Early Jewish History

Early Jewish History

As in many parts of the world, the period between 600 and 400 BCE was a time of change and transformation in Jewish history. These centuries witnessed significant events for the Jews. The Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, which left their mark on Jewish religion and thought, occurred during this period. With the occupation of Jerusalem, the Jews lost their last bastion of independence. Jerusalem, which they believed to be under divine protection and therefore indestructible, and the Temple of Solomon were destroyed, and most Jews, including the royal family, were exiled to Babylon.

The most important character of this period is undoubtedly the prophet and scribe Ezra. With his reforms and deeds, Ezra, the decisive figure in the transition from the religion of Yahweh to Judaism, has gradually acquired a legendary status rather than a historical figure. The exodus from Babylon under his leadership has been likened to the exodus from Egypt under Moses, and his religious reforms have been compared to those of Moses, effectively creating a second Moses within Judaism.

Ezra's religious and social reforms include the following: He unearthed the Torah text, which had been lost and completely forgotten during the exile period; he changed the Torah's script, transcribed it, and interpreted it; he established new religious rules called takkanot; he emphasized the Jewish lineage and ruled that lineage continued through the mother; he prohibited marriage with foreign women accordingly; and he excluded the Samaritans, claiming they were not Jews.

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