1a. Describe the Jews' view of God and their basic worldview during the intertestamental period. Preoccupied with practice, orthopraxy rather than right thinking, the Jews clung to all the essential features of the Old Testament. However, concerted efforts have been made to restore traditional institutions. (Scott, New Testament Jewish Context 2000:265) Furthermore, the retention, practice and application of monotheism, covenant and law, the three main pillars of Old Testament religion, have made intertestamental Judaism unique. The Jews viewed God distinctly on the basis of these three pillars. (Scott, Jewish backgrounds of the New Testament 2000: 266) God has always been recognized as the Creator and Being by whose providence the created order was sustained. The covenant God of Israel was the God who redeemed Israel for himself. However, some Jews adopted Hellenistic culture during their captivity; but most Jews saw no need to prove the existence of their God. (Scott, Jewish background of the New Testament 2000, p. 266) Although they attempted to stick to the pillars of the Old Testament, there were other crucial incidents....