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Is Judaism the Religion of Moses? 59

The ones especially affected by this new culture were, rather ironically, the leaders of the
Jews -- the chief priests themselves. Most of the other influential Jews, because of their positions,
also fell under the sway of Hellenism. In effect, all the intellectually able individuals, who should
have been leading the common people towards the observance of the Law of God, were following
after this culture as preached by the Egyptians. This is the reason no religious teacher of the Law is
mentioned by the Jewish histories as having existed during this period of Egyptian domination.
There simply was none -- except perhaps an insignificant individual here and there who had no real
effect on the people.

You can imagine what such a condition did to the religious life of the people as a whole!
They were completely surrounded by the influence of Hellenism, having to incorporate it into their
lives in order to carry on normal daily living, having no real teaching in the Law of God and having
their leaders completely devoted to Hellenism.

What was the natural result?

Lauterbach gives us the answer:

There prevailed a state of RELIGIOUS ANARCHY, wherein the practical life of the people
was not controlled by the law of the fathers as interpreted by the religious authorities, nor
were the activities of the teachers carried on in an official way by an authoritative body.
This chaotic state of affairs lasted for a period of about eighty years ..." (Rabbinic Essays,
p. 200).

See also Herford, Talmud and Apocrypha, page 57. But this is not all.

The Key to the Understanding of Judaism

The recognition of this religious anarchy among the Jews during the Egyptian domination is
the veritable KEY that explains the reason why the Judaism of Christ's day arose. Had this religious
anarchy not occurred there would have been no JUDAISM for Christ to contend with. If conditions
remained as they were under the Sopherim, then Christ would have come to a people who were fully
obeying the Law of Moses! But instead, we find a people who were practicing Judaism -- the reli-
gion of the Jews -- not the religion of Moses!

The knowledge of this religious anarchy gives us a KEY to unlock the doctrines and teach-
ings of Judaism. History proves that Judaism evolved out of, and was directly guided by, the inher-
ited principles of pagan life acquired during that religious anarchy! The very foundations of
Judaism, its underlying principles, though later covered with a veneer of the Law of Moses, have
their origin within this period of religious chaos!

New Laws and Customs Inherited

Now let's consider how this period of religious confusion under the influence of the Egyp-
tians brought about these significant changes in the Jews' manner of living.

The Berean Voice July-August 2002