Religion – Judaism 

Abraham was chosen by Machiventa Melchizedek to come to Salem, where he established himself as a military leader circa 1800 BCE. Abraham was a military man, and he had a vision of conquering all of Canaan, which included all of modern-day Israel and Palestine. But he worried that he had no son to succeed him. He had a conference with Melchizedek, who persuaded Abraham to abandon his dreams of military conquest in favor of being an influence in the spiritual kingdom of heaven.

Melchizedek said to Abraham: "Look now up to the heavens and number the stars if you are able; so numerous shall your seed be." And Abraham believed Melchizedek, "and it was counted to him for righteousness." Melchizedek told Abraham of a future time when his descendants would occupy Canaan after their captivity in Egypt. Not long after, Abraham’s son, Isaac, was born, and the covenant between Abraham and Melchizedek was solemnly actualized.

The covenant between Melchizedek and Abraham represents a deep, symbolic agreement between divinity and humanity, in which God pledges to fulfill everything, and humanity’s part is simply to trust in God’s promises and follow His guidance. In the past, salvation was believed to be achievable only through actions – sacrifices and offerings. But Melchizedek revived the message that salvation, or divine favor, is granted through faith. This message of straightforward faith in God was, however, seen as too advanced, and over time, the Semitic tribes reverted to earlier practices of sacrifices and atonement through blood offerings.

From Moses to John the Baptist, a continuous line of devoted teachers carried the torch of monotheism from one generation to the next. They consistently rebuked corrupt rulers, condemned the mercenary practices of priests, and urged the people to remain steadfast in their worship of Yahweh, the supreme Lord God of Israel. The Jewish religion of the Old Testament evolved in Babylon during the captivity.

The Hebraic concept of a Supreme Creator began with the Semites' exodus from Egypt under Moses, a remarkable leader, teacher, and organizer born in Egypt. Under Moses, Yahweh evolved from a tribal god to the Lord God of Israel and, ultimately, the God of all peoples. Moses is the most significant world teacher and leader between Machiventa and Jesus.

Samuel, a follower of Melchizedek's teachings, refined the concept of Yahweh, reaffirming the covenant with Abraham and proclaiming the Lord God of Israel as the source of truth and constancy. His teachings helped elevate the Hebrew God from a tribal deity to the ideal of an all-powerful, unchanging Creator of all.

Amos envisioned a just God who held all nations, including the Hebrews, accountable for wrongdoing, challenging the "chosen people" doctrine, which many resented. Declaring Yahweh the "God of all nations," he warned against substituting ritual for righteousness. Before his death, Amos had spread enough truth to preserve the doctrine of a supreme Yahweh and advance the Melchizedek revelation.

Hosea built on Amos's vision of a just, universal God by reviving the Mosaic concept of a loving God. He preached forgiveness through repentance, not sacrifice, and proclaimed divine mercy and compassion – themes later celebrated by Isaiah and his followers.

The first Isaiah preached the eternal nature of God, his infinite wisdom, and his unchanging perfection of reliability. His Biblical pronouncements were comforting and enlightening: "Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and my song." "Arise and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation and has covered me with his robe of righteousness."

Jeremiah boldly proclaimed that Yahweh was not just the Hebrew God but the God of all nations and peoples, denying the exclusivity of other gods. His teachings marked the peak of the movement to universalize Yahweh, elevating him to a planetary and cosmic deity. Yet, many struggled to separate Yahweh from Hebrew nationalism.

During the captivity, Isaiah the second reached an unparalleled concept of God, portraying Yahweh not as a national deity but as a majestic, all-powerful, and loving Father of all humanity. His vision transcended nationalism, presenting Yahweh as the ruler of the universe with universal justice, mercy, and eternal righteousness, shaping the highest God concept in the West ever since.

National egotism, false faith in a misconceived promised Messiah, and the increasing bondage and tyranny of the priesthood forever silenced most of the voices of the spiritual leaders. From that day to the time of John the Baptist, all Israel experienced an increasing spiritual retrogression. However, the Jews never lost the concept of the Universal Father; even in the twentieth century after Christ, they followed this conception of Deity.

Though the Jews lost their national identity, their faith in a universal God persisted, conserving their highest values. Despite lacking philosophical depth and aesthetic qualities, the Jewish religion preserved moral ideals, making the supreme Yahweh a vivid, personal, and moral deity. Over time, Israel’s teachers transformed Yahweh from a fierce tribal god into a loving, merciful Creator and Father of all, achieving one of the greatest religious advancements until this vision was further enriched by the teachings of Jesus.

By Jesus' time, the Jews had a fixed view of their origin, history, and destiny, maintaining a strict separation from gentiles, whose ways they viewed with contempt. Their worship focused on the letter of the law, rooted in pride of descent, and their concept of the Messiah was largely nationalistic, seeing him as part of their racial history. Jewish theology was considered permanently established by these times.

Jesus’ teachings on tolerance and kindness sharply contrasted with the long-standing perspectives among the Jewish people toward others they considered "heathen." For generations, they had fostered an attitude toward the outside world that made it difficult for them to embrace his message of spiritual brotherhood. They resisted the idea of sharing Yahweh equally with gentiles and were unwilling to recognize someone who promoted these new and unfamiliar doctrines as the Son of God.

The scribes, Pharisees, and priesthood enforced a rigorous system of ritual and legal adherence that bound the Jewish people more tightly than the political control of the Romans. In Jesus' time, the Jewish people were not only obligated to the law but also to countless traditional regulations that governed every aspect of life. These strict rules pervaded personal and social spheres, making it unsurprising that they would reject one who dared to disregard these revered customs and openly challenged social norms. They struggled to accept the teachings of someone who opposed doctrines they believed were divinely established through Abraham. With the laws given by Moses, they saw no room for compromise.