Yahwism

​Yahwism, as it is called by modern scholars, was the religion of ancient Israel and Judah. An ancient Semitic religion of the Iron Age, Yahwism was essentially polytheistic and had a pantheon with various gods and goddesses being worshipped by the Israelites. At the head of this pantheon was Yahweh, held in an especially high regard as the two Israelite kingdoms' national god.
The worship of Yahweh alone began at the earliest with prophet Elijah in the 9th century BCE, and at the latest with prophet Hosea in the 8th; even then it remained the concern of a small party before gaining ascendancy in the exilic and early post-exilic period. It was during the national crisis of the Babylonian Exile that the followers of Yahweh went a step further and denied that any deities aside from Yahweh existed at all—marking the transition from Yahwism to Judaism.
In 539 BCE, Babylon fell to the Persians, ending the Babylonian exile. According to Ezra,  2, 42,360 of the exiled Israelites returned to Jerusalem. As descendants of the original exiles, they had never lived in Judah; nevertheless, in the view of the authors of the Biblical literature, they, and not those who had remained in the land, were "Israel". Judah, now called Yehud.
Though they represented the descendants of the old "Yahweh-alone" movement, the religion they came to institute was significantly different from monarchic Yahwism. Differences included new concepts of priesthood; a new focus on written law and thus on scripture; and a concern with preserving purity by prohibiting intermarriage outside the community of this new "Israel". This new faith later evolved into Second Temple Judaism. The competing religion of Samaritanism also emerged from the "Yahweh-alone" movement. The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) developed during the exile period.

Here is a comparison of Yahwism with Second Temple Judaism involving an examination of the theological and socio-cultural shifts that occurred from early Israelite religion to the post-exilic period. 

1. **Monotheism and Universalism**:
   - **Yahwism**: In early Yahwism, the worship of Yahweh was often seen in a more nationalistic and particularistic context. Yahweh was primarily the God of Israel, with other nations having their own gods.
   - **Second Temple Judaism**: During the Second Temple period, there is a clearer articulation of monotheism, with Yahweh being recognized not just as the God of Israel, but as the one true God of all nations. This period saw a stronger emphasis on the universality of God's rule and the expectation of a messianic kingdom that would include all peoples.

2. **Temple and Sacrifice**:
   - **Yahwism**: The early Yahwistic religion was centered around various local shrines and high places where sacrifices were offered.
   - **Second Temple Judaism**: After the Babylonian Exile and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, there was a centralization of worship. The Temple became the focal point of religious life, with a highly developed system of sacrifices and priestly rituals.

3. **Covenant and Law**:
   - **Yahwism**: The covenant in early Yahwism was often understood in terms of the promises made to the patriarchs and the Sinai covenant, which emphasized the relationship between Yahweh and Israel and the giving of the Law.
   - **Second Temple Judaism**: In this period, the interpretation and observance of the Torah became more complex and detailed. The development of the Pharisaic and rabbinic traditions brought a heightened focus on legal interpretation and ethical living as a response to the covenant.

4. **Prophetic and Apocalyptic Expectations**:
   - **Yahwism**: The prophetic tradition in early Yahwism focused on calling Israel back to faithfulness, social justice, and the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness.
   - **Second Temple Judaism**: This period saw the rise of apocalyptic literature, which emphasized themes of divine judgment, resurrection, and the establishment of God’s kingdom. There was a strong eschatological hope for a new age where God’s justice would prevail.

5. **Community and Identity**:
   - **Yahwism**: Early Israelite identity was closely tied to tribal and national identity, with a focus on the land and people of Israel.
   - **Second Temple Judaism**: The experience of exile and return brought about a more defined sense of Jewish identity centered around the Law, the Temple, and the community of faith. The diaspora also played a significant role, leading to a broader, more dispersed understanding of Jewish identity.

In summary, there is a significant evolution from Yahwism to Second Temple Judaism in terms of monotheism, religious practices, covenantal understanding, eschatological expectations, and communal identity. Second Temple Judaism represents a more developed and universalistic expression of the earlier Yahwistic faith, shaped by historical experiences such as the exile and the rebuilding of the Temple.