Essays on Judaism in the Pre-Hellenistic Period

Focusing on a pivotal historical period, the essays explore the transition from the Judean state's collapse to Alexander the Great's conquests. This era saw the decline of Semitic empires and significant religious transformations, including the rise of new deities and sects amidst the fallout from the Babylonian conquest. As various groups sought to maintain their traditions in a post-collapse society, the temple emerged as a crucial symbol of identity in the face of powerful empires like Babylon and Persia.