Changes

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 [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 [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]].

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

97:9.22 The next king, Amaziah, had trouble with the revolting tax-paying 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 Uzziah by Isaiah. After Uzziah, things went from bad to worse, and Judah existed for a hundred years by paying tribute to the kings of Assyria. Isaiah the first told them that Jerusalem, being the city of Yahweh, would never fall. But Jeremiah did not hesitate to proclaim its downfall.

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.

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

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]].

97:9.24 But this era came to a tragic end when Josiah presumed to go out to intercept Necho's mighty army as it moved up the coast from Egypt for the aid of Assyria against Babylon. He was wiped out, and Judah went under tribute to Egypt. The 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. 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 [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]].

97:9.25 With the overthrow of Necho by Nebuchadnezzar, Judah fell under the rule of 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 Jeremiah told them of the impending doom, and presently Nebuchadnezzar returned.

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.

97:9.26 And so the end of Judah came suddenly. The city was destroyed, and the people were carried away into Babylon. The Yahweh-Baal struggle ended with the captivity. And the captivity shocked the remnant of Israel into monotheism.

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]].

97:9.27 In 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 Babylon during the captivity.

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.

97:9.28 The doctrine of immortality also took form at Babylon. The Jews had thought that the idea of the future life detracted from the emphasis of their gospel of social justice. 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 [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]].

 

97:9.29 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.

==97:10. THE HEBREW RELIGION==

==97:10. THE HEBREW RELIGION==