Hebrew Gods
Overview

Topics covered in this document:

• Introduction

Introduction

Throughout their early history, the Hebrews found themselves immersed in diverse cultures. Also they were continuously surrounded by nations who practiced a large variety of religious traditions.

In the early days of Judaism, the Hebrews lacked a central authority -- religious or otherwise -- who could impose on the people the doctrine of a singular, one and only one, God.

In fact, in their early history, there was no Judaism. Instead there were many religions, cults, and other belief systems among the people. To assume that the fledgling Hebrew religion was not influenced by the other religions around them stretches believability.

Monotheism is thought by many -- Jew and Gentile alike -- to have existed in some form from the time of Abraham. Today, however, scholars date the origin of the belief in one solitary, male God to a time a few centuries later, in the days of the great Jewish prophets.

Could the idea of One God be little more than wishful thinking on the part of these latter-day prophets?

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Read Next Document in Series

The following documents are in this series:

• Introduction
• Elohim
• Yahweh

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