Defying the Divine: The Historical Conflict Between Jewish and Their Prophets
Throughout history, divine prophets have been sent to guide humanity, but they have not always been welcomed. In the Holy Quran and historical sources, the Children of Israel are recognized as a people who, in numerous instances, displayed hostility towards the divine prophets, killing some of them and distorting religious texts.
The Children of Israel, who consider themselves God’s chosen people for receiving revelation, have played a significant role in the history of religions—a role that has often contradicted this claim of theirs. Reports of disobedience, hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets, and even the killing of prophets by this people are found in the Holy Quran, the Old Testament, and historical sources. One of the most prominent cases of Jewish hostility is towards Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), which is reflected in many historical books.
There are other important reports regarding the hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets, including the stories of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist), Prophet Zakariya (Zechariah), Prophet Jeremiah, Prophet Isaiah, Prophet David, and Prophet Solomon. The story of the opposition and persecution that the Children of Israel inflicted upon Prophet Moses is also evident to all and has been addressed in other articles. In this article, we will examine the manner and reasons for the hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets.
Hostility of the Jews Towards Jesus Christ (peace be upon him)
Jesus Christ is one of the great divine prophets who was raised among the Children of Israel. He was sent to guide his people, calling them to faith, monotheism, and social reforms based on the authentic teachings of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). However, this call was met with a negative reaction from the Jewish elders and a group of the people. The Jewish religious elders, including priests and Pharisees, saw Jesus as a threat to their interests. By criticizing corruption within the Jewish religious system and emphasizing a return to original divine teachings, he undermined the influence of these elders among the people. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus accuses the Pharisees and Jewish scholars of hypocrisy and distorting religious teachings: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” [1]
The Jewish elders not only denied Jesus but also sought to kill him. The Holy Quran refers to this matter:
“And [for] their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah’… And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them…” [2] This verse emphasizes that the Jews claimed to have crucified Jesus, but he was saved by God. According to historical sources and the Gospels, the Jewish elders, by inciting the Romans, accused Jesus of blasphemy and insulting Jewish law. These actions ultimately led to his trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.
Hostility of the Jews Towards Prophet Zakariya (peace be upon him)
Prophet Zakariya was one of the great prophets of the Children of Israel and the father of Prophet Yahya. The name Zakariya (peace be upon him) is mentioned seven times in the Holy Quran. In Surah Al-An’am, he is mentioned alongside a number of other divine prophets from the progeny of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). In the Quran, Zakariya is mentioned as one of the divine prophets who, in his time, called people to the worship of God and societal reform. In the Quran, Prophet Zakariya is known as a chaste, faithful, and kind father who, after years of supplication for a child, was gifted Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) by God: “O Zakariya, indeed We give you good tidings of a boy whose name will be Yahya. We have not assigned to any before [this] name.” [3]
In the Torah, Prophet Zakariya is also introduced as one of the religious leaders and prophets of the Children of Israel, but these sources do not provide many details about his killing. Based on some Islamic narrations and historical texts, Prophet Zakariya was killed by the Jews. The Quran does not directly mention the killing of Prophet Zakariya, but many Islamic narrations state that he was martyred due to his opposition to the religious and social corruption that had occurred in Jewish society. They also mention that Prophet Zakariya was killed by the Children of Israel because of his criticism of the religious leaders and their corruption.
Some Jewish and Islamic historical sources, based on existing narrations, state that Prophet Zakariya was killed inside the temple or in a public place. There are discrepancies in the sources on this matter, but what is certain is that examining historical sources leaves no doubt about the hostility and opposition of the Children of Israel towards this divine prophet.
Hostility of the Jews Towards Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him)
Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) is another prophet of the Children of Israel who engaged in religious and social reform. Due to his frankness in speaking the truth and his opposition to corruption, Yahya (peace be upon him) faced severe hostility, which ultimately led to his martyrdom. The birth of Prophet Yahya is one of the divine miracles mentioned in Christian and Islamic sacred texts. The Holy Quran introduces Yahya as one of the great divine prophets who possessed divine knowledge and wisdom from childhood. God enumerates outstanding characteristics for him such as chastity and purity, kindness and good behavior towards parents, piety, and asceticism. These very characteristics shaped his destiny in such a way that he is counted not only among the prophets but also among the martyrs. In the Gospel of Luke (1:57-66), it is mentioned that Yahya is the son of Zakariya and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was elderly and barren, but by the grace of Zakariya’s prayer and God’s will, she gave birth to Yahya. The Quran also mentions the birth of Yahya (peace be upon him) as a sign of God’s power. [4]
In the Torah and the Gospel, Yahya is introduced as a great prophet who called people to repentance and return to God. He was renowned among the people for his piety, asceticism, and courage.
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'” [5]
In the Quran, Yahya is described as a chaste, kind, and truthful prophet. [6]
Yahya strongly criticized the corruption of the religious and social leaders of the Children of Israel. He accused the Jewish priests of hypocrisy and misuse of religion and urged people to align their lives with divine teachings.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?'” [7]
Based on historical texts, Prophet Yahya was killed due to his criticism of Herod, the king at the time. There are various narrations of this event, all of which refer to an illegitimate marriage. According to these narrations, Herod intended to marry his brother’s daughter, Salome, or his brother’s wife (Salome’s mother) [8], or a promiscuous woman by the same name. In any case, such a marriage was against the Torah, and Prophet Yahya declared this act contrary to the law of Moses [9], and for this reason, he incurred hatred and wrath, and his head was severed.
In the Quran, the story of Yahya’s martyrdom is not mentioned directly, but numerous verses refer to the hostility of the Children of Israel towards the prophets and their killing.
“We took the covenant from the Children of Israel and sent to them messengers. Every time there came to them a messenger with what their souls did not desire, a group [of messengers] they denied, and another group they killed.” [10]
Some commentators consider this verse to be a reference to the martyrdom of Prophets Yahya and Zakariya, who were killed by the Children of Israel. The martyrdom of Yahya indicates the severity of corruption in Jewish society at that time, and this corruption led to the destruction of their society and land. The life and martyrdom of Prophet Yahya in Christianity and Islam are recognized as an example of standing against corruption and injustice.
Examination of the Hostility of the Jews Towards Prophet Jeremiah in Various Sources
Prophet Jeremiah is one of the great prophets of the Children of Israel and a key figure in the history of this people. He lived in Jerusalem in the seventh century BC and was tasked with calling people to repentance and return to God. The Book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, attributed to this prophet, narrates his role in guiding the Children of Israel and the events of his life. According to the Book of Jeremiah, he was born into a family of priests. Jeremiah was chosen by God for prophethood in his youth:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” [11]
Jeremiah’s main mission was to warn the Children of Israel about their sins, especially idolatry, oppression, and religious and social corruption. He emphasized that these actions would deprive the Children of Israel of divine blessing and ultimately lead to their destruction. One of Jeremiah’s important messages was the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple due to the Children of Israel’s neglect of divine commands. He warned that if the Children of Israel continued in their sins, they would be attacked by the Babylonians.
“I said to them, ‘Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people… But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts.'” [12] “Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: ‘I will send for all the peoples of the north and for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring them against this land…'” [13]
Due to his frank messages and severe warnings, Jeremiah faced strong resistance and hostility from the elders and the general public. They considered his words a threat to political and social stability and persecuted him. The Jewish elders accused Jeremiah of insulting God and treason and imprisoned him. [14] He was the target of numerous assassination plots. Jeremiah’s prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple came true. In 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked and destroyed Jerusalem. Many of the Children of Israel were exiled to Babylon.
Hostility of the Jews Towards Prophet Jeremiah Based on Talmudic Narrations
In the Talmud, Jeremiah is presented as a prophet who played a major role in guiding the Jewish people. Some Jewish sources consider him a defender of justice and truth but acknowledge that he incurred the wrath of the elders due to his honesty.
Hostility of the Jews Towards Prophet Jeremiah Based on Islamic Sources
In the Holy Quran, the name Jeremiah is not explicitly mentioned, but some Muslim commentators believe that the Quran’s references to the prophets of the Children of Israel include him as well, especially in the verses concerning the denial and killing of prophets by the Jews: “And [for] their killing of the prophets without right…” [15]
Hostility of the Jews Towards Prophet Isaiah
Prophet Isaiah is another prophet of the Children of Israel whose killing is mentioned in various texts. In many Jewish and Islamic historical sources, Prophet Isaiah was killed because of his reformist messages and criticism of social and religious corruption. Jewish sources indicate that Prophet Isaiah was killed during the reign of Manasseh.
Hostility of the Jews Towards Prophets David and Solomon
In Islamic and Jewish texts, Prophets David and Solomon also faced enemies who tried to prevent them from attaining power or implementing divine commands. Although these prophets were not killed, hostility towards them is observed in some historiographical sources.
Hostility Even Towards the Angel of Revelation!
Angel Gabriel, the angel of revelation and divine messenger, is one of the holiest celestial figures in Abrahamic religions. He is tasked with delivering divine messages to the prophets and is explicitly introduced as the angel of revelation in the Quran [16], the Torah [17], and the Gospel. However, in later Jewish texts like the Talmud, a direct connection between Gabriel and the descent of revelation to the prophets is less seen.
The Holy Quran directly refers to the hostility of the Jews towards Gabriel:
“Say, ‘Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought the Quran down upon your heart, [O Muhammad], by permission of Allah…’ Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael – then indeed, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.” [18] Based on some Islamic narrations, the Jews of Medina (such as Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayza) said to the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) that Gabriel is our enemy because:
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Gabriel is the angel of wrath and punishment, not mercy. They claimed that Michael (the angel of mercy and rain) was their friend, but they considered Gabriel their enemy.
Some Jews regarded Gabriel as the angel who brings divine punishment upon sinful peoples. They held him responsible for the punishments that had befallen the Children of Israel throughout history, such as the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians. -
When revelation descended, it pointed to the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny), while the Jews of Medina, especially their scholars, expected the end-time prophet to be from the progeny of the Children of Israel. When they saw that this prophet was from the lineage of Ishmael, they refused to accept him and brought forth various excuses for opposition, including the claim of enmity towards Gabriel.
Consequences of the Jews’ Hostility Towards Gabriel
A. Denial of Divine Revelation
The hostility of the Jews towards Gabriel was part of their hostility towards the divine prophets. Such behaviors have been repeatedly condemned in the Quran: “Then is it [not] that every time a messenger came to you, [O Children of Israel], with what your souls did not desire, you were arrogant? And a party [of messengers] you denied and another party you killed.” [19]
B. Continuation of Historical Grudge
The hostility of the Jews towards Gabriel is a sign of envy, obstinacy, and refusal to accept divine truths, which throughout history has caused their deviation.
Hostility Towards Prophets; A Habit of the Children of Israel
What we have discussed in this article so far regarding the hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets was solely based on shared Jewish and Islamic narrations. In Islamic texts and narrations, we encounter much deeper dimensions of the hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets. In a narration from the Prophet of Islam, it is stated: “O Abu ‘Ubaidah! The Children of Israel, in the early part of one day, killed 43 prophets at one time. After that, 112 individuals from the Children of Israel rose up for enjoining good, and they too were killed by the end of that same day.” [20] In another narration, it is said: “When Abdullah bin Umar learned that Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) intended to go towards Kufa, he came to him to advise him to obey and submit to the Umayyad regime. In response, the Imam said: ‘O son of Umar! Do you not know that the sign of the lowliness of the world in the sight of God is that the severed head of Prophet Yahya was presented as a gift to a depraved and corrupt man from among the corrupt of the Children of Israel?! Do you not know that the Children of Israel went so far that between the dawn and sunrise, they martyred seventy divine prophets and then (without feeling the ugliness and tragedy of this horrible crime) engaged in buying and selling, as if they had not committed any atrocity?!'” [21] Also, it is narrated from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): “…The practice of the Children of Israel was that they would kill one prophet while two other prophets were standing (waiting to be killed), and they would kill two prophets while four others were standing, until they killed seventy prophets in one day, and their market of killing continued until the end of the day.” [22]
According to these narrations and the many Quranic verses we referred to, the hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets was unjust, and they continuously martyred the prophets to the extent that it became a habit for them. Next, we will discuss the reasons for this hostility.
Reasons and Results of the Jews’ Hostility Towards the Prophets
One of the main reasons for the hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets was the preservation of their worldly and political interests. Many divine prophets, in different times, faced social, religious, and political corruption among the Children of Israel and called for reforms. These reforms were usually considered a threat to the power and interests of the Jewish leaders and scholars.
This type of hostility usually occurred due to worldly interests and fear of major changes in the political and social system. The popularity of the prophets among the common people threatened the position of the elders, and some Jewish elders were envious of the status and position of the prophets.
The story of the divine prophets and their interaction with the Children of Israel is a symbol of the struggle between truth and falsehood in history. The hostility of the Jews towards the divine prophets, the divine angels, and even the distortion of the Torah usually occurred due to the prophets’ efforts for social and religious reforms and the threat they posed to the political and religious interests of the Jewish leaders. The obstinacy of the Children of Israel in accepting the lordship of God is the reason for all this hostility and grudge. The Children of Israel considered themselves God’s chosen people, but they worshiped their imaginary god and did not properly recognize the true God. They interpreted this chosen status not in line with God’s purpose for the creation of humanity and striving to establish a divine civilization on earth, but for their own material and worldly interests.
This perspective and interpretation extended to their behavior towards the divine prophets as well, and as a result, it always deviated the Children of Israel from the right path of history and turned them into key elements in Satan’s plan; because Satan can only infiltrate a person or a nation through handles such as grudge, ignorance, and obstinacy. Handles that, upon examining the history of the Children of Israel and how the Jews showed hostility towards the divine prophets, clearly show the presence of these traits among the Children of Israel. The Jews have always tried to bend God’s religion towards themselves. These hostilities stemmed from various factors such as national pride, social corruption, and fear of change. Also, the distortion of the Torah, which is one of the accusations against the Jews, made the path of guidance more difficult for later generations. However, these behaviors should not be generalized to all Jews. Studying these behaviors and their results is a lesson in accepting guidance and avoiding prejudice and resistance to the truth.
[1] Matthew 23:13 [2] Surah An-Nisa, verse 157 [3] Surah Maryam, verse 7 [4] Surah Maryam, verse 5 [5] Gospel of Matthew (3:1-2) [6] Surah Maryam, verse 12 [7] Gospel of Matthew (3:7) [8] Gospel of Matthew (14:3-12) [9] Gospel of Mark 6:19 [10] Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 70 [11] Jeremiah 1:5 [12] Jeremiah 7:23-24 [13] Jeremiah 25:8-9 [14] Jeremiah 37:15 [15] Surah An-Nisa, verse 155 [16] Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 97 [17] Book of Daniel 8:16 “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, ‘Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.'” [18] Surah Al-Baqarah, verses 97-98 [19] Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 87 [20] Tabarsi, Fadl ibn Hasan, Majma’ al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran, Introduction, Balaghi, Muhammad Jawad, vol. 2, p. 720, Tehran, Nasir Khusraw, 3rd edition, 1372 SH. [21] Ibn Nama al-Hilli, Ja’far ibn Muhammad, Muthir al-Ahzan, p. 41, Qom, Madrasah Imam Mahdi, 3rd edition, 1406 AH. [22] Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya’qub, Al-Kafi, Researcher, Corrector: Ghaffari, Ali Akbar, Akhundi, Muhammad, vol. 8, pp. 116-117, Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, 4th edition, 1407 AH.
Jewish and Their Prophets
