Concept of God's Chosen People and Promised Land

• Identity and Legitimacy:

  • Chosen People: The notion of being chosen by a deity could have provided the Khazars with a sense of divine legitimacy and uniqueness, particularly as they navigated the complex geopolitics of their time. This could have been an attractive narrative for a people looking to assert or maintain their identity amidst encroaching powers.

  • Promised Land: The idea of a promised land could resonate with a people who were experiencing territorial pressures. The Khazars, having seen their territory incrementally encroached upon by Byzantines from the west, Arabs from the south, and later the Pechenegs and Rus from the north, might have found in Judaism a spiritual and ideological foundation for their claim to the lands they controlled or aspired to control.

• Historical Context:

  • Territorial Losses: By the 10th century, the Khazar Khaganate was diminishing, with significant losses of territory to the Rus, Pechenegs, and other groups. The promise of a divinely ordained homeland would not only provide a psychological boost but also a narrative of resilience and return, akin to the Jewish historical experience of exile and redemption.

  • Cultural and Political Buffer: Judaism offered a religious identity that was not directly tied to the expansionist ambitions of the Christian or Muslim empires around them, potentially serving as a cultural and political buffer. This could have been seen as a way to preserve their autonomy and cultural integrity, especially if they perceived themselves as being in a similar situation to the Israelites of biblical times, who were often surrounded by larger, more aggressive neighbors.

• Strategic Use of Religion:

  • Alliances and Trade: Adopting Judaism might have been part of a broader strategy where religious choice could influence trade relations or diplomatic alliances with Jewish communities in the Byzantine Empire or elsewhere. The idea of a chosen people could also facilitate connections with Jewish merchants and scholars, strengthening the Khazars' position in the trade networks of the time.

• Psychological and Spiritual Appeal:

  • Resilience and Hope: The narrative of the Jewish people, with its themes of divine promise, exile, and return, might have resonated with the Khazars' own experiences of territorial displacement and the need for a unifying cultural myth that could inspire resilience and hope.

While these interpretations offer insights into why the Khazars might have found Judaism appealing, it's crucial to approach this with caution due to the speculative nature of much of the historical evidence. The actual motivations could be multifaceted, involving not just spiritual or ideological appeal but also pragmatic political considerations.