Why was Jewish monotheism a significant development in the religious history of early civilization?

Answer 1

Jewish monotheism came about as part of the Deuteronomistic reforms of King Josiah in the seventh century BCE, although the failed earlier reforms of Hezekia may have included proposed monotheism. Certainly, Hezekia was motivated by the need to develop national unity, following an influx of Israelite refugees, and the same concerns may have exercised the mind of Josiah in addition to asserting cultural independence from Babylon. Some believe that at first, Judaism was not so much monotheism, but henotheism - devotion to a single god while accepting the existence of other gods.

Monotheism was a novel concept in the world. It had been tried briefly in Egypt in the fourteenth century BCE, but seems not to have had any real support among the general population. Zoroastrianism was monotheistic, but was limited to remote Iranian tribes, including the Persians, who as yet had almost no influence on the outside world.

By the time of the Babylonian Exile, monotheism was well entrenched, even if not universal among the Jews. When the Persians conquered the Babylonian Empire, they found one group of captives who shared their own interest in the worship of one god - the Jews. They provided generous assistance to the Jews, in their return to Jerusalem, funding the reconstruction of their Temple and granting them the right to rebuild the city walls. It has been argued that the Persians provided this support and assistance because the Jews were by now monotheistic, or largely so.