Exile and return have caused a crisis in Israelite religion. This crisis gave the impetus for the emergence of Judaism. This volume discusses the relevant aspects of this crisis and the shift from Yahwism to Judaism. The papers present a multidimensional treatment of the problems involved. Biblical texts are read against their historical background with the question in mind - how did the author(s) of this text cope with the changed and shifting situation? Next to that the period under consideration is discussed from historical, religion-historical, archaeological and iconographic angles.