Band on the Run,
I recall reading that Jews never believed in a resurrection until about one hundred years before Jesus' birth.
I disagree with you.
There are three accounts in the old testament of resurrections. One performed bythe prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17:22) ; Another one by the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-35); And another one of a man who came back to life when he was accidentally thrown into a grave where the bones of prophet Elisha were. (2 Kings 13:21). Granted, these were resurrections back into the earthly realm, but at least the Jews were very familiar with the concept of "resurrection".
Even the pre-covenant ancient patriarchs held that hope.
Abraham believed in resurrection. Paul reasoned that was the reason why he was willing to sacrifice Isaac and find it compatible with Jehovah's promise that his "seed" would come through Isaac. "Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead." (Hebrews 11:9)
However, another patriarch, Job, provides a surprising insight about resurrection, in two Bible passages. The first is well-known to the Witnesses as it is often used. The second one is usually glanced over, but bears a surprise:
Job 14:13, 14 " Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me! If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes. You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands."
Job 19:25, 26 - "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another."
The first text is clear in displaying Job's belief in a resurrection. But the second text is surprising in the sense that he believes that upon resurrection he will leave his flesh behind and he will contemplate God in his presence. It appears that Job understood that this was to take place in an heavenly realm. This is something that the GB conveniently glances over.
Although both pre and post-Law covenant Jews believed in resurrection, they weren't dogmatic about what it consisted of, and instead they focused on living a good, righteous life. However they did belive that the faithful Jews had some hope of a life after death; This is hinted at the expression that faithful men, upon death, were "gathered to their people", as was the case of Abraham (Genesis 25:8), Ishmael (Genesis 25:17), Isaac (Genesis 35:29), Jacob (Genesis 49:33), Moses and Aaron (Deuteronomy 32:50), King Josiah (2 kings 22:20); Conversely, certain sins described in the Law resulted in someone being executed, with the particularity of being "cut off from his people" - which the Jews referred to with the term "kareit", which denotes a "spiritual excision", the loss of his lot in the world to come.
Daniel was reassured of his future resurrection (Daniel 12:2); Nehemiah believed in a future reward after his death (Nehemiah 5:19).
The ancient Jewish belief in the "world to come" is expressed by the term OLAM HA-BA. The saducees rejected resurrection because they said it was not in the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy); The Pharisees accepted it because they thought it was implied in it.
Eden
