Hebrew's Influence On Western Civilization Essay

On page 34 of Western Civilization, Jackson Spielvogel expresses, “In human history, the power of ideas is often more significant than the power of empires.” This statement could not be more accurate when discussing the lasting impact of the Hebrews on Western Civilization. Although these “Children of Israel” did not comprise the largest or most powerful nation, their political, social, and religious contributions still exert influence over today’s world. According to the Hebrews, their people escaped out of bondage in Egypt, relocated to a “promised land,” and then proceeded to form a united kingdom that would be known as Israel (Spielvogel 34). To govern this kingdom, kings and dynasties were chosen by the Hebrews’ all-powerful God, the first of which was King Saul. Succeeding Saul was King David, who managed to defeat the Philistines and gain control of Canaan. Also during his reign, King David established the capital of Israel at Jerusalem, which remains a religious center in today’s world. However, it was David’s son, King Solomon, who brought Israel to the height of its power and came to be regarded as one of the greatest and wisest kings in history. Solomon went on to build the famous Hebrew Temple in Jerusalem
Religion was incorporated into every aspect of Hebrew life. Although a monotheistic belief was unique among the civilizations of their time, the Hebrews believed in the single, all-powerful God, Yahweh. The Hebrew Bible, which is also the Christian Old Testament, recounts that in their beginnings as a people, the Hebrews made a covenant with Yahweh. This agreement stated that in return for obedience to His commandments, Yahweh would protect and prosper His chosen people. The Hebrew religion has managed to survive the passage of time, unlike the majority of those of its time, and has provided the foundation for predominant religions of the world