WHO ARE THE JEWS? IDENTIFYING THE PEOPLE OF THE COVENANT
The question “Who are the Jews?” is one that has been asked throughout history, and the answer is deeply rooted in the divine covenant, biblical commandments, and historical continuity. The Jews are not merely an ethnic group; they are a people set apart by God’s commandments, a continuous historical lineage, and a preserved identity that has withstood the trials of millennia.
Several defining markers help us identify who the Jews are, based on scriptural mandates, historical continuity, and their covenantal relationship with God. These markers are not only religious but also historical and cultural, making the Jewish people unique in their unbroken connection to their divine calling.
1. The Jewish Calendar: The First Mitzvah and the Continuity of Time
The first commandment (mitzvah) given to the Jewish people as a nation was the establishment of their own calendar:
“This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you.” (Exodus 12:2)
This was not a mere timekeeping system—it was a commandment that defined Jewish identity and separated them from the nations. The Jewish calendar, based on the lunar cycle with solar adjustments, is the only divinely ordained calendar that has remained unchanged from its inception.
- The Unbroken Chain of Time: The Jewish people have maintained this calendar without interruption, adhering to the same system of months and holy days since the Exodus. Unlike other civilizations that have changed their calendars over time (e.g., Gregorian, Julian, Islamic, etc.), the Jewish calendar has never been modified to conform to external influences.
- The Seven-Day Week: The very concept of a seven-day week, ending in the Sabbath (Shabbat), originates from Jewish tradition. The world may take it for granted, but without Jewish observance, the knowledge of a seven-day cycle tied to divine creation would have been lost.
- Time as a Jewish Inheritance: The Jewish people sanctified time through their festivals (moedim) and observances, ensuring that the rhythm of Jewish life was always aligned with God’s commandments. This continuity is an undeniable sign of Jewish identity.
2. The Sabbath and Passover: The Eternal Covenant Signs
Two of the most defining features of Jewish identity are the observance of the Sabbath (Shabbat) and Passover (Pesach). These are more than rituals; they are divine signs of the covenant that have never ceased since they were first commanded.
A. The Sabbath: The Sign of the Covenant
“It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:17)
- The Sabbath is the defining mark of the Jewish people. From the time of Moses to today, the Jewish people have faithfully kept the Sabbath every single week, without interruption.
- If the Jewish people had ever ceased from keeping the Sabbath, the knowledge of the seventh day would have been lost to history.
- It is the only commandment that is explicitly called a “sign” of God’s covenant with Israel.
B. The Passover: The Festival of Redemption
“And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.” (Exodus 12:24)
- No other nation or people have continuously celebrated the Passover from the time of Moses.
- Passover is not just a commemoration of the Exodus—it is the marker of Jewish identity and their redemption from bondage.
- While other groups may claim Jewish identity, if they have not continuously observed Passover from ancient times, they are not part of the covenant people.
Without the Jewish people, the world would not know when the Sabbath is, nor would the story of Passover have been preserved.
3. The Jews Have Never Been Enslaved Again
One of the strongest proofs of Jewish identity is this: since their redemption from Egypt, the Jewish people have never again been subjected to national slavery as a people.
- The Jews have suffered exile, persecution, expulsions, pogroms, oppression, and even genocide, but never slavery as a people.
- Even in their darkest moments—Babylonian exile, Roman destruction, medieval expulsions, and the Holocaust—they remained a free people, even when displaced.
- This is a divine marker of their covenant. God promised that while He would discipline them, He would never return them to the slavery of Egypt (Deuteronomy 28:68).
This completely refutes claims by any group that claims Jewish identity but has experienced slavery as a nation after the Exodus. True Jews, by divine decree, have never been enslaved again.
Is Vassalage, Captivity, or Subjugation the Same as Slavery?
The terms vassalage, captivity, and subjugation often overlap with slavery but are not necessarily the same thing. Each of these forms of domination differs in degrees of autonomy, legal status, and economic or political control. It is crucial to distinguish them when examining the history of Israel and the nature of biblical prophecy.
1. Is Vassalage the Same as Slavery?
Definition of Vassalage
- A vassal state is a nation that is politically subordinate to a more powerful kingdom but retains some level of autonomy.
- Vassals must pay tribute, follow the suzerain’s policies, and provide military service when required.
- However, the vassal people are not property, nor are they individually bought and sold like slaves.
Did Israel Experience Vassalage?
Yes. Israel and Judah became vassal states under Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. However, despite heavy taxation, forced labor, and political oppression, they were not considered slaves in the biblical sense.
- The Northern Kingdom of Israel became a vassal of Assyria before being exiled in 722 BCE.
- The Kingdom of Judah paid tribute to Babylon, Persia, and later Rome.
➡ Vassalage ≠ Slavery
Although vassalage involved subjugation and oppression, Israelites were not bought and sold as property under this system.
2. Is Captivity the Same as Slavery?
Definition of Captivity
- Captivity refers to being taken as prisoners of war or exiled but does not necessarily mean lifelong chattel slavery.
- Captives might be forced into labor, but they are not necessarily bought, sold, or treated as permanent property.
- Some captives could retain status, be released, or even rise to power (e.g., Daniel in Babylon).
Did Israel Experience Captivity?
Yes, Israel suffered captivity multiple times:
- Babylonian Captivity (586 BCE) – Jews were exiled but retained freedom to work and even rise in status (Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra).
- Roman Captivity (70 CE, 135 CE) – Many Jews were exiled, imprisoned, and some were sold as slaves, but the nation itself was not enslaved.
➡ Captivity ≠ Slavery
Although captivity often involved forced labor, restrictions, and loss of sovereignty, it was not the same as slavery, where individuals are owned, traded, and permanently subjugated.
3. Is Subjugation the Same as Slavery?
Definition of Subjugation
- Subjugation means being ruled by a foreign power with limited freedoms.
- It can include taxation, forced labor, military conscription, and legal discrimination.
- However, subjugated people still retain personal rights and are not sold as property.
Did Israel Experience Subjugation?
Yes, but never slavery after Egypt:
- Under Persia, Greece, and Rome, Jews were subjugated but not enslaved as a people.
- They had their own laws, religious practices, and autonomy in many periods.
- Roman rule was oppressive, but Jews were not legally considered slaves—many were merchants, scribes, and religious leaders.
➡ Subjugation ≠ Slavery
While Israel suffered oppression, occupation, and even massacres, they were never systematically turned into slaves again after Egypt.
4. Does Deuteronomy 28:41, 48 Refer to Slavery?
Deuteronomy 28:41, 48 is offered as proof that Israel suffered slavery again, but let’s examine these verses carefully:
- Deuteronomy 28:41 – “You shall have sons and daughters, but they shall not remain yours, for they shall go into captivity.”
- Captivity is mentioned, not slavery.
- Many Jews were taken captive by Assyria, Babylon, and Rome, but they were not enslaved as a people.
- Deuteronomy 28:48 – “Therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and lacking everything. And He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.”
- Service (forced labor) is mentioned, but this does not mean chattel slavery.
- The “yoke of iron” symbolizes oppression, not literal enslavement.
➡ These passages describe captivity and oppression, but not the permanent slave status of an entire people.
5. Why Has Israel Never Been Slaves Again After Egypt?
A. Biblical Promise That Israel Would Never Be Fully Enslaved Again
- Leviticus 25:42 – “For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.”
- Jeremiah 30:8 – “In that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will break his yoke from your neck and tear off your shackles, and strangers shall no longer make him their slave.”
God ensured that even in punishment, Israel would never again experience national slavery.
B. The Jewish Diaspora: Persecution, Not Slavery
- Jews were persecuted, expelled, and massacred but never enslaved as a people.
- Even in the worst exiles (Babylon, Rome, Spain, the Holocaust), they were not treated as chattel slaves.
C. Contrast with True Slavery (Egypt vs. Later Exiles)
| Feature | Egypt (Before Exodus) | Babylon, Rome, Diaspora |
| Legal Status | Owned as property | Exiled, but not property |
| Forced Labor | Yes, entire population | Some forced labor, but many were free |
| Buy/Sell People | Yes, Jews were traded | No, Jews were persecuted but not sold |
| Permanency | Born and died in slavery | Temporary exiles, never full enslavement |
➡ Jews have suffered every oppression imaginable—pogroms, ghettos, massacres, expulsions, but never again full-scale enslavement like in Egypt.
6. Why Is This Important?
Claiming vassalage, captivity, or subjugation is the same as slavery diminishes the biblical and historical uniqueness of Israel’s Egyptian enslavement and redemption.
- Slavery = Ownership of people as property, with no rights or freedom.
- Israel has never experienced this again after the Exodus.
Conclusion
- Vassalage is not slavery – Israel was a vassal but remained legally free.
- Captivity is not slavery – Jews were taken captive but were not treated as property.
- Subjugation is not slavery – Foreign rule oppressed Jews, but they were never legally enslaved again.
- Deuteronomy 28:41, 48 does not prove later slavery – It describes captivity, exile, and oppression, not chattel slavery.
- God explicitly prevented Israel from ever becoming full slaves again (Leviticus 25:42, Jeremiah 30:8).
Thus, no historical evidence exists to support the idea that Israel, after Egypt, was ever enslaved again as a people. Their suffering has been unique, but not slavery.
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