Changes

==97:9. HEBREW HISTORY==

==97:9. HEBREW HISTORY==

97:9.1 There never were 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 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. " The Hebrews never drove the Canaanites out of Palestine, notwithstanding that the priests' record of these things unhesitatingly declared that they did.

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]

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

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).

97:9.3 Pretentious Hebrew history begins with Saul's rallying the northern clans to withstand an attack by the Ammonites upon their fellow tribesmen—the Gileadites—east of the 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 Saul's army to 330,000 and added " Judah " to the list of tribes participating in the battle.

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.

97:9.4 Immediately following the defeat of the Ammonites, 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 Saul was crowned king by the prophet Samuel in accordance with divine directions. This they did in order to establish a " divine line of descent " for David's Judahite kingship.

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.

97:9.5 The greatest of all distortions of Jewish history had to do with David. After Saul's victory over the Ammonites (which he ascribed to Yahweh) the Philistines became alarmed and began attacks on the northern clans. David and Saul never could agree. David with six hundred men entered into a Philistine alliance and marched up the coast to Esdraelon. At Gath the Philistines ordered David off the field; they feared he might go over to Saul. David retired; the Philistines attacked and defeated Saul. They could not have done this had 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 fugitives from justice.

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]].

97:9.6 Saul's tragic defeat at Gilboa by the Philistines brought Yahweh to a low point among the gods in the eyes of the surrounding 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 Saul and Samuel as a background for the kingship of David.

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].

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

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.

97:9.8 The difference between sacred and profane history is well illustrated by the two differing stories concerning making 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 sacred history wherein is depicted how the prophet Samuel, by divine direction, selected 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 Saul's successor.

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.

97:9.9 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 David sought to build himself up politically by first marrying Saul's daughter, then the widow of Nabal the rich Edomite, and then the daughter of Talmai, the king of Geshur. He took six wives from the women of Jebus, not to mention Bathsheba, the wife of the Hittite.

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].

97:9.11 And it was by such methods and out of such people that David built up the fiction of a divine kingdom of Judah as the successor of the heritage and traditions of the vanishing northern kingdom of Ephraimite Israel. David's cosmopolitan tribe of Judah was more gentile than Jewish; nevertheless the oppressed elders of Ephraim came down and " anointed him king of Israel. " After a military threat, David then made a compact with the 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 David. After a fierce battle they were defeated, and once more Yahweh was established as " The Lord God of Hosts. "

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]

97:9.12 But Yahweh must, perforce, share some of this glory with the Canaanite gods, for the bulk of 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. " And they did this because eighty per cent of David's soldiers were Baalites.

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].

97:9.13 David explained Saul's defeat at Gilboa by pointing out that Saul had attacked a Canaanite city, Gibeon, whose people had a peace treaty with the Ephraimites. Because of this, Yahweh forsook him. Even in Saul's time David had defended the Canaanite city of Keilah against the Philistines, and then he located his capital in a Canaanite city. In keeping with the policy of compromise with the Canaanites, David turned seven of Saul's descendants over to the Gibeonites to be hanged.

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.

97:9.14 After the defeat of the Philistines, David gained possession of the " ark of Yahweh, " brought it to Jerusalem, and made the worship of Yahweh official for his kingdom. He next laid heavy tribute on the neighboring tribes—the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Syrians.

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].

97:9.15 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 murder of Uriah. All judicial appeals were adjudicated at Jerusalem; no longer could " the elders " mete out justice. No wonder rebellion broke out. Today, Absalom might be called a demagogue; his mother was a Canaanite. There were a half dozen contenders for the throne besides the son of Bathsheba—Solomon.

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].

97:9.16 After David's death Solomon purged the political machine of all northern influences but continued all of the tyranny and taxation of his father's regime. Solomon bankrupted the nation by his lavish court and by his elaborate 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 harem numbered almost one thousand.

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.

97:9.17 By this time Yahweh's temple at Shiloh was discredited, and all the worship of the nation was centered at Jebus in the gorgeous royal chapel. The northern kingdom returned more to the worship of Elohim. They enjoyed the favor of the Pharaohs, who later enslaved Judah, putting the southern kingdom under tribute.

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.

97:9.18 There were ups and downs—wars between Israel and 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 King Omri attempted to buy Shemer's estate. But the end drew on apace when Shalmaneser III decided to control the Mediterranean coast. King Ahab of Ephraim gathered ten other groups and resisted at Karkar; the battle was a draw. The 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 [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]].

97:9.19 New trouble started when King Ahab tried to buy land from Naboth. His 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 " Elohim and the king. " He and his sons were promptly executed. The vigorous Elijah appeared on the scene denouncing 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 Baalim, against the attempt of the cities to dominate the country. But the reform did not succeed until the country landlord Jehu joined forces with the gypsy chieftain Jehonadab to destroy the prophets (real estate agents) of Baal at Samaria.

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].

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

97:9.29 And so does the truth about the Jewish people disclose that much which has been regarded as 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 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     Listen to audio recording of this section

==97:10. THE HEBREW RELIGION==

97:10.1 Their leaders had taught the 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 Prince of Peace.

97:10.1 Their leaders had taught the 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 Prince of Peace.