Chosen People (Judaism)
In Judaism , the concept of election is the belief that the children of Israel are the chosen people , chosen to contract a covenant with God. This idea, first enunciated in the Torah , is repeated and elaborated in subsequent books of the Hebrew Bible , and particularly developed in the Rabbinic literature.
The election in the Hebrew Bible
Although God has proved previously to the Patriarchs , the Matriarchs and Moses , the first mention of the election of Israel in their community is in the Book of Exodus (19:5-6): "Now If you are obedient to my voice, if you keep My covenant, you shall be my treasure among all peoples! For all the earth is Mine, but you'll be for me a dynasty of priests and a holy nation. "
However, the character of Israel's election seems unlikely after unconditional, as is said ( Deuteronomy 14:2): For thou art a holy people to YHWH your God, and it is you chose YHWH, for him to be a special people spread among all peoples on earth.
This election is considered a proof of God's love for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7-8), as a bridegroom to his bride, told the prophet Hosea , why, when Israel engages in the worship of idols, God instructs the prophet to take to wife a prostitute, and naming his children by names referring to the repudiation of Israel, including ( Book of Hosea 1:9): "Call him Lo Ammi (" Not My people ") because you are not My people, and I, I am no longer yours. "However, this repudiation is temporary, and the following verse (Hosea 2:1) recalls the time when" the children of Israel shall be called the Son of the living God, "who abandoned their idols, and that the" wife "Israel turning away from her lovers and debauchery, God called Ishi (my husband), not Ba'al ("my husband," but also "my Baal ").
This election is generating more obligations and responsibilities, as outlined in the prophet Amos ( Book of Amos 3:2): "It's only you that I have distinguished between all peoples on earth, c That is why I ask you consider all your faults. "
Elections in the Talmud and rabbinic writings
The election has been interpreted in various ways: for some, God chose the Jews and Tanya , the Jewish souls were predestined before the creation.
However, there is overall consensus that the election creates obligations exclusive to Jews, in addition to the covenants and responsibilities as non-Jews are God's, as the Noahide laws , without giving exclusive rewards to the Jews.
References
- Pirke Avot 3:18 , among others.
- Zohar on Genesis 1:20 ("Let the waters teem with a multitude Nefesh Chaya, busy living"): "Nefesh Chaya refers to Jews, because they are children of God, and God they receive their souls holy. "
Loading ...