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Full Idea
Having transferred their right to God, the Hebrews believed their kingdom was the kingdom of God, that they alone were the children of God, and that other nations were enemies of God, whom for that reason they regarded with extreme hostility.
Gist of Idea
Hebrews were very hostile to other states, who had not given up their rights to God
Source
Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 17.23)
Book Ref
Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Theological-Political Treatise', ed/tr. Israel,Jonathan [CUP 2007], p.222
A Reaction
[He cites Psalm 139:21-2] So, according to Spinoza, they did not become the chosen people because they thought God had chosen then, but because they were the only state trying to align itself with God.
Related Idea
Idea 19932 The early Hebrews, following Moses, gave up their rights to God alone [Spinoza]
| 7604 | Amos was the first prophet to emphasise justice and compassion [Amos, by Armstrong,K] |
| 19934 | Hebrews were very hostile to other states, who had not given up their rights to God [Spinoza] |
| 7663 | Judaism and Christianity views are based on paternal, family and tribal relations [Berlin] |
| 7336 | A key moment is the idea of a single moral God, who imposes his morality on humanity [Johnson,P] |
| 7341 | Sampson illustrates the idea that religious heroes often begin as outlaws and semi-criminals [Johnson,P] |
| 7342 | Isaiah moved Israelite religion away from the local, onto a more universal plane [Johnson,P] |
| 7344 | Judaism involves circumcision, Sabbath, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, New Year, and Atonement [Johnson,P] |
| 7345 | In exile the Jews became a nomocracy [Johnson,P] |
| 7355 | The Torah pre-existed creation, and was its blueprint [Johnson,P] |
| 7597 | There is virtually no sign of monotheism in the Pentateuch [Armstrong,K] |
| 23056 | Judaism only became monotheistic around 550 BCE [Gray] |
| 7480 | Monotheism was a uniquely Israelite creation within the Middle East [Watson] |
| 7479 | Modern Judaism became stabilised in 200 CE [Watson] |
| 7481 | The Israelites may have asserted the uniqueness of Yahweh to justify land claims [Watson] |
| 20929 | Traditionally, God dictated the Torah to Moses, unlike the later biblical writings [Zimmermann,J] |