Political Alternatives and Israelite Foundations
Political Alternatives and Israelite Foundations
After Charles I's execution, England became officially a ‘Commonwealth.’ But discussion continued: what did a ‘commonwealth’ mean? England's new order and Cromwell (even as Lord Protector) were described by Milton and others with reference to Exodus and Judges. As more radical political alternatives were proposed, Diggers, republicans, and Fifth Monarchists all looked to the Hebrew Bible and Jewish precedent. Gerrard Winstanley's proposal for getting rid of property was grounded in his reading of the Hebrew Bible and the Hebrew prophets. The republican James Harrington looked to the biblical Jews and the commonwealth established by Moses in the wilderness. Fifth Monarchists like John Rogers wanted to reform England's judicial system by reinstituting Mosaic law. Winstanley and Rogers looked to Moses, Amos, and Isaiah, emphasizing that justice must not ‘respect persons.’ Reforms would make England the restored Israel Isaiah described.
Keywords: Commonwealth, Jewish precedent, Milton, Cromwell, Gerrard Winstanley, James Harrington, John Rogers, republicans, Fifth Monarchists, Mosaic law
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