Such a possibility is indeed actually discussed in Adler and other archaeological research into ancient Judean practices. The same applies to pagan rituals, too. I don't know why you seem to assume no-one would have thought of that possibility.Secret Alias wrote: ↑Sat Dec 24, 2022 1:22 pmBut let's suppose for a moment that the model with Judaism/Samaritanism. In this model you have a group of priests who are "full Jews" or "full Israelites" whatever you want to call them and then a large body of non-priests. Is there evidence that all Jews followed all the ordinances of Moses? If not, maybe it preceded and inspired the early Christian community.
Adler does not attempt to cover "all the ordinances of Moses". He is quite open to the high possibility that only a few observed some of the "laws" and that the general population was not part of that scene. All of this is addressed and examined and tested.
In which case there would be a blanket ban on images and other gods and sabbath work -- or at least some sign of such a ban in some areas of "Jehud" and "Samaria". We have archaeological evidence relating to those commandments. That evidence points to the Hellenistic era as the earliest when the common people observed "the ten commandments".Secret Alias wrote: ↑Sat Dec 24, 2022 1:22 pmCould it be that the common Jews and Samaritans simply followed the 10 commandments? The other laws were for the priesthood.
Again, the archaeological and literary evidence testifies against this view. There is evidence that "the common" people were on the whole observant of certain Mosaic laws from the mid second century BCE.Secret Alias wrote: ↑Sat Dec 24, 2022 1:22 pmMaybe at some period the whole 613 were imposed on the Jewish population. . . . Could the gospel have been written in an age where the Pharisees were attempting to impose the entire 613 laws on the Jewish population? Interesting possibilities.
If we have no evidence for any form of distinctive Judaism before the Hellenistic era, but on the contrary have evidence that before the Hellenistic era Jews, both elite priests and commoners, were polytheistic, made use of idols and images for worship, marked the seventh day for market day, and were indistinguishable in religious practices from other surrounding peoples in Syria and Nabatea, then it is reasonable to conclude that "Judaism" of any kind was unknown before the Hellenistic era. If new evidence comes to light to change that view, fine, we'll adjust our conclusions. But till then we have to be led by the tangible, contemporary evidence.Secret Alias wrote: ↑Sat Dec 24, 2022 1:22 pmBut none of this implies Judaism only existed for as early as evidence of these practices have residue.
Is it possible that we can be so confident in our suspicions that we are not interested in even reading what the evidence is. Like in the movies when an authority figure frustrates the audience by refusing to even hear the defence of the one he has just condemned.