Question

How did Judaism differ from other faiths of the same time period?

Answer 1

Judaism, as we know it today, evolved over a period of centuries, from the polytheistic religion that we now know the early Hebrews followed. There were several key points in the development of Judaism, and the distinctive features of Judaism vary according to time. 

In spite of the biblical Exodus tradition, scholars say that the Hebrew people were actually Canaanites who migrated internally and peacefully from the rich coastal cities into the hitherto sparsely populated hinterland. As Canaanites, or former Canaanites, they inherited the gods of their forebears. Thus the first stage of Hebrew belief was polytheistic. Mark S. Smith (The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel) says that according to the available evidence, Israelite religion in its earliest form did not contrast markedly with the religions of its Levantine neighbours in either number or configuration of deities. Keel and Uehlinger (Gods, Goddesses and Images of God in Ancient Israel) describe hundreds of artefacts found in Israel and Judah throughout the entire monarchical period, showing that polytheism was ubiquitous in the region throughout the period. 

Perhaps in the seventh century BCE, the official religion of Judah probably became monolatrous, although the people themselves remained polytheistic until the Babylonian Exile. Archaeological evidence shows that divine images ceased to be used during the late monarchy, suggesting that this was the period during which Judaism began to be differentiated as opposed to the use of idols. The one important exception is that figurines of a fertility goddess continue to be found in homes, right up to the time of the Exile. 

Monotheistic Judaism is generally believed to have taken hold during the Babylonian Exile, although a minority opinion among scholars is that polytheism continued to some extent well beyond this time. It is during the Babylonian Exile that new concepts such as angels, Satan, heaven and, for a period, hell were introduced to Judaism. 

The religion of the period that follows is generally known as Second Temple Judaism. This shared many rituals with the past and with neighbouring countries, including animal sacrifices, however child sacrifice to God had certainly ceased. 

The destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 CE brought Second Temple Judaism to an end. The Pharisees evolved Judaism, to become the Rabbinic Judaism we know today. This was the beginning of 

Answer 2

It focused on monotheism instead of polytheism.