The Beginning of the Christian Era Revisited: New Findings
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Around the Sea of Galilee (5) the Mystery of Bethsaida
136 The Testimony, April 2003 to shake at the presence of the Lord. Ezekiel that I am the LORD” (v. 23). May this time soon concludes by saying: “Thus will I magnify My- come when the earth will be filled with the self, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in knowledge of the glory of the Lord and when all the eyes of many nations, and they shall know nations go to worship the King in Jerusalem. Around the Sea of Galilee 5. The mystery of Bethsaida Tony Benson FTER CAPERNAUM, Bethsaida is men- according to Josephus it was built by the tetrarch tioned more times in the Gospels than Philip, son of Herod the Great, and brother of A any other of the towns which lined the Herod Antipas the tetrarch of Galilee. Philip ruled Sea of Galilee. Yet there are difficulties involved. territories known as Iturea and Trachonitis (Lk. From secular history it is known that in New 3:1). Testament times there was a city called Bethsaida Luke’s account of the feeding of the five thou- Julias on the north side of the Sea of Galilee, but sand begins: “And he [Jesus] took them [the apos- is this the Bethsaida of the Gospels? Some of the tles], and went aside privately into a desert place references to Bethsaida seem to refer to a town belonging to the city called Bethsaida” (9:10). on the west side of the lake. A tel called et-Tell 1 The twelve disciples had just come back from is currently being excavated over a mile north of their preaching mission and Jesus wanted to the Sea of Galilee, and is claimed to be the site of be able to have a quiet talk with them. -
Hasmonean” Family Tree
THE “HASMONEAN” FAMILY TREE Hasmoneus │ Simeon │ John │ Mattathias ┌──────────────┬─────────────────────┼─────────────────┬─────────┐ John Simon Judas Maccabee Eleazar Jonathan Murdered: Murdered: KIA: KIA: Murdered: 160/159 BC 134 BC 160 BC 162 BC 143 BC ┌────────┬────┴────┐ Judas John Hyrcanus Murdered: Murdered: Died: 134 BC 135 BC 104 BC ├──────────────────────┬─────────────┐ Aristobulus ═ Salome Alexander Antigonus Alexander ═══════ Salome Alexander Declared Himself “King”: Murdered: Declared “King”: Declared “Regent”: 104 BC 103 BC 103 BC 76 BC Died: Died: 103 BC 76 BC ┌──────┴──────┐ Hyrcanus II Aristobulus II Declared High Priest: 76 BC 1 THE “HASMONEAN” DYNASTY OF SIMON THE HIGH PRIEST 142 BC Simon, the last of the sons of Mattathias, was declared High Priest & “Ethnarch” (ruler of one’s own ethnic group) of the Jews by Demetrius II, King of the Seleucid Empire. 138 BC After Demetrius II was captured by the Parthians, his brother, Antiochus VII, affirmed Simon’s High Priesthood & requested assistance in dealing with Trypho, a usurper of the Seleucid throne. “King Antiochus to Simon the high priest and ethnarch and to the nation of the Jews, greetings. “Whereas certain scoundrels have gained control of the kingdom of our ancestors, and I intend to lay claim to the kingdom so that I may restore it as it formerly was, and have recruited a host of mercenary troops and have equipped warships, and intend to make a landing in the country so that I may proceed against those who have destroyed our country and those who have devastated many cities in my kingdom, now therefore I confirm to you all the tax remissions that the kings before me have granted you, and a release from all the other payments from which they have released you. -
Megillat Taanit- the Scroll of Fasting
Chapter Eight Megillat Taanit- The Scroll of Fasting VeredNoam Introduction 339 Text, Translation, Structure 341 Historical Events Mentioned 345 Date and Origin 348 The Scholion and its Two Versions 350 The Scroll's Status in Rabbinic Literature 356 Editions 361 Selected Bibliography 362 Introduction Talmudic scholars have on occasion wondered at the lack of historiography and historical awareness in the literature of the sages. Many have concluded that our rabbis were indifferent to the events of their day as well as to the rest of the post-biblical Jewish history. These scholars have argued that the rabbis had viewed their own purpose as limited solely to their work in the fields of halakha and exegesis.' In this light, it is surprising to discover that a document of a semi-historical character is the first to have been produced by our early sages, and that they regarded this document with respect and granted it special status. This Document is Megillat Taanit. MegTaan originated among the sages of the Second Temple era and is the earliest known Pharisaic document to have survived. The Scroll is essentially a list of about thirty-five dates drawn up in Aramaic and arranged in calendar order. Its goal, as stated in its opening sentence, is to keep the Jews from fast ing on 'days on which miracles had been performed for Israel'.2 On days com memorating especially important events, in the opinion of the compiler of the Scroll, it was forbidden not only to fast, but even to eulogize the deceased. The dates listed are, in the main, those of joyous events of various kinds that befell the Jewish people during the Second Temple era. -
Lions and Roses: an Interpretive History of Israeli-Iranian Relations" (2007)
Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 11-13-2007 Lions and Roses: An Interpretive History of Israeli- Iranian Relations Marsha B. Cohen Florida International University, [email protected] DOI: 10.25148/etd.FI08081510 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Part of the International Relations Commons Recommended Citation Cohen, Marsha B., "Lions and Roses: An Interpretive History of Israeli-Iranian Relations" (2007). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5. https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida LIONS AND ROSES: AN INTERPRETIVE HISTORY OF ISRAELI-IRANIAN RELATIONS A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS by Marsha B. Cohen 2007 To: Interim Dean Mark Szuchman College of Arts and Sciences This dissertation, written by Marsha B. Cohen, and entitled Lions and Roses: An Interpretive History of Israeli-Iranian Relations, having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this dissertation and recommend that it be approved. _______________________________________ -
Family Lesson 52
Family Lesson 52 Principle: We must repent of sin. God was Luke 3:2b pleased with Jesus. Jesus came to save. 2b At this time a message from God came to Bible Character(s): Jesus and John the John son of Zechariah, who was living in the Baptist wilderness. Scripture Reference: Luke 3:1-18, Matthew 3:1-17 Matthew 3:4 4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse 1. Worship - Gather your family and play the camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around worship video found on the curriculum resource his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild page. Have fun, sing loudly, and follow along with honey. the motions! 2. Skit Video - Watch the skit video with your John is very different from the religious leaders family to hear a special message about what you mentioned in Luke 3. He has been living in the will be learning this weekend. wilderness, where God prepares him to share 3. Bible Lesson - Read through the lesson with his message with the people and prepare them your family. The bold font is meant to be read for Jesus. John is more like the people he aloud along with the Scripture references. preached to, more ordinary, than the religious leaders. John is not the most powerful man of Bible Lesson that time. Annas and Caiaphas have more power than John, but God chooses to use John as his Last week, we studied about Jesus when he was messenger. a young boy. Today, we are going to read about John the Baptist. -
10 Bc 5 Bc 1 Ad 5 10 15 20
AD 14 AD 18 4 BC AD 4 Augustus Caiaphas Death of King Emperor Augustus Caesar, the fi rst appointed as Herod the formally adopts his emperor of a Jewish High Great of Judea stepson Tiberius as Rome, dies Priest his successor 10 BC 5 BC 1 AD 5 10 15 20 AD 6 7 BC Jesus a� ends Jesus born in Passover in Bethlehem Jerusalem of Judea as a boy (Luke 2:1-20) (Luke 2:40-52) TIMELINE | PAGE 1 AD 26 Pon� us Pilate begins governorship of Judea 25 30 AD 32 AD 31 Jesus miraculously AD 29 Jesus appoints feeds 5000 John the Bap� st’s and sends his (Ma� hew 14:13-33; ministry begins; Jesus apostles on their AD 30 Mark 6:31-52; is bap� zed and begins fi rst mission Jesus a� ends Luke 9:10-17; John 6) his ministry (Ma� hew 9:35- Passover in (Ma� hew 3:1-17; 11:1; Mark 6:6-13; Jerusalem and Mark 1:2-11; Luke 9:1-10) Luke 3:1-23) cleanses the temple (John 2:13-25) AD 32 AD 30 Jesus a� ends Jesus establishes the Feast of his ministry in Tabernacles in Galilee Jerusalem (Ma� hew 4:12-17; (John 7-9) Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15) TIMELINE | PAGE 2 AD 43 AD 36 AD 37 AD 40 AD 41 Roman Pon� us Pilate Death of Emperor Caligula Emperor Caligula conquest of governorship of Emperor orders a statue of assassinated and Britain begins Judea ends Tiberius himself be erected in Claudius crowned under Emperor the temple; Jewish the new Emperor Claudius peasants stop this from happening 35 40 AD 37 Paul visits Peter and James in Jerusalem (Acts 9:23-30; Gala� ans 1:18-24) AD 38-43 Missions to the Gen� les begin; church in An� och established AD 33 (Acts 10-11) Jesus crucifi ed -
Possible Misreading in 1 Maccabees 7:34 in Light of Its Biblical Model
JBL 138, no. 4 (2019): 777–789 https://doi.org/10.15699/jbl.1384.2019.5 Possible Misreading in 1 Maccabees 7:34 in Light of Its Biblical Model matan orian [email protected] Center for the Study of Conversion and Inter-Religious Encounters, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410501, Israel First Maccabees 7:34 employs four verbs to describe the offensive speech by Nicanor, the Seleucid general, addressed to the Jewish elders and priests. The third verb indicates that Nicanor defiled his audience. While this has led scholars to associate 1 Maccabees with the Jewish concept of gentile impurity, several factors suggest that, at this point, an error found its way into the Greek translation from the original Hebrew. The present argument comprises three steps. First, I use the biblical Sennacherib story, featured in the background of the Nicanor episode in 1 Maccabees, as a means of reconstructing the relevant original Hebrew verb employed by 1 Maccabees. Second, I suggest a possible misreading of one letter on the part of the Greek translator. Finally, I propose that a similar, earlier verse in 1 Maccabees, 1:24b, may have been conducive to the translator’s commission of this mistake, thus offering an insight into his way of thinking. I. A Verb Clearly out of Context First Maccabees 7:34 employs four verbs to describe the insulting nature of the speech by Nicanor, the Seleucid general, directed at the Jewish elders and the priests of the Jerusalem temple who emerged from the temple to greet him: “he mocked them, derided them, defiled them, and spoke arrogantly” (ἐμυκτήρισεν αὐτοὺς καὶ κατεγέλασεν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐμίανεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὑπερηφάνως).1 The third verb, “defile,” plainly differs from the other verbs in this verse: it does not relate to the nature of the speech but rather to a cultic or ritual consequence of some physical act committed by Nicanor. -
Julia Wilker University of Pennsylvania
ELECTRUM * Vol. 25 (2018): 127–145 doi: 10.4467/20800909EL.18.007.8927 www.ejournals.eu/electrum BETWEEN EMPIRES AND PEERS: HASMONEAN FOREIGN POLICY UNDER ALEXANDER JANNAEUS Julia Wilker University of Pennsylvania Abstract: During the reign of Alexander Jannaeus (103–76 BCE), Judea underwent a number of signifi cant changes. This article explores one of them: the fundamental shift in foreign policy strategy. This shift becomes most apparent in the king’s decision to not renew the alliance with Rome, which had been a hallmark of Hasmonean foreign policy since the days of Judas Mac- cabaeus. However, a close analysis of Alexander Jannaeus’ policy regarding other foreign powers demonstrates that the end of the Judean-Roman alliance did not happen in a vacuum. It is shown that under Alexander Jannaeus, the Hasmonean state adopted a different strategy towards imperial powers by focusing on deescalation and ignorance rather than alliances. In contrast, interactions with other rising states in the vicinity, such as the Nabateans and Itureans, increased. This new orientation in foreign policy refl ected changes in Hasmonean identity and self-defi nition; Judea did not need imperial support to maintain its independence anymore but strived to increase its status as a regional power. Key words: Hasmoneans, Alexander Jannaeus, Jewish-Roman relations, foreign relations. The reign of Alexander Jannaeus (103–76 BCE) constituted a seminal period in the his- tory of Hellenistic Judea; his rule signifi es both the acme and a turning point of the Has- monean state. The length of his tenure as king – second only to that of his father, John Hyrcanus (135–105/104 BCE) – stands in signifi cant contrast to that of his predecessor, Aristobulus I, who died after having ruled for less than a year. -
Judaean Rulers and Notable Personnages
Chronology of Syria and Palestine, 40 BCE – 70 CE Governors of Governors of Governors of Iturea, Trachonitis, Judaea Galilee/Perea Paneas & Batanaea Judaean High Lysanias (Tetrarch) LEGEND Priests (including Chalcis and Abila) Ananelus 37-36 BCE 40–36 BCE Aristobulus III 36 BCE High priests of Jerusalem Cleopatra VII Philopater Ananelus 36-30 BCE (Pharaoh of Egypt) 36–30 Rulers of Nabatea Roman prefects Roman 30 BCE Emperors Governors of The status of this territory Herodian monarchs between Cleopatras’ death and Jesus ben Fabus 30–23 BCE Roman Syria Zenodorus’ administration is Marcus Terentius Varro 25–23 uncertain. Roman legates Herod the Great (King) (part of the kingdom of Zenodorus (Tetrarch) 40/39–4 BCE Judaea) 23–20 BCE Roman proconsuls 20 BCE Obodas III Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa 39–9 BCE 23–13 Other rulers Zenodorus’ territories were incorporated into Herod’s Simon ben Boethus 23–5 BCE kingdom in 20 BCE. Trachonitis, Auranitis and Batanaea were Marcus Titius given to Herod earlier, in 23 BCE. 13–9 Governors of 10 BCE Jamnia, Ashdod & Gaius Sentius Saturninus 9–7/6 Phasaelis Augustus Publius Quinctilius Varus 27 BCE – 14 CE 7/6–4 Formerly part of Herod’s kingdom Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus** 4–1 BCE Matthias ben Theophilus 5–4 BCE Joazar ben Boethus 4 BCE Herod Archelaus (Ethnarch) 1 CE Eleazar ben Boethus 4–3 BCE Gaius Julius Caesar Vipsanianus Jesus ben Sie 3 BC– ? 4 BCE – 6 CE 1 BCE – 4 CE Joazar ben Boethus ?–6 CE Salome I (Toparch) 4 BCE – 10 CE Lucius Volusius Saturninus 4–5 Coponius 6–9 Publius Sulpicius Quirinius -
Biblical Chronology
Sept 78 78 38 45 98 180 Aug 77 77 July 75 32 170 76 76 Jun Pentecost 75 75 181 Legion Legion May - th 27 Masada of Fall Matt28 - RISEN MINISTRY Marcus Marcus Aurelius 161 160 WEEK LAST 74 Apr 74 Passover Mar Matt 21 Matt 73 73 20 - Feb 150 66 77/103 90 72 72 MINISTRY Transfiguration Matt17 Pius Pius Jan Destruction Jerusalem of Destruction LATER PEREAN PEREAN LATER 33 71 71 161 Temple destroyed Temple - Dedication Dec Jerusalem occupied by the Roman 10 Roman the by Jerusalemoccupied 140 Titus to Jerusalem of Fall 135 79 - 70 Antoninus 138 70 - Nov GALBA OTHO VITELLIUS Matt16 VESPASIAN 69 MINISTRY 69 69 Oct CIVIL WAR CIVIL Tabernacles JUDEAN LATER AMUEL Second JewishSecond Revolt,132 S 130 68 FIRST FIRST 68 BEN Sept JEWISH REVOLT 87 4/64/67 104 Jude ? Jude Aug 70? 67 67 - HANNIAS 138 P 66 - 120 Peter II July 15 BEN Hadrian 117 - 66 66 I Peter I Florus Jun 66 - Pentecost ATTHIAS (or AD 67) AD (or HEOPHILUS 65 65 Revelation M T 65 Gessius PAUL Matt14 of the of TWELVE 110 Paul & Peter of Martyrdom 46 52 104 May SPECIAL TRAINING SPECIAL . 64 IITim 64 BEN Apr Albinus Albinus July July 19, 64 Passover 64 117 - AMALIEL - Burning of Rome ESUS Titus the Baptist the J G 63 63 63 Trajan 98 Mar Tim. I 100 John of Death I,II,III I,II,III John First First Christian Persecution Lucceius BEN 98 - 62 63 62 Feb - Nerva 96 AMNAEUS ESUS FINAL FINAL TRAVELS Release from Imprisonment from Release J D 62 Acts Phil. -
When Was Jesus Born? a Response to a Recent Proposal
When Was Jesus Born? A Response to a Recent Proposal Lincoln H. Blumell and Thomas A. Wayment Editor’s note: We are pleased to publish this article, which pushes forward the con- versation about what is known and not known about the dating of the birth of Jesus Christ. This article responds to the article by ProfessorJeffrey R. Chadwick on this subject, which appeared in 1 in our volume 49, number 4, available on the BYU Studies website. The goal of the Chadwick article was to harmonize as much of the evidence, both scriptural and historical, as possible, sometimes using new or uncommon interpretations in order to reconcile apparent dispari- ties in the sources. By contrast, Professors Wayment and Blumell prefer a more cautious approach, placing less weight on positions that cannot be established with historical or textual certainty. While both of these articles agree on many points, this new analysis urges readers to adopt a less precise time frame in think- ing about when the birth of Jesus might have occurred. We welcome this rigorous and respectful give-and-take, and we hope that all readers will enjoy drawing their own conclusions about the evidences and approaches advanced by both of these articles. etermining an exact date (year, month, and day) for many events from Dantiquity is fraught with difficulties and challenges. Though modern society tends to implicitly associate “important” events with a specific date (or dates), like September 11, 2001, or December 7, 1941, ancient societies did not always feel compelled to remember such events by reference to the actual date on which they occurred. -
Studies in Rabbinic Hebrew
Cambridge Semitic Languages and Cultures Heijmans Studies in Rabbinic Hebrew Studies in Rabbinic Hebrew Shai Heijmans (ed.) EDITED BY SHAI HEIJMANS This volume presents a collec� on of ar� cles centring on the language of the Mishnah and the Talmud — the most important Jewish texts (a� er the Bible), which were compiled in Pales� ne and Babylonia in the la� er centuries of Late An� quity. Despite the fact that Rabbinic Hebrew has been the subject of growing academic interest across the past Studies in Rabbinic Hebrew century, very li� le scholarship has been wri� en on it in English. Studies in Rabbinic Hebrew addresses this lacuna, with eight lucid but technically rigorous ar� cles wri� en in English by a range of experienced scholars, focusing on various aspects of Rabbinic Hebrew: its phonology, morphology, syntax, pragma� cs and lexicon. This volume is essen� al reading for students and scholars of Rabbinic studies alike, and appears in a new series, Studies in Semi� c Languages and Cultures, in collabora� on with the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge. As with all Open Book publica� ons, this en� re book is available to read for free on the publisher’s website. Printed and digital edi� ons, together with supplementary digital material, can also be found here: www.openbookpublishers.com Cover image: A fragment from the Cairo Genizah, containing Mishnah Shabbat 9:7-11:2 with Babylonian vocalisati on (Cambridge University Library, T-S E1.47). Courtesy of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library. Cover design: Luca Baff a book 2 ebooke and OA edi� ons also available OPEN ACCESS OBP https://www.openbookpublishers.com © 2020 Shai Heijmans.