ABSTRACT

In ancient Israel the pillars of the religious life were the tribe and the family. The social life of nomad tribes was built up entirely upon the basis of natural blood-relationship. The family widened out into the kin and the tribe. By Israel's entry into Canaan and into its settled life there the ancient tribal organization and with it the ancient tribal fellowship in the sacred services were jeopardized. The desert wanderer becomes homeless; kindred and tribe were home to him. Tradition ascribes to Moses the character of being the source of Israelite law as well as that of founder of the religion. Yahweh was a pronounced God of law and morals, not only the originator and protector of both. So it comes about that from the time of Moses the peculiarity of Israel as contrasted with other peoples is that in Israel religion and ethics were far more closely associated than elsewhere.