ter of 853 B.C. The Assyrians finally conquered the Northern kingdom in 722 B.C., and
removed a great part of the population. After this time, the kingdom of Judah alone preserved
the Israelite religion and tradition. The kingdom of Judah just survived the Assyrians, whose
power came to an end with the capture of Nineveh by the Babylonians and Medes in 606 B.C.
But in 586 B.C. Nebuchadrezzar captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and removed a
large part of the population to Babylon. The Babylonian kingdom fell in 538 B.C., when
Babylon was taken by Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians. Cyrus, in 537 B.C., issued an
edict allowing the Jews to return to Palestine. Many of them did so, under the leadership of
Nehemiah and Ezra; the Temple was rebuilt, and Jewish orthodoxy began to be crystallized.
In the period of the captivity, and for some time before and after this period, Jewish religion
went through a very important development. Originally, there appears to have been not very
much difference, from a religious point of view, between the Israelites and surrounding tribes.
Yahweh was, at first, only a tribal god who favoured the children of Israel, but it was not denied
that there were other gods, and their worship was habitual. When the first Commandment says,
"Thou shalt have none other gods but me," it is saying something which was an innovation in
the time immediately preceding the captivity. This is made evident by various texts in the
earlier prophets. It was the prophets at this time who first taught that the worship of heathen
gods was sin. To win the victory in the constant wars of that time, they proclaimed, the favour
of Yahweh was essential; and Yahweh would withdraw his favour if other gods were also
honoured. Jeremiah and Ezekiel, especially, seem to have invented the idea that all religions
except one are false, and that the Lord punishes idolatry.
Some quotations will illustrate their teachings, and the prevalence of the heathen practices
against which they protested. "Seest Thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the
streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women
knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven [Ishtar], and to pour out drink
offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger." * The Lord is angry about it.
"And they
* Jeremiah VII, 17-18.