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Jewish tradition and law says that the Hebrews originally polytheistic, until Abraham came to know the One True God. Then, Abraham and his descendants were monotheistic.

Modern scholarship suggests that the ancient Hebrews were monolatrous, that is, they worshipped One God above all other existing "lesser" gods. This theory is strongly contested by most Orthodox Jews.



Although Jewish tradition strongly asserts that the Hebrew people were monotheistic, except perhaps for some occasional backsliding, this was never the case, at least until the late monarchy and probably not until the time of the Babylonian Exile.

Mark S. Smith (The Early History of God) says that according to the available evidence, the Hebrew religion in its earliest form did not contrast markedly with the religions of its Levantine neighbours in either number or configuration of deities. He says that in the Judges period, Israelite divinities may have included Yahweh, El, Baal and perhaps Asherah as well as the sun, moon and stars. He adds the goddess Astarte for the monarchical period.
In the late monarchical period, King Josiah of Judah instituted many religious reforms, including monotheism, although this appears not to have survived his death, since Second Kings tells us that his son reintroduced polytheistic practices. Nevertheless, Judah was moving inevitably towards monolatry, the step before true monotheism, in which other gods are acknowledged but are not required to be worshipped. Numerous household statuettes of a fertility goddess have been found in Judah right up to the time of the Babylonian Exile, when they cease.

It appears likely that Judaism finally adopted monotheism during the Babylonian Exile, perhaps under the tutelage of their Persian benefactors, who were also monotheistic. We do, however, still see frequent references to a spirit/goddess, Lady Wisdom, in books such as Proverbs, from the time of the Exile up until the end of the first century CE. How Wisdom fits into a monotheistic culture remains unclear.

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9y ago
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9y ago

Jewish tradition and law says that the Hebrews originally polytheistic, until Abraham came to know the One True God. Then, Abraham and his descendants were monotheistic.

Modern scholarship suggests that the ancient Hebrews were monolatrous, that is, they worshipped One God above all other existing "lesser" gods. This theory is strongly contested by most Orthodox Jews.

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9y ago

Yes, from the time of Abraham. The Israelites always worshiped the One God. God wrecked the Egyptian idols (Exodus 12:12) and warned against idolatry (Exodus 22:19). Abraham worshiped "the Lord God of Heaven and Earth" (Genesis 14:22 and 24:3) and complained about the Philistines' lack of fear of God (Genesis 20:11). Jacob confiscated the idolatrous images taken from Shechem (Genesis 35:2) and got rid of them (Genesis 35:4); and refrained from invoking the gods of Nahor (Genesis 31:53). Rachel pilfered Laban's statue-images (Genesis 31:19) in order to prevent him from idolatry (Rashi commentary, ibid.). Joseph placed his hope in the God of the Forefathers (Genesis 50:24). Moses characterized the Golden Calf as "a great sin" (Exodus 32:21, 30) and punished the worshipers (Exodus ch.32). During the rest of his lifetime and that of Joshua (Judges 2:7), no incidents of Jewish idolatry were reported.
Shortly before he died, Moses warned the people that he suspected that they would eventually succumb to the lure of the idols (Deuteronomy 29:17). Joshua gave a similar warning (Joshua ch. 24).
These warnings came true. Many of the Israelites went astray after the foreign gods (Judges 2:11). However, the Jews never invented their own idol. It was always the baneful influence of other peoples. And there were times when the entire Jewish nation repented (Judges 2:1-4) and prayed to God (Judges 3:9, 3:15, 6:6, 10:10).
Because of the idol-worship that did happen, images of idols have been found in Israel too. Images of God aren't found because it is forbidden to represent Him through imagery (Deuteronomy 4:15-16).
It should be noted that idolatry was never universal among the Jews. The tradition of the One God was handed down in every generation, whether by the few or the many; and it is those who handed down the tradition whose beliefs we Jews continue today. Deborah ascribed victory to God (Judges 4:14), Gideon tore down the idolatrous altar (Judges 6:25-27); Samson prayed to God (Judges 16:28), as did Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Samuel (ibid. 12:18); Eli blessed in the name of God (1 Samuel 2:20), Saul built an altar to God (1 Samuel 14:35); Jonathan ascribed victory to God (1 Samuel 14:12), as did David (1 Samuel 17:46); and Solomon built the Temple for God (1 Kings 8:20). A number of the kings "did what was right in God's eyes": David (1 Kings 15:5), Solomon (see 1 Kings 3:3), Asa (1 Kings 15:11), Yehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), Yehu (2 Kings 10:30), Yehoash (2 Kings 12:3), Amatziah (2 Kings 14:3), Azariah (2 Kings 15:3), Yotam (2 Kings 15:34), Hizkiah (2 Kings 18:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). Even at the height of the unfortunate spread of idolatry among the less-loyal Ten Tribes, there were thousands who remained loyal to God (1 Kings 19:18).
And, of course, the Prophets, who spoke in the name of God and warned against idolatry: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and so on.
The sages of the Talmud, who ridiculed idolatry (Megillah 25b), were simply continuing in the tradition of the Prophets whose verses are quoted in that context (ibid.).
See also:

http://judaism.answers.com/jewish-history/a-biography-of-abraham

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9y ago

Although Jewish tradition strongly asserts that the Hebrew people were monotheistic, except perhaps for some occasional backsliding, this was never the case, at least until the late monarchy and probably not until the time of the Babylonian Exile.

Mark S. Smith (The Early History of God) says that according to the available evidence, the Hebrew religion in its earliest form did not contrast markedly with the religions of its Levantine neighbours in either number or configuration of deities. He says that in the Judges period, Israelite divinities may have included Yahweh, El, Baal and perhaps Asherah as well as the sun, moon and stars. He adds the goddess Astarte for the monarchical period.
In the late monarchical period, King Josiah of Judah instituted many religious reforms, including monotheism, although this appears not to have survived his death, since Second Kings tells us that his son reintroduced polytheistic practices. Nevertheless, Judah was moving inevitably towards monolatry, the step before true monotheism, in which other gods are acknowledged but are not required to be worshipped. Numerous household statuettes of a fertility goddess have been found in Judah right up to the time of the Babylonian Exile, when they cease.

It appears likely that Judaism finally adopted monotheism during the Babylonian Exile, perhaps under the tutelage of their Persian benefactors, who were also monotheistic. We do, however, still see frequent references to a spirit/goddess, Lady Wisdom, in books such as Proverbs, from the time of the Exile up until the end of the first century CE. How Wisdom fits into a monotheistic culture remains unclear.

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15y ago

Yes, it has. The whole religion started by Abraham renouncing idols to worship one G-d. This was further confirmed by the revelation given to Moses.

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7y ago

Yes, over 95% of Israel's population believe in One God.
See also:

Jewish monotheism

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Q: Were the Hebrews monotheistic
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