Page "Proselyte" Paragraph 7

Proselytes have had a place in Judaism from early times.

The Law of Moses made specific regulations regarding the admission into Israel's community of such as were not born Israelites.

The Kenites, the Gibeonites, and the Cherethites and Pelethites were thus admitted to levels of Israelite privileges.

Thus also we hear of individual proselytes who rose to positions of prominence in the Kingdom of Israel, as of Doeg the Edomite, Uriah the Hittite, Araunah the Jebusite, Zelek the Ammonite, Ithmah and Ebedmelech the Ethiopians.

According to the Books of Chronicles, in the time of Solomon ( c. 971-931 BCE ) there were 153, 600 proselytes in the land of Israel and the prophets speak of the time as coming when the proselytes shall share in all the privileges of Israel.

Accordingly, in New Testament times, we read of proselytes in the synagogues.