They didn't become truly monotheist until Isaiah changed the religion. Whether the book of Isaiah is put in the scripture in the correct chronological order, I really don't know.
Abraham was a person who took one god as his patron god, but still believed in all the other gods. So not a true monotheist.
Even Moses never disputed the existance of other gods. He just changed the religion to put Yahweh up above all other gods.
2007-02-15 10:05:25
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answer #1
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answered by Eldritch 5
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If by Israelites you mean the community as a whole, it may not have been until the Babylonian captivity, which would be the book of Daniel, or possibly just prior to Ezra. Individual Israelites got it, however, long before the community as a whole got it. Biblical evidence suggests that at least Elijah, Moses, and some of the Psalmists understood that YHWH is the only God, and that idols were not gods at all. I believe far more than these- David, the Prophets, Joshua, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and many others who bore fruit consistent with knowledge that God is the only god. Clearly, however, the Israelite community as a whole had to have this fact taught to them over and over, until they finally got it after being led away into captivity.
Also, before they converted as a whole from henotheism to monotheism, there was a conversion from monotheism to henotheism. Adam knew there was only one God, and if he had a brain in his head, never suspected otherwise (since he had encountered God personally from the begining). It never says whether the pre-flood civilization worshiped idols/other gods or not. I suspect polytheism was a post-flood idea, probably after the tower of Babel. Since the languages were divided there was less communication, so the ancient knowledge of God and what He did in the flood could be more easily corrupted by a creative storyteller, without accountability from other groups who kept a more accurate record. Historically, polytheism seems to have been most prevalent in the Sumer and Egypt, and probably originated from one or the other of these cultures. Since they were the most influential in the middle-east at the time, they could have spread polytheism both to each other and ot other cultures. Melchizedek and Balaam are evidence that monotheistic belief in YHWH was once prevalent, but was being eclipsed by polytheism and henotheism. Hence the need to reestablish righteousness through Moses and the Torah. The people had turned away from YHWH to idols, and God was setting a people aside for Himself to lead back to His truth, although the process took a long time to really complete (and is still ongoing).
2007-02-15 18:49:20
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answer #2
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answered by The Link 4
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In Exodus, When Moses comes down off the mountain. That would be in both the Pentateuch and the Christian Bible.
But you are really talking about the historical Israelites and not the biblical Israelites. So, the conversion most likely took place during the time that Moses was writing the Pentateuch, which would explain his references to the worship of other gods. Estimated to be around the time of 1450 BCE.
2007-02-15 18:14:20
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answer #3
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answered by Chali 6
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Interesting question. I'm no Biblical scholar, but if I had to pick a time (not necessarily a book), I would say that it happened after Jerusalem had been established, because that would have provided a level of stability for structure to take root. Out in the wilderness, they were constantly swaying between God and idols, but once in Jerusalem, you could have the established temple, and religion probably took on a more political meaning (which isn't a good thing, but it would provide the necessary structure).
2007-02-15 18:21:36
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answer #4
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answered by Solomon's Cry 2
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2007-02-15 18:04:12
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Abraham was a monotheist, so Genesis for him. For the nation of Israel, I suppose when God revealed Himself to Moses, so Exodus 3.
2007-02-15 18:14:50
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answer #6
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answered by cmw 6
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It was a back and forth thing, actually, during the times of the kings after about the middle part of Solomon's rule in 2nd Kings.
2007-02-15 18:08:24
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answer #7
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answered by Sarai 3
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For people that don't know, henotheists believe that more than one god exists but only worship one of them.
2007-02-15 18:07:25
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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I haven't done the reading to answer that question, but I have all the relevant texts in my Amazon shopping cart.
The best is supposed to be:
http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Biblical-Monotheism-Polytheistic-Background/dp/0195167686/sr=8-1/qid=1171580712/ref=sr_1_1/105-1945697-3468413?ie=UTF8&s=books
2007-02-15 18:05:34
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Adam and Eve, Abraham, all those were already monotheist.
2007-02-15 18:05:57
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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