Chapters 5-7

Armstrong notes numerous times the changing views on the presence of God. From the beginning Gods presence was felt through the land and in the temple, then it started to change to where Yahweh was omnipresent and not bound land domains. The latter view was not fully expressed until Jesus' birth. Even though Armstrong mentions these new and changing views, the Jews always place the first as a major importance. After the destruction of the first temple, there was a sense that Yahweh had left the city and a sense of hopelessness had emerged. In chapter 5, Armstrong expresses the yearnings of the Jewish exiles; to return to Jerusalem where the presence of Yahweh resided. Throughout chapters 5-7, the Jewish people continue to passionately fight for their temple and protect it from those who change and deface the temple; challenging those who do so. An example of this is the contrast between Herold's rule and the destruction of the temple by the Romans. People did not revolt against Herold because he made no attempts to corrupt the temple. This contrasts with the end of chapter 7 where the Romans trespassed into the temple, entering into the forbidden regions. The chapter ends with a depiction of the brutal overtaking of the temple. The Jew defended all they could. In the midst of fighting, they still kept to the laws of sacred spaces and stayed out. This goes to show how much the Jews stayed with their beliefs and constantly align their lives to these beliefs. Not everyone has the same beliefs and Armstrong tells very well that there are internal disagreements within the Jews. Even so, we see the strength of one's own beliefs through their passionate actions.