The religion of the ancient israelites?

Answer 1

The religion of the ancient Israelites was what is now called Judaism.

Jews have always worshiped the One God. God wrecked the Egyptian idols (Exodus 12:12) and warned against idolatry (Exodus 22:19). Abraham worshiped "the Lord God of Heaven and Earth" (Genesis 14:22 and 24:3) and complained about the Philistines' lack of fear of God (Genesis 20:11). Jacob confiscated the idolatrous images taken from Shechem (Genesis 35:2) and got rid of them (Genesis 35:4); and refrained from invoking the gods of Nahor (Genesis 31:53). Rachel pilfered Laban's statue-images (Genesis 31:19) in order to prevent him from idolatry (Rashi commentary, ibid.). Joseph placed his hope in the God of the Forefathers (Genesis 50:24). Moses characterized the Golden Calf as "a great sin" (Exodus 32:21, 30) and punished the worshipers (Exodus ch.32). During the rest of his lifetime and that of Joshua (Judges 2:7), no incidents of Jewish idolatry were reported.
Shortly before he died, Moses warned the people that he suspected that they would eventually succumb to the lure of the idols (Deuteronomy 29:17). Joshua gave a similar warning (Joshua ch. 24).
These warnings came true. Many of the Israelites went astray after the foreign gods (Judges 2:11). However, the Jews never invented their own idol. It was always the baneful influence of other peoples. And there were times when the entire Jewish nation repented (Judges 2:1-4) and prayed to God (Judges 3:9, 3:15, 6:6, 10:10).
Because of the idol-worship that did happen, images of idols have been found in Israel too. Images of God aren't found because it is forbidden to represent Him through imagery (Deuteronomy 4:15-16).
It should be noted that idolatry was never universal among the Jews. The tradition of the One God was handed down in every generation, whether by the few or the many; and it is those who handed down the tradition whose beliefs we Jews continue today. Deborah ascribed victory to God (Judges 4:14), Gideon tore down the idolatrous altar (Judges 6:25-27); Samson prayed to God (Judges 16:28), as did Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Samuel (ibid. 12:18); Eli blessed in the name of God (1 Samuel 2:20), Saul built an altar to God (1 Samuel 14:35); Jonathan ascribed victory to God (1 Samuel 14:12), as did David (1 Samuel 17:46); and Solomon built the Temple for God (1 Kings 8:20). A number of the kings "did what was right in God's eyes": Asa (1 Kings 15:11), Yehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), Yehoash (2 Kings 12:3), Amatziah (2 Kings 14:3), Azariah (2 Kings 15:3), Yotam (2 Kings 15:34), Hizkiah (2 Kings 18:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). Even at the height of the unfortunate spread of idolatry among the less-loyal Ten Tribes, there were thousands who remained loyal to God (1 Kings 19:18).
And, of course, the Prophets, who spoke in the name of God and warned against idolatry: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and so on.
The sages of the Talmud, who ridiculed idolatry (Megillah 25b), were simply continuing in the tradition of the Prophets whose verses are quoted in that context (ibid.).

Answer 2

The religion of Israel was and is monotheistic. Jews have always worshiped the One God. God wrecked the Egyptian idols (Exodus 12:12) and warned against idolatry (Exodus 22:19). Abraham worshiped "the Lord God of Heaven and Earth" (Genesis 14:22 and 24:3) and complained about the Philistines' lack of fear of God (Genesis 20:11). Jacob confiscated the idolatrous images taken from Shechem (Genesis 35:2) and got rid of them (Genesis 35:4); and refrained from invoking the gods of Nahor (Genesis 31:53). Rachel pilfered Laban's statue-images (Genesis 31:19) in order to prevent him from idolatry (Rashi commentary, ibid.). Joseph placed his hope in the God of the Forefathers (Genesis 50:24). Moses characterized the Golden Calf as "a great sin" (Exodus 32:21, 30) and punished the worshipers (Exodus ch.32). The tradition of the One God was handed down in every generation, whether by the few or the many; and it is those who handed down the tradition whose beliefs we Jews continue today. Deborah ascribed victory to God (Judges 4:14), Gideon tore down the idolatrous altar (Judges 6:25-27); Samson prayed to God (Judges 16:28), as did Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Samuel (ibid. 12:18); Eli blessed in the name of God (1 Samuel 2:20), Saul built an altar to God (1 Samuel 14:35); Jonathan ascribed victory to God (1 Samuel 14:12), as did David (1 Samuel 17:46); and Solomon built the Temple for God (1 Kings 8:20). A number of the kings "did what was right in God's eyes": Asa (1 Kings 15:11), Yehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), Yehoash (2 Kings 12:3), Amatziah (2 Kings 14:3), Azariah (2 Kings 15:3), Yotam (2 Kings 15:34), Hizkiah (2 Kings 18:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). Even at the height of the unfortunate experimentaion in idolatry among the less-loyal of the Ten Tribes, there were thousands who remained loyal to God (1 Kings 19:18).

Answer 3

According to tradition, Israel (Canaan) originally belonged to the Semites (after the Flood) and was gradually seized from them by the Canaanites (Rashi commentary, Genesis 12:6). This was one of the reasons why God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis ch.13), since he was a Semite (Genesis ch.11) and a servant of God (Gen. ch.26, Isaiah 41:8).

The Canaanite civilization extended beyond the borders of Israel and was made up of cities each with its own king (Joshua ch.12). The Canaanites lived chiefly by agriculture but were also all trained in warfare.

At the time of Joshua (13th century BCE), God commanded the Israelites (Abraham's descendants through his grandson Jacob) to take the land of Canaan. (See: why were the Canaanites killed?)

From that point on, Canaan became known as the land of Israel (Joshua 11:16,21; Judges 19:29; 1 Samuel 11:3, 13:1,9).

The civilization of ancient Israel during the era of the Judges was mostly agricultural (see the Book of Ruth for an example of this), and there were also fisherfolk, shepherds, tradespeople, crafts-people, Torah-scholars, judges, store owners, etc.

Israel's society was based upon the covenant with God, as set forth in the Torah (Exodus ch.19, Deuteronomy 26:16-19). There was always a learned class among the Israelites, and virtually all men and boys (and a good percentage of women) could read and write. A portion of each day was spent praying; and a larger part of the day was spent studying Torah

Answer 4

According to tradition, Israel (Canaan) originally belonged to the Semites (after the Flood) and was gradually seized from them by the Canaanites (Rashi commentary, Genesis 12:6). This was one of the reasons why God promised the land to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis ch.13), since he was a Semite (Genesis ch.11) and a servant of God (Gen. ch.26, Isaiah 41:8).The Canaanite civilization extended beyond the borders of Israel and was made up of cities each with its own king (Joshua ch.12). The Canaanites lived chiefly by agriculture but were also all trained in warfare.

At the time of Joshua (13th century BCE), God commanded the Israelites (Abraham's descendants through his grandson Jacob) to take the land of Canaan.

Link: Why did the Israelites conquer the Canaanites?

From that point on, Canaan became known as the land of Israel (Joshua 11:16,21; Judges 19:29; 1 Samuel 11:3, 13:1,9).

The civilization of ancient Israel during the era of the Judges was mostly agricultural (see the Book of Ruth for an example of this), and there were also fisherfolk, shepherds, tradespeople, crafts-people, Torah-scholars, judges, store owners, etc.

Link: More about Ruth

Israel's society was based upon the covenant with God, as set forth in the Torah (Exodus ch.19, Deuteronomy 26:16-19). There was always a learned class among the Israelites, and virtually all men and boys (and a good percentage of women) could read and write. A portion of each day was spent praying; and a larger part of the day was spent studying Torah (by a good part of the populace). Religious questions (and torts) were brought to one of the many Rabbis or Jewish courts.

Link: Social classes among the IsraelitesHaving a large family was an ideal, as was welcoming guests into the home, giving charity, and other forms of kindness. A portion of crops were given to the poor. The calendar year was replete with the Sabbaths and festivals; and blessings were said before and after eating and on many other occasions.

See also the other Related Link.

Link: Some examples of the Torah's laws

Answer 5

they were Jewish before