Western Civilization to 1500

Western Civilization to 1500
Short Essay: What did the ancient Hebrews (modern Jews) believe at the end the Babylonian Captivity, or around 500 BCE?

1. Read the original sources in Hebrew Bible in the context of the history of the ancient Hebrews, avoiding placing them in the historical context of the Christianity, since the Christian faith began during the first century CE.

1. Try to present the ancient Hebrew faith in three aspects:
1) the nature of God, Yahweh
2) the core value of the faith and the uniqueness of Torah
3) the organization of the faith in the diaspora.
Please pay attention to the differences of the Hebrew faith from the Christianity, since Christians have often interpreted the Jewish faith in the context of the Christian history and culture.

The essay should be composed of about three pages. Although it is a short essay, you must have an introduction for presenting your thesis, a set of arguments to supporting your thesis, and a conclusion. The paper must also have proper references or notes.