RELIGIOUS SETTING

Monotheism

Belief in the one true God, Yahweh, who created the heavens and the earth.

The Covenant

The unique relationship established between Yahweh and the people of Israel, signified by the practice of circumcision.

Torah

The law given through Moses at Mount Sinai, which serves as the standard for covenant faithfulness.

Sabbath

A weekly day of rest observed in Judaism.

Jerusalem Temple

The central place of worship in Judaism, which included a sacrificial system conducted by priests.

Synagogue

A local Jewish meeting place for worship, education, and community gatherings.

High Priest

The highest religious office in Judaism, responsible for temple worship and administrative functions.

Sanhedrin

The Jewish high court that exercised authority in judicial and religious matters.

The Shema

A central confession of faith in Judaism, declaring the oneness of God and the love for Him.

Scribes

Experts in the interpretation of the law of Moses, often functioning as teachers of the law.

Apocalypticism

A belief in the imminent intervention of God in human history, often detailed in crisis literature.

Davidic Messiah

The messianic hope among the Jews for a leader from David's line who would restore Israel's independence.

Patronage

A social structure in which a wealthy patron provides for a client of lower status in exchange for loyalty and honor.

Circumcision

A religious practice and sign of the covenant for all male children in Judaism.

Dietary laws

Rules that prohibit the eating of certain 'unclean' or ceremonially defiled foods.

Levites

Descendants of Levi, serving as assistants to the priests in the temple.

Essenes

A Jewish sect that practiced asceticism and had a distinct interpretation of the Torah.

Pharisees

A Jewish group known for their strict adherence to the law and oral traditions.

Zealots

A revolutionary group in Judaism seeking to overthrow Roman rule.

Herodians

A political group that supported the Herodian dynasty and Roman rule.

People of the Land

A term used to refer to the common Jewish population in the first century.