Introduction to Judaism

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Prophets

Only Israel had prophets. Their mission was to return the people to God. A prophet is someone who acts as a link between man and God. The prophets believed that the spirit of God came upon them. The following are some of the most important Old Testament prophets.

Elijah (Lincoln Cathedral 19th century)

Elijah was an important prophet of the Old Testament. He made his first appearance around 864 BCE, during the reign of King Ahab who was married to Jezebel who worshiped foreign idols. Elijah focused on the sin of idolatry. He departed the world on a whirlwind of fire and his cloak fell to the next prophet Elisha.

Isaiah (Michelangelo) 1508-12 Sistine Chapel

Isaiah appears about a hundred years later in 742 BCE and he lived in Jerusalem when the Assyrians were on the rise. He said that the Lord would protect the people if they kept the covenant. He brought his message to the king telling him not to align with the Assyrians. He said that the Assyrians would not take the Holy Temple. A miracle occurred and the Assyrians retreated. The northern kingdom fell to them but not Jerusalem.
But it was Isaiah who also predicted that the fall and destruction of Jerusalem would come and he predicted the Jews exile in Babylon 70 years before it happened.

Jeremiah (Michelangelo) 1508-12 Sistine Chapel

Jeremiah lived through the last 40 years of Jerusalem. The Babylonians had invaded the land of Judah. They broke open Jerusalem's wall of protection and took the best people of Jerusalem into exile in Babylon. Jeremiah spoke always about the impending doom but the people ignored him. He is the most pessimistic of the prophets but also the most courageous. He saw that Jerusalem would be destroyed and it was.

Jeremiah (Rembrandt - 1630)

God sent the king of Babylon, Nebuchandnezzar, and his army to destroy Jerusalem. The soldiers captured it and took all the gold and silver from the temple and then burned it. Many Jews were killed and others were captured and then taken to Babylon to be slaves. One of then was Jeremiah.

Herod's Temple

The Romans sent Herod to be the king of Judea. He wanted them to like him and so he rebuilt the temple. The Jews, of course, did not want Herod to be their king. The Temple took 11 years to rebuild. The retaining walls were nearly 100 feet high to support the enlarged Temple Mount. It was dazzling but stood for only 75 years before it was destroyed by the Romans again under Titus in 65 ACE. The only thing left of the temple today is the Western Wall, called the Wailing Wall, which is a sacred place for the Jews.

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	Elijah (Lincoln Cathedral 19th century) Elijah was an important prophet of the Old Testament. He made his first appearance around 864 BCE, during the reign of King Ahab who was married to Jezebel who worshiped foreign idols. Elijah focused on the sin of idolatry. He departed the world on a whirlwind of fire and his cloak fell to the next prophet Elisha.
	Isaiah (Michelangelo) 1508-12 Sistine Chapel Isaiah appears about a hundred years later in 742 BCE and he lived in Jerusalem when the Assyrians were on the rise. He said that the Lord would protect the people if they kept the covenant. He brought his message to the king telling him not to align with the Assyrians. He said that the Assyrians would not take the Holy Temple. A miracle occurred and the Assyrians retreated. The northern kingdom fell to them but not Jerusalem. But it was Isaiah who also predicted that the fall and destruction of Jerusalem would come and he predicted the Jews exile in Babylon 70 years before it happened.
	Jeremiah (Michelangelo) 1508-12 Sistine Chapel Jeremiah lived through the last 40 years of Jerusalem. The Babylonians had invaded the land of Judah. They broke open Jerusalem's wall of protection and took the best people of Jerusalem into exile in Babylon. Jeremiah spoke always about the impending doom but the people ignored him. He is the most pessimistic of the prophets but also the most courageous. He saw that Jerusalem would be destroyed and it was.
	Jeremiah (Rembrandt - 1630) God sent the king of Babylon, Nebuchandnezzar, and his army to destroy Jerusalem. The soldiers captured it and took all the gold and silver from the temple and then burned it. Many Jews were killed and others were captured and then taken to Babylon to be slaves. One of then was Jeremiah.
	Herod's Temple The Romans sent Herod to be the king of Judea. He wanted them to like him and so he rebuilt the temple. The Jews, of course, did not want Herod to be their king. The Temple took 11 years to rebuild. The retaining walls were nearly 100 feet high to support the enlarged Temple Mount. It was dazzling but stood for only 75 years before it was destroyed by the Romans again under Titus in 65 ACE. The only thing left of the temple today is the Western Wall, called the Wailing Wall, which is a sacred place for the Jews.