritual]] errors. They required the [[tradition]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] as a background for the kingship of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David].

97:9.6 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s tragic defeat at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Gilboa] by the [[Philistines]] brought [[Yahweh]] to a low point among the gods in the eyes of the [[surrounding]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites]. Ordinarily, Saul's defeat would have been ascribed to [[apostasy]] from [[Yahweh]], but this time the Judahite [[editors]] [[attributed]] it to [[ritual]] errors. They required the [[tradition]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel] as a background for the kingship of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David].

97:9.7 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] with his small army made his [[headquarters]] at the non-Hebrew city of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebron Hebron]. Presently his compatriots proclaimed him [[king]] of the new [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah kingdom of Judah]. Judah was made up mostly of non-Hebrew elements—[[Kenites]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calebites Calebites], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebusites Jebusites], and other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites]. They were [[nomads]]—[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd herders]—and so were [[devoted]] to the [[Hebrew]] [[idea]] of [[land]] ownership. They held the [[ideologies]] of the [[desert]] clans.

97:9.7 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] with his small army made his [[headquarters]] at the non-Hebrew city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebron Hebron]. Presently his compatriots proclaimed him [[king]] of the new [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah kingdom of Judah]. Judah was made up mostly of non-Hebrew elements—[[Kenites]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calebites Calebites], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebusites Jebusites], and other [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanites Canaanites]. They were [[nomads]]—[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd herders]—and so were [[devoted]] to the [[Hebrew]] [[idea]] of [[land]] ownership. They held the [[ideologies]] of the [[desert]] clans.

97:9.8 The [[difference]] between [[sacred]] and [[profane]] [[history]] is well [[illustrated]] by the two differing [[stories]] concerning making [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] [[king]] as they are found in the [[Old Testament]]. A part of the [[secular]] [[story]] of how his [[immediate]] followers (his army) made him [[king]] was inadvertently left in the [[record]] by the [[priests]] who subsequently [[prepared]] the lengthy and prosaic account of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] wherein is depicted how the [[prophet]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]], by divine direction, selected [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] from among his brethren and proceeded [[formally]] and by elaborate and [[solemn]] [[ceremonies]] to anoint him [[king]] over the [[Hebrews]] and then to proclaim him [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s successor.

97:9.8 The [[difference]] between [[sacred]] and [[profane]] [[history]] is well [[illustrated]] by the two differing [[stories]] concerning making [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] [[king]] as they are found in the [[Old Testament]]. A part of the [[secular]] [[story]] of how his [[immediate]] followers (his army) made him [[king]] was inadvertently left in the [[record]] by the [[priests]] who subsequently [[prepared]] the lengthy and prosaic account of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] wherein is depicted how the [[prophet]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel Samuel]], by divine direction, selected [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] from among his brethren and proceeded [[formally]] and by elaborate and [[solemn]] [[ceremonies]] to anoint him [[king]] over the [[Hebrews]] and then to proclaim him [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s successor.

97:9.9 So many times did the [[priests]], after [[preparing]] their [[fictitious]] [[narratives]] of [[God]]'s [[miraculous]] dealings with [[Israel]], fail fully to delete the plain and matter-of-fact [[statements]] which already rested in the [[records]].

97:9.9 So many times did the [[priests]], after [[preparing]] their [[fictitious]] [[narratives]] of [[God]]'s [[miraculous]] dealings with [[Israel]], fail fully to delete the plain and matter-of-fact [[statements]] which already rested in the [[records]].

97:9.10 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] sought to build himself up [[politically]] by first [[marrying]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s daughter, then the [[widow]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabal Nabal] the rich [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edom Edomite], and then the daughter of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talmai Talmai], the king of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geshur Geshur]. He took six wives from the [[women]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebus Jebus], not to mention [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathsheba Bathsheba], the [[wife]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hittite Hittite].

97:9.10 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] sought to build himself up [[politically]] by first [[marrying]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s daughter, then the [[widow]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabal Nabal] the rich [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edom Edomite], and then the daughter of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talmai Talmai], the king of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geshur Geshur]. He took six wives from the [[women]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebus Jebus], not to mention [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathsheba Bathsheba], the [[wife]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hittite Hittite].

97:9.11 And it was by such [[methods]] and out of such people that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] built up the [[fiction]] of a [[divine]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah kingdom of Judah] as the successor of the [[heritage]] and [[traditions]] of the vanishing northern kingdom of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ephraim Ephraimite] [[Israel]]. David's [[cosmopolitan]] tribe of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah Judah] was more gentile than Jewish; nevertheless the oppressed [[elders]] of Ephraim came down and "anointed him [[king]] of [[Israel]]." After a [[military]] threat, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] then made a compact with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebusites Jebusites] and [[established]] his [[capital]] of the united kingdom at Jebus ([[Jerusalem]]), which was a strong-walled [[city]] midway between Judah and Israel. The [[Philistines]] were aroused and soon attacked [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]. After a fierce battle they were defeated, and once more [[Yahweh]] was established as "The Lord God of Hosts."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.5]

97:9.11 And it was by such [[methods]] and out of such people that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] built up the [[fiction]] of a [[divine]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah kingdom of Judah] as the successor of the [[heritage]] and [[traditions]] of the vanishing northern kingdom of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ephraim Ephraimite] [[Israel]]. David's [[cosmopolitan]] tribe of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah Judah] was more gentile than Jewish; nevertheless the oppressed [[elders]] of Ephraim came down and "anointed him [[king]] of [[Israel]]." After a [[military]] threat, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] then made a compact with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebusites Jebusites] and [[established]] his [[capital]] of the united kingdom at Jebus ([[Jerusalem]]), which was a strong-walled [[city]] midway between Judah and Israel. The [[Philistines]] were aroused and soon attacked [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]. After a fierce battle they were defeated, and once more [[Yahweh]] was established as "The Lord God of Hosts."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.5]

97:9.12 But [[Yahweh]] must, perforce, [[share]] some of this [[glory]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite_religion Canaanite gods], for the bulk of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s army was non-Hebrew. And so there appears in your [[record]] (overlooked by the Judahite [[editors]]) this telltale [[statement]]: "Yahweh has broken my enemies before me. Therefore he called the name of the place Baal-Perazim."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.5] And they did this because eighty per cent of David's soldiers were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalites].

97:9.12 But [[Yahweh]] must, perforce, [[share]] some of this [[glory]] with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite_religion Canaanite gods], for the bulk of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s army was non-Hebrew. And so there appears in your [[record]] (overlooked by the Judahite [[editors]]) this telltale [[statement]]: "Yahweh has broken my enemies before me. Therefore he called the name of the place Baal-Perazim."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.5] And they did this because eighty per cent of David's soldiers were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalites].

97:9.13 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] explained [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s defeat at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul#Battle_of_Gilboa_and_the_death_of_Saul Gilboa] by pointing out that Saul had attacked a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite Canaanite city], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibeon_(ancient_city) Gibeon], whose people had a [[peace]] treaty with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim Ephraimites]. Because of this, [[Yahweh]] forsook him. Even in Saul's time David had defended the Canaanite [[city]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keilah Keilah] against the [[Philistines]], and then he located his [[capital]] in a Canaanite city. In keeping with the [[policy]] of [[compromise]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canannites Canaanites], David turned seven of Saul's descendants over to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibeon Gibeonites] to be hanged.

97:9.13 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] explained [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul Saul]'s defeat at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul#Battle_of_Gilboa_and_the_death_of_Saul Gilboa] by pointing out that Saul had attacked a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite Canaanite city], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibeon_(ancient_city) Gibeon], whose people had a [[peace]] treaty with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim Ephraimites]. Because of this, [[Yahweh]] forsook him. Even in Saul's time David had defended the Canaanite [[city]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keilah Keilah] against the [[Philistines]], and then he located his [[capital]] in a Canaanite city. In keeping with the [[policy]] of [[compromise]] with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canannites Canaanites], David turned seven of Saul's descendants over to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibeon Gibeonites] to be hanged.

97:9.14 After the defeat of the [[Philistines]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] gained [[possession]] of the "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant ark of Yahweh],"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.6] brought it to [[Jerusalem]], and made the [[worship]] of [[Yahweh]] official for his kingdom. He next laid heavy tribute on the neighboring tribes—the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edom Edomites], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moab Moabites], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon Ammonites], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria Syrians].

97:9.14 After the defeat of the [[Philistines]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David] gained [[possession]] of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant ark of Yahweh],"[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Book_of_Samuel#Chapter_.6] brought it to [[Jerusalem]], and made the [[worship]] of [[Yahweh]] official for his kingdom. He next laid heavy tribute on the neighboring tribes—the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edom Edomites], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moab Moabites], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammon Ammonites], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria Syrians].

97:9.15 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s corrupt [[political]] [[machine]] began to get [[personal]] [[possession]] of [[land]] in the north in violation of the [[Hebrew]] [[mores]] and presently gained [[control]] of the caravan tariffs formerly collected by the [[Philistines]]. And then came a series of atrocities climaxed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_the_Hittite murder of Uriah]. All [[judicial]] [[appeals]] were [[adjudicated]] at [[Jerusalem]]; no longer could " the [[elders]] " mete out [[justice]]. No [[wonder]] [[rebellion]] broke out. Today, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absalom Absalom] might be called a [[demagogue]]; his [[mother]] was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite Canaanite]. There were a half dozen contenders for the throne besides the son of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathsheba Bathsheba]—[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon].

97:9.15 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s corrupt [[political]] [[machine]] began to get [[personal]] [[possession]] of [[land]] in the north in violation of the [[Hebrew]] [[mores]] and presently gained [[control]] of the caravan tariffs formerly collected by the [[Philistines]]. And then came a series of atrocities climaxed by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_the_Hittite murder of Uriah]. All [[judicial]] [[appeals]] were [[adjudicated]] at [[Jerusalem]]; no longer could " the [[elders]] " mete out [[justice]]. No [[wonder]] [[rebellion]] broke out. Today, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absalom Absalom] might be called a [[demagogue]]; his [[mother]] was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite Canaanite]. There were a half dozen contenders for the throne besides the son of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathsheba Bathsheba]—[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon].

97:9.16 After [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s [[death]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon] purged the [[political]] [[machine]] of all northern [[influences]] but continued all of the [[tyranny]] and taxation of his [[father]]'s [[regime]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon] [[bankrupted]] the [[nation]] by his lavish [[court]] and by his elaborate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#Building_and_other_works building program]: There was the house of Lebanon, the palace of Pharaoh's daughter, the [[temple]] of [[Yahweh]], the king's palace, and the restoration of the walls of many [[cities]]. Solomon created a vast [[Hebrew]] navy, operated by Syrian sailors and trading with all the world. His [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harem harem] numbered almost one thousand.

97:9.16 After [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David David]'s [[death]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon] purged the [[political]] [[machine]] of all northern [[influences]] but continued all of the [[tyranny]] and taxation of his [[father]]'s [[regime]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon] [[bankrupted]] the [[nation]] by his lavish [[court]] and by his elaborate [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#Building_and_other_works building program]: There was the house of Lebanon, the palace of Pharaoh's daughter, the [[temple]] of [[Yahweh]], the king's palace, and the restoration of the walls of many [[cities]]. Solomon created a vast [[Hebrew]] navy, operated by Syrian sailors and trading with all the world. His [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harem harem] numbered almost one thousand.

97:9.17 By this time [[Yahweh]]'s [[temple]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiloh Shiloh] was discredited, and all the [[worship]] of the [[nation]] was centered at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebus Jebus] in the gorgeous [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Temple royal chapel]. The northern kingdom returned more to the [[worship]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim Elohim]. They enjoyed the [[favor]] of the [http://www.archaeowiki.org/Rulers_of_Egypt Pharaohs], who later enslaved [http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiKingdom_of_Judah Judah], putting the southern kingdom under tribute.

97:9.17 By this time [[Yahweh]]'s [[temple]] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiloh Shiloh] was discredited, and all the [[worship]] of the [[nation]] was centered at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebus Jebus] in the gorgeous [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Temple royal chapel]. The northern kingdom returned more to the [[worship]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim Elohim]. They enjoyed the [[favor]] of the [https://www.archaeowiki.org/Rulers_of_Egypt Pharaohs], who later enslaved [https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiKingdom_of_Judah Judah], putting the southern kingdom under tribute.

97:9.18 There were ups and downs—wars between [[Israel]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiKingdom_of_Judah Judah]. After four years of [[civil war]] and three [[dynasties]], [[Israel]] fell under the rule of [[city]] [[despots]] who began to trade in [[land]]. Even [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Omri King Omri] attempted to buy Shemer's estate. But the end drew on apace when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalmaneser_III Shalmaneser III] decided to [[control]] the [[Mediterranean]] coast. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab King Ahab] of Ephraim gathered ten other groups and [[resisted]] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karkar Karkar]; the battle was a draw. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyrian] was stopped but the allies were decimated. This great fight is not even mentioned in the [[Old Testament]].

97:9.18 There were ups and downs—wars between [[Israel]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiKingdom_of_Judah Judah]. After four years of [[civil war]] and three [[dynasties]], [[Israel]] fell under the rule of [[city]] [[despots]] who began to trade in [[land]]. Even [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Omri King Omri] attempted to buy Shemer's estate. But the end drew on apace when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalmaneser_III Shalmaneser III] decided to [[control]] the [[Mediterranean]] coast. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab King Ahab] of Ephraim gathered ten other groups and [[resisted]] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karkar Karkar]; the battle was a draw. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyrian] was stopped but the allies were decimated. This great fight is not even mentioned in the [[Old Testament]].

97:9.19 New trouble started when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab King Ahab] tried to buy [[land]] from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naboth Naboth]. His [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenician] [[wife]] forged Ahab's name to papers directing that Naboth's [[land]] be confiscated on the charge that he had [[blasphemed]] the names of " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim Elohim] and the [[king]]." He and his sons were promptly executed. The vigorous [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] appeared on the scene denouncing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab Ahab] for the murder of the Naboths. Thus Elijah, one of the greatest of the [[prophets]], began his teaching as a defender of the old [[land]] [[mores]] as against the land-selling [[attitude]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalim], against the attempt of the [[cities]] to dominate the country. But the reform did not succeed until the [[Rural|country]] landlord [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehu Jehu] joined forces with the [[gypsy]] chieftain [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehonadab Jehonadab] to destroy the [[prophets]] (real estate agents) of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria].

97:9.19 New trouble started when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab King Ahab] tried to buy [[land]] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naboth Naboth]. His [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenician] [[wife]] forged Ahab's name to papers directing that Naboth's [[land]] be confiscated on the charge that he had [[blasphemed]] the names of " [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim Elohim] and the [[king]]." He and his sons were promptly executed. The vigorous [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah] appeared on the scene denouncing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahab Ahab] for the murder of the Naboths. Thus Elijah, one of the greatest of the [[prophets]], began his teaching as a defender of the old [[land]] [[mores]] as against the land-selling [[attitude]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baalim], against the attempt of the [[cities]] to dominate the country. But the reform did not succeed until the [[Rural|country]] landlord [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehu Jehu] joined forces with the [[gypsy]] chieftain [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehonadab Jehonadab] to destroy the [[prophets]] (real estate agents) of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria].

97:9.20 New life appeared as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehoash_of_Judah Jehoash] and his son [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeroboam Jeroboam] delivered [[Israel]] from its enemies. But by this time there ruled in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria] a [[Crime|gangster]]-[[nobility]] whose depredations rivaled those of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David Davidic] [[dynasty]] of olden days. [[State]] and [[church]] went along hand in hand. The attempt to suppress [[freedom]] of speech led [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] to begin their [[secret]] [[writing]], and this was the real beginning of the [[Jewish]] and [[Christian]] [[Bibles]].

97:9.20 New life appeared as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehoash_of_Judah Jehoash] and his son [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeroboam Jeroboam] delivered [[Israel]] from its enemies. But by this time there ruled in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria] a [[Crime|gangster]]-[[nobility]] whose depredations rivaled those of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David Davidic] [[dynasty]] of olden days. [[State]] and [[church]] went along hand in hand. The attempt to suppress [[freedom]] of speech led [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah Elijah], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos Amos], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea Hosea] to begin their [[secret]] [[writing]], and this was the real beginning of the [[Hebrew Bible|Jewish]] and [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Christian_Bible Christian] [[Bible]]s.

97:9.21 But the northern kingdom did not vanish from [[history]] until the [[king]] of [[Israel]] [[conspired]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Egypt king of Egypt] and refused to pay further tribute to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria]. Then began the three years' siege followed by the total [[dispersion]] of the northern kingdom. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim Ephraim] ([[Israel]]) thus vanished. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah]—the Jews, the " remnant of Israel "—had begun the [[concentration]] of land in the hands of the few, as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] said, " Adding house to house and field to field. " Presently there was in [[Jerusalem]] a [[temple]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] alongside the temple of [[Yahweh]]. This reign of [[terror]] was ended by a [[monotheistic]] revolt led by the boy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehoash_of_Israel king Joash], who [[crusaded]] for [[Yahweh]] for thirty-five years.

97:9.21 But the northern kingdom did not vanish from [[history]] until the [[king]] of [[Israel]] [[conspired]] with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Egypt king of Egypt] and refused to pay further tribute to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria]. Then began the three years' siege followed by the total [[dispersion]] of the northern kingdom. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim Ephraim] ([[Israel]]) thus vanished. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah]—the Jews, the " remnant of Israel "—had begun the [[concentration]] of land in the hands of the few, as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] said, " Adding house to house and field to field. " Presently there was in [[Jerusalem]] a [[temple]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] alongside the temple of [[Yahweh]]. This reign of [[terror]] was ended by a [[monotheistic]] revolt led by the boy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehoash_of_Israel king Joash], who [[crusaded]] for [[Yahweh]] for thirty-five years.

97:9.22 The next king, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaziah_of_Judah Amaziah], had trouble with the revolting tax-paying [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edomites Edomites] and their [[neighbors]]. After a signal victory he turned to [[attack]] his northern neighbors and was just as signally defeated. Then the [[rural]] folk revolted; they [[assassinated]] the king and put his sixteen-year-old son on the throne. This was Azariah], called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzziah Uzziah] by [http://enwikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]. After Uzziah, things went from bad to worse, and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah] existed for a hundred years by paying tribute to the kings of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria]. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] the first told them that [[Jerusalem]], being the city of [[Yahweh]], would never fall. But [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] did not hesitate to proclaim its downfall.

97:9.22 The next king, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaziah_of_Judah Amaziah], had trouble with the revolting tax-paying [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edomites Edomites] and their [[neighbors]]. After a signal victory he turned to [[attack]] his northern neighbors and was just as signally defeated. Then the [[rural]] folk revolted; they [[assassinated]] the king and put his sixteen-year-old son on the throne. This was Azariah], called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzziah Uzziah] by [https://enwikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah]. After Uzziah, things went from bad to worse, and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah] existed for a hundred years by paying tribute to the kings of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria]. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah Isaiah] the first told them that [[Jerusalem]], being the city of [[Yahweh]], would never fall. But [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] did not hesitate to proclaim its downfall.

97:9.23 The real undoing of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah] was [[effected]] by a [[corrupt]] and rich ring of [[politicians]] operating under the rule of a boy king, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manasseh Manasseh]. The changing [[economy]] favored the return of the [[worship]] of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal], whose [[private]] [[land]] dealings were against the [[ideology]] of [[Yahweh]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria#Assyria_after_the_Empire fall of Assyria] and the ascendency of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt] brought deliverance to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah] for a time, and the country folk took over. Under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah Josiah] they destroyed the [[Jerusalem]] ring of [[corrupt]] [[politicians]].

97:9.23 The real undoing of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah] was [[effected]] by a [[corrupt]] and rich ring of [[politicians]] operating under the rule of a boy king, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manasseh Manasseh]. The changing [[economy]] favored the return of the [[worship]] of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal], whose [[private]] [[land]] dealings were against the [[ideology]] of [[Yahweh]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria#Assyria_after_the_Empire fall of Assyria] and the ascendency of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt Egypt] brought deliverance to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah Judah] for a time, and the country folk took over. Under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah Josiah] they destroyed the [[Jerusalem]] ring of [[corrupt]] [[politicians]].

97:9.24 But this era came to a [[tragic]] end when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah#Foreign_relations Josiah] presumed to go out to intercept [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necho_II Necho]'s mighty army as it moved up the coast from Egypt for the aid of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria] against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon]. He was wiped out, and Judah went under tribute to Egypt. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] political party returned to [[power]] in [[Jerusalem]], and thus began the real Egyptian bondage. Then ensued a period in which the Baalim politicians controlled both the [[courts]] and the [[priesthood]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[worship]] was an [[economic]] and [[social]] system dealing with [[property]] [[rights]] as well as having to do with [[soil]] [[fertility]].

97:9.24 But this era came to a [[tragic]] end when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah#Foreign_relations Josiah] presumed to go out to intercept [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necho_II Necho]'s mighty army as it moved up the coast from Egypt for the aid of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyria Assyria] against [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon]. He was wiped out, and Judah went under tribute to Egypt. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] political party returned to [[power]] in [[Jerusalem]], and thus began the real Egyptian bondage. Then ensued a period in which the Baalim politicians controlled both the [[courts]] and the [[priesthood]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[worship]] was an [[economic]] and [[social]] system dealing with [[property]] [[rights]] as well as having to do with [[soil]] [[fertility]].

97:9.25 With the overthrow of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necho_II Necho] by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar], Judah fell under the rule of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] and was given ten years of [[grace]], but soon rebelled. When Nebuchadnezzar came against them, the Judahites started social reforms, such as releasing [[slaves]], to [[influence]] [[Yahweh]]. When the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew, the [[Hebrews]] rejoiced that their [[magic]] of reform had delivered them. It was during this period that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] told them of the impending [[doom]], and presently [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar] returned.

97:9.25 With the overthrow of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necho_II Necho] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar], Judah fell under the rule of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] and was given ten years of [[grace]], but soon rebelled. When Nebuchadnezzar came against them, the Judahites started social reforms, such as releasing [[slaves]], to [[influence]] [[Yahweh]]. When the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew, the [[Hebrews]] rejoiced that their [[magic]] of reform had delivered them. It was during this period that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah Jeremiah] told them of the impending [[doom]], and presently [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar] returned.

97:9.26 And so the end of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah#Destruction_and_dispersion Judah] came suddenly. The [[city]] was destroyed, and the people were carried away into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylon]. The [[Yahweh]]-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[struggle]] ended with the [[captivity]]. And the [[captivity]] shocked the remnant of [[Israel]] into [[monotheism]].

97:9.26 And so the end of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Judah#Destruction_and_dispersion Judah] came suddenly. The [[city]] was destroyed, and the people were carried away into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylon]. The [[Yahweh]]-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal Baal] [[struggle]] ended with the [[captivity]]. And the [[captivity]] shocked the remnant of [[Israel]] into [[monotheism]].

97:9.27 In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] the [[Jews]] arrived at the conclusion that they could not exist as a small [[group]] in [[Palestine]], having their own peculiar [[social]] and [[economic]] [[customs]], and that, if their [[ideologies]] were to prevail, they must [[convert]] the gentiles. Thus originated their new [[concept]] of [[destiny]]—the [[idea]] that the Jews must become the chosen servants of [[Yahweh]]. The [[Jewish]] [[religion]] of the [[Old Testament]] really evolved in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylon] during the captivity.

97:9.27 In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon Babylon] the [[Jews]] arrived at the conclusion that they could not exist as a small [[group]] in [[Palestine]], having their own peculiar [[social]] and [[economic]] [[customs]], and that, if their [[ideologies]] were to prevail, they must [[convert]] the gentiles. Thus originated their new [[concept]] of [[destiny]]—the [[idea]] that the Jews must become the chosen servants of [[Yahweh]]. The [[Jewish]] [[religion]] of the [[Old Testament]] really evolved in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_captivity Babylon] during the captivity.

97:9.28 The [[doctrine]] of [[immortality]] also took form at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Babylonian_religion Babylon]. The Jews had [[thought]] that the [[idea]] of the [[future]] life detracted from the emphasis of their gospel of [[social]] [[justice]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Gospel]. Now for the first time [[theology]] displaced [[sociology]] and [[economics]]. [[Religion]] was taking shape as a [[system]] of [[human]] [[thought]] and conduct more and more to be separated from [[politics]], [[sociology]], and [[economics]].

97:9.28 The [[doctrine]] of [[immortality]] also took form at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Babylonian_religion Babylon]. The Jews had [[thought]] that the [[idea]] of the [[future]] life detracted from the emphasis of their gospel of [[social]] [[justice]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Gospel]. Now for the first time [[theology]] displaced [[sociology]] and [[economics]]. [[Religion]] was taking shape as a [[system]] of [[human]] [[thought]] and conduct more and more to be separated from [[politics]], [[sociology]], and [[economics]].

97:9.29 And so does the [[truth]] about the Jewish people disclose that much which has been regarded as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] turns out to be little more than the chronicle of ordinary [[profane]] [[history]]. [[Judaism]] was the [[soil]] out of which [[Christianity]] grew, but the Jews were not a [[miraculous]] people.

97:9.29 And so does the [[truth]] about the Jewish people disclose that much which has been regarded as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_history sacred history] turns out to be little more than the chronicle of ordinary [[profane]] [[history]]. [[Judaism]] was the [[soil]] out of which [[Christianity]] grew, but the Jews were not a [[miraculous]] people.

==97:10. THE HEBREW RELIGION==

==97:10. THE HEBREW RELIGION==

97:10.1 Their [[leaders]] had taught the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites Israelites] that they were a [[chosen people]], not for special indulgence and [[monopoly]] of [[divine]] [[favor]], but for the special [[service]] of carrying the [[truth]] of the one God over all to every [[nation]]. And they had [[promised]] the [[Jews]] that, if they would fulfill this [[destiny]], they would become the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] of all peoples, and that the coming [[Messiah]] would reign over them and all the world as the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.9 Prince of Peace].

97:10.1 Their [[leaders]] had taught the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelites Israelites] that they were a [[chosen people]], not for special indulgence and [[monopoly]] of [[divine]] [[favor]], but for the special [[service]] of carrying the [[truth]] of the one God over all to every [[nation]]. And they had [[promised]] the [[Jews]] that, if they would fulfill this [[destiny]], they would become the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] of all peoples, and that the coming [[Messiah]] would reign over them and all the world as the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.9 Prince of Peace].

97:10.2 When the [[Jews]] had been freed by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews#Babylonian_captivity Persians], they returned to [[Palestine]] only to fall into [[bondage]] to their own [[priest]]-ridden code of [[laws]], [[sacrifices]], and [[rituals]]. And as the [[Hebrew]] [[clans]] rejected the [[wonderful]] [[story]] of [[God]] presented in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death farewell oration of Moses][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy] for the [[rituals]] of [[sacrifice]] and [[penance]], so did these remnants of the [[Hebrew]] nation reject the magnificent [[concept]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 second Isaiah] for the rules, regulations, and [[rituals]] of their growing [[priesthood]].

97:10.2 When the [[Jews]] had been freed by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews#Babylonian_captivity Persians], they returned to [[Palestine]] only to fall into [[bondage]] to their own [[priest]]-ridden code of [[laws]], [[sacrifices]], and [[rituals]]. And as the [[Hebrew]] [[clans]] rejected the [[wonderful]] [[story]] of [[God]] presented in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses#Death farewell oration of Moses][https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Deutoronomy] for the [[rituals]] of [[sacrifice]] and [[penance]], so did these remnants of the [[Hebrew]] nation reject the magnificent [[concept]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah#Isaiah_40-55_.28Deutero-Isaiah.29 second Isaiah] for the rules, regulations, and [[rituals]] of their growing [[priesthood]].

97:10.3 [[Nationalism|National]] [[egotism]], false [[faith]] in a misconceived promised [[Messiah]], and the increasing bondage and [[tyranny]] of the [[priesthood]] forever silenced the [[voices]] of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] (excepting [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggai Haggai], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi Malachi]); and from that day to the time of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] all [[Israel]] experienced an increasing [[spiritual]] [[retrogression]]. But the Jews never lost the [[concept]] of the [[Universal Father]]; even to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] after Christ they have continued to follow this [[Deity]] [[conception]].

97:10.3 [[Nationalism|National]] [[egotism]], false [[faith]] in a misconceived promised [[Messiah]], and the increasing bondage and [[tyranny]] of the [[priesthood]] forever silenced the [[voices]] of the [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] (excepting [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel Daniel], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haggai Haggai], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi Malachi]); and from that day to the time of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] all [[Israel]] experienced an increasing [[spiritual]] [[retrogression]]. But the Jews never lost the [[concept]] of the [[Universal Father]]; even to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century] after Christ they have continued to follow this [[Deity]] [[conception]].

97:10.4 From [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] there extended an unbroken line of [[faithful]] [[teachers]] who passed the [[monotheistic]] torch of [[light]] from one [[generation]] to another while they unceasingly rebuked unscrupulous rulers, denounced commercializing [[priests]], and ever exhorted the people to adhere to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]], the Lord God of Israel.

97:10.4 From [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses Moses] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist John the Baptist] there extended an unbroken line of [[faithful]] [[teachers]] who passed the [[monotheistic]] torch of [[light]] from one [[generation]] to another while they unceasingly rebuked unscrupulous rulers, denounced commercializing [[priests]], and ever exhorted the people to adhere to the [[worship]] of the supreme [[Yahweh]], the Lord God of Israel.

97:10.5 As a [[nation]] the Jews [[eventually]] lost their [[political]] [[identity]], but the [[Hebrew]] [[religion]] of [[sincere]] [[belief]] in the one and [[universal]] [[God]] continues to live in the hearts of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora scattered exiles]. And this [[religion]] [[survives]] because it has effectively [[functioned]] to conserve the highest [[values]] of its followers. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] did preserve the [[ideals]] of a people, but it failed to foster [[progress]] and [[encourage]] [[philosophic]] [[creative]] [[discovery]] in the realms of [[truth]]. The [[Judaism|Jewish religion]] had many faults—it was deficient in [[philosophy]] and almost devoid of [[aesthetic]] [[qualities]]—but it did conserve [[moral]] [[values]]; therefore it [[persisted]]. The [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], as compared with other [[concepts]] of [[Deity]], was clear-cut, vivid, [[personal]], and ''moral''.

97:10.5 As a [[nation]] the Jews [[eventually]] lost their [[political]] [[identity]], but the [[Hebrew]] [[religion]] of [[sincere]] [[belief]] in the one and [[universal]] [[God]] continues to live in the hearts of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora scattered exiles]. And this [[religion]] [[survives]] because it has effectively [[functioned]] to conserve the highest [[values]] of its followers. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] did preserve the [[ideals]] of a people, but it failed to foster [[progress]] and [[encourage]] [[philosophic]] [[creative]] [[discovery]] in the realms of [[truth]]. The [[Judaism|Jewish religion]] had many faults—it was deficient in [[philosophy]] and almost devoid of [[aesthetic]] [[qualities]]—but it did conserve [[moral]] [[values]]; therefore it [[persisted]]. The [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], as compared with other [[concepts]] of [[Deity]], was clear-cut, vivid, [[personal]], and ''moral''.

97:10.6 The [[Jews]] loved [[justice]], [[wisdom]], [[truth]], and [[righteousness]] as have few peoples, but they contributed least of all peoples to the [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and to the [[spiritual]] [[understanding]] of these [[divine]] [[qualities]]. Though [[Hebrew]] [[theology]] refused to expand, it played an important part in the [[development]] of two other world religions, [[Christianity]] and [[Mohammedanism]].

97:10.6 The [[Jews]] loved [[justice]], [[wisdom]], [[truth]], and [[righteousness]] as have few peoples, but they contributed least of all peoples to the [[intellectual]] [[comprehension]] and to the [[spiritual]] [[understanding]] of these [[divine]] [[qualities]]. Though [[Hebrew]] [[theology]] refused to expand, it played an important part in the [[development]] of two other world religions, [[Christianity]] and [[Mohammedanism]].

97:10.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] [[persisted]] also because of its [[institutions]]. It is difficult for [[religion]] to [[survive]] as the [[private]] [[practice]] of isolated [[individuals]]. This has ever been the error of the [[religious]] [[leaders]]: Seeing the [[evils]] of [[institutionalized]] [[religion]], they seek to destroy the [[technique]] of [[group]] functioning. In place of destroying all [[ritual]], they would do better to reform it. In this respect [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel] was wiser than his contemporaries; though he joined with them in insisting on [[personal]] [[moral]] [[responsibility]], he also set about to [[establish]] the [[faithful]] observance of a superior and [[purified]] [[ritual]].

97:10.7 The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Judaism Jewish religion] [[persisted]] also because of its [[institutions]]. It is difficult for [[religion]] to [[survive]] as the [[private]] [[practice]] of isolated [[individuals]]. This has ever been the error of the [[religious]] [[leaders]]: Seeing the [[evils]] of [[institutionalized]] [[religion]], they seek to destroy the [[technique]] of [[group]] functioning. In place of destroying all [[ritual]], they would do better to reform it. In this respect [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezekiel Ezekiel] was wiser than his contemporaries; though he joined with them in insisting on [[personal]] [[moral]] [[responsibility]], he also set about to [[establish]] the [[faithful]] observance of a superior and [[purified]] [[ritual]].

97:10.8 And thus the [[successive]] [[teachers]] of [[Israel]] accomplished the greatest feat in the [[evolution]] of [[religion]] ever to be effected on [[Urantia]]: the [[gradual]] but continuous [[transformation]] of the [[barbaric]] [[concept]] of the savage [[demon]] [[Yahweh]], the [[jealous]] and cruel spirit god of the fulminating [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] volcano, to the later exalted and [[supernal]] [[concept]] of the [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], [[creator]] of all things and the [[loving]] and [[merciful]] [[Father]] of all [[mankind]]. And this Hebraic [[concept]] of [[God]] was the highest [[human]] [[visualization]] of the [[Universal Father]] up to that time when it was further enlarged and so exquisitely amplified by the [[personal]] [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus teachings and life example] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:5._BESTOWAL_OF_THE_PARADISE_SONS_OF_GOD his Son], [[Michael]] of [[Nebadon]].

97:10.8 And thus the [[successive]] [[teachers]] of [[Israel]] accomplished the greatest feat in the [[evolution]] of [[religion]] ever to be effected on [[Urantia]]: the [[gradual]] but continuous [[transformation]] of the [[barbaric]] [[concept]] of the savage [[demon]] [[Yahweh]], the [[jealous]] and cruel spirit god of the fulminating [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Sinai Sinai] volcano, to the later exalted and [[supernal]] [[concept]] of the [[supreme]] [[Yahweh]], [[creator]] of all things and the [[loving]] and [[merciful]] [[Father]] of all [[mankind]]. And this Hebraic [[concept]] of [[God]] was the highest [[human]] [[visualization]] of the [[Universal Father]] up to that time when it was further enlarged and so exquisitely amplified by the [[personal]] [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus teachings and life example] of [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_20#20:5._BESTOWAL_OF_THE_PARADISE_SONS_OF_GOD his Son], [[Michael]] of [[Nebadon]].

97:10.9 Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]].  

97:10.9 Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]].  

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[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]

[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]