DOCSLIB.ORG

The Judean Shephelah: Rimmon

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Judean Shephelah: Rimmon chapter 4 The Judean Shephelah: Rimmon is a 10–15 km (ׁשְ תפֵלַ יְהּודָ ה) The region known biblically as the Judean Shephelah strip of land running north-south between the Judean hill country to the east and the coastal plain to the west.1 The elevation of the Judean Shephelah is 100–150 m lower than that of the Hebron Hills to the east. The Hebron Hills are separated from the Judean Shephelah by the fertile Yaval valley (Biq‘at Yaval).2 Despite the biblical distinction, the climate and topography are similar to the southern Hebron Hills. The natural similarity is underscored by the Late Roman and Byzantine political map, according to which the sites of the Judean Shephelah belonged to the same city-territory—Eleutheropolis—as those of the southern Hebron Hills.3 Ḥ. Rimmon4 Location and Identification The site of Ḥ. Rimmon (henceforth simply Rimmon) is located in the southern Judean Shephelah, about 28 km southwest of Hebron and 54 km south- southwest of Jerusalem (NIG 187000/586000; 31°22′19″N; 34°51′55″). As with the synagogue sites in the southern Hebron Hills (see above), Rimmon was in the city-territory of Eleutheropolis (Beth Guvrin) to the north.5 The modern Arabic name for the site is Kh. Umm er-Ramamin (“the Mother of Pomegranates”).6 It was first identified with the biblical site of En-Rimmon 1 Orni and Efrat, Geography, p. 54; A. Kloner, “The Synagogue of Horvat Rimmon,” in Hachlili, Ancient Synagogues in Israel, p. 43; A. Kloner, “Rimmon, Ḥorvat,” in NEAEHL 4 (1993), p. 1284; Y. Aharoni, M. Avi-Yonah, A. F. Rainey, and Z. Safrai, The Macmillan Bible Atlas (3rd Rev. Ed.; Jerusalem: Carta, 1993), p. 14. 2 Kloner, “Rimmon,” p. 43. 3 On the extent of the territory of Eleutheropolis, see Avi-Yonah, The Holy Land, pp. 159–62. 4 In addition to the references below, see the following catalog entries: Hüttenmeister and Reeg, Die antiken Synagogen, pp. 376–77; Chiat, Handbook, pp. 228–30; Ilan, Ancient Synagogues, pp. 178–79; Dauphin, La Palestine byzantine, no. 14/24; Milson, Art and Architecture, pp. 395–99. 5 Avi-Yonah, The Holy Land, pp. 161–62. 6 Kloner, “Rimmon,” p. 43. Kloner notes that the site was misidentified as Kh. Umm er-Ramali on some of the maps of early explorers. Also, Ḥ. Rimmon should not be confused with the © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, ���5 | doi ��.��63/9789004�98408_006 The Judean Shephelah: Rimmon 223 (Neh. 11:20) and Rimmon (Jos. 15:32) by the Survey of Western Palestine.7 Since no Iron Age or Persian period remains have been found at the site, Kloner and others have suggested that biblical Rimmon should be identified with Tel Ḥalif, about 500 m to the north, and that the site’s name was transferred to Kh. Umm er-Ramamin sometime during the Second Temple period.8 Jos. 19:7) locates the village of ;עַ יִן רִ מֹון) Eusebius’ entry for En-Rimmon ’Ερεμμών sixteen Roman miles (about 24 km) from Eleutheropolis (Ono. 440/88:17–18). Like En-Gedi, the site is characterized as a “very large village of Jos. 19:4; 15:30) has ; חָ רְ מָ ה) Jews . in the Daroma.” Eusebius’ entry for Hormah also been identified with Ḥ. Rimmon, however, it is unclear what connection exists between the biblical site and the later village.9 In addition to Eusebius, Rimmon is fairly well-known from rabbinic literature, and the site is men- tioned once in the Bar-Kokhba documents.10 In the Byzantine period Rimmon was located in proximity to several Christian villages (fig. 128). About one kilometer to the north is Tel Ḥalif, on the slope of which was the village of Thella (Ḥ. Tilla), where Byzantine period remains have been found by the Lahav Research Project.11 Excavations at Kh. Abu Hoff to the southwest have uncovered two churches and domestic structures.12 Research History Excavations at Rimmon were first carried out by Amos Kloner over three sea- sons in 1978–1981 under the auspices of the IDAM. Although no final report of the work has been published, several short preliminary reports have appeared.13 site of er-Rimmon north of Jerusalem. The latter is a contemporary site known from rabbinic literature; see Schwartz, Jewish Settlement, p. 46. 7 Condor et al. 1882–89: III, 392. 8 Kloner, “Rimmon,” p. 47; J. D. Seger and O. Borowski, “Ḥalif, Tel,” NEAEHL 2 (1993), p. 558. 9 Notley and Safrai, Eusebius, Onomasticon, p. 85; Milson, Art and Architecture, p. 396. 10 Rabbinic references to Rimmon include: T. Ah. 16, 13; T. Miq. 6, 2; Lam. Rab. I; Gen. Rab. 64; Y. Hag. 3, 13, 2. For the Bar-Kokhba document, see P. Benoit, J. T. Milik, and R. de Vaux, Les Grottes de Murabbaat (DJD 2; Jerusalem and Oxford: Clarendon, 1961), pp. 139–40. 11 On Thella, see Avi-Yonah, The Holy Land, pp. 161–62. Thella was considered a Jewish site by Eusebius in the early fourth century (see Schwartz, Jewish Settlement, p. 98), however, the discovery of Byzantine period churches there complicates the picture. On the cemetery at Ḥ. Tilla, see A. Kloner, “Tilla, Ḥorvat,” in NEAEHL 4 (1993), p. 1474. 12 I thank Dr. Oded Borowski for bringing these finds to my attention. 13 See A. Kloner, “Ḥurvat Rimmon, 1979,” in IEJ 30 (1980), pp. 116–28; idem, “Ḥurvat Rimmon, 1980,” in IEJ 31 (1981), pp. 241–42; Kloner 1982; Kloner, “Rimmon”; idem, “Rimmon, Ḥorvat”; and Amos Kloner and T. Mindel, “Two Byzantine Hoards from the Ancient Synagogue of Horvat Rimmon,” in Israel Numismatic Journal 5 (1981), pp. 60–68, pls. 14–15. According .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Map of Amazya (109) Volume 1, the Northern Sector
    MAP OF AMAZYA (109) VOLUME 1, THE NORTHERN SECTOR 1* 2* ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ISRAEL MAP OF AMAZYA (109) VOLUME 1, THE NORTHERN SECTOR YEHUDA DAGAN 3* Archaeological Survey of Israel Publications of the Israel Antiquities Authority Editor-in-Chief: Zvi Gal Series editor: Lori Lender Volume editor: DaphnaTuval-Marx English editor: Lori Lender English translation: Don Glick Cover: ‘Baqa‘ esh Shamaliya’, where the Judean Shephelah meets the hillcountry (photograph: Yehuda Dagan) Typesetting, layout and production: Margalit Hayosh Preparation of illustrations: Natalia Zak, Elizabeth Belashov Printing: Keterpress Enterprises, Jerusalem Copyright © The Israel Antiquities Authority The Archaeological Survey of Israel Jerusalem, 2006 ISBN 965–406–195–3 www.antiquities.org.il 4* Contents Editors’ Foreword 7* Preface 8* Introduction 9* Index of Site Names 51* Index of Sites Listed by Period 59* List of Illustrations 65* The Sites—the Northern Sector 71* References 265* Maps of Periods and Installations 285* Hebrew Text 1–288 5* 6* Editors’ Foreword The Map of Amazya (Sheet 10–14, Old Israel Grid; sheet 20–19, New Israel Grid), scale 1:20,000, is recorded as Paragraph 109 in Reshumot—Yalqut Ha-Pirsumim No. 1091 (1964). In 1972–1973 a systematic archaeological survey of the map area was conducted by a team headed by Yehuda Dagan, on behalf of the Archaeological Survey of Israel and the Israel Antiquities Authority (formerly the Department of Antiquities and Museums). Compilation of Material A file for each site in the Survey archives includes a detailed report by the survey team members, plans, photographs and a register of the finds kept in the Authority’s stores.
    [Show full text]
  • Three Conquests of Canaan
    ÅA Wars in the Middle East are almost an every day part of Eero Junkkaala:of Three Canaan Conquests our lives, and undeniably the history of war in this area is very long indeed. This study examines three such wars, all of which were directed against the Land of Canaan. Two campaigns were conducted by Egyptian Pharaohs and one by the Israelites. The question considered being Eero Junkkaala whether or not these wars really took place. This study gives one methodological viewpoint to answer this ques- tion. The author studies the archaeology of all the geo- Three Conquests of Canaan graphical sites mentioned in the lists of Thutmosis III and A Comparative Study of Two Egyptian Military Campaigns and Shishak and compares them with the cities mentioned in Joshua 10-12 in the Light of Recent Archaeological Evidence the Conquest stories in the Book of Joshua. Altogether 116 sites were studied, and the com- parison between the texts and the archaeological results offered a possibility of establishing whether the cities mentioned, in the sources in question, were inhabited, and, furthermore, might have been destroyed during the time of the Pharaohs and the biblical settlement pe- riod. Despite the nature of the two written sources being so very different it was possible to make a comparative study. This study gives a fresh view on the fierce discus- sion concerning the emergence of the Israelites. It also challenges both Egyptological and biblical studies to use the written texts and the archaeological material togeth- er so that they are not so separated from each other, as is often the case.
    [Show full text]
  • The Principal Works of St. Jerome by St
    NPNF2-06. Jerome: The Principal Works of St. Jerome by St. Jerome About NPNF2-06. Jerome: The Principal Works of St. Jerome by St. Jerome Title: NPNF2-06. Jerome: The Principal Works of St. Jerome URL: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf206.html Author(s): Jerome, St. Schaff, Philip (1819-1893) (Editor) Freemantle, M.A., The Hon. W.H. (Translator) Publisher: Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Print Basis: New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1892 Source: Logos Inc. Rights: Public Domain Status: This volume has been carefully proofread and corrected. CCEL Subjects: All; Proofed; Early Church; LC Call no: BR60 LC Subjects: Christianity Early Christian Literature. Fathers of the Church, etc. NPNF2-06. Jerome: The Principal Works of St. Jerome St. Jerome Table of Contents About This Book. p. ii Title Page.. p. 1 Title Page.. p. 2 Translator©s Preface.. p. 3 Prolegomena to Jerome.. p. 4 Introductory.. p. 4 Contemporary History.. p. 4 Life of Jerome.. p. 10 The Writings of Jerome.. p. 22 Estimate of the Scope and Value of Jerome©s Writings.. p. 26 Character and Influence of Jerome.. p. 32 Chronological Tables of the Life and Times of St. Jerome A.D. 345-420.. p. 33 The Letters of St. Jerome.. p. 40 To Innocent.. p. 40 To Theodosius and the Rest of the Anchorites.. p. 44 To Rufinus the Monk.. p. 44 To Florentius.. p. 48 To Florentius.. p. 49 To Julian, a Deacon of Antioch.. p. 50 To Chromatius, Jovinus, and Eusebius.. p. 51 To Niceas, Sub-Deacon of Aquileia.
    [Show full text]
  • 229 the Onomasticon
    229 THE ONOMASTICON. By Lieut.-Colonel CONDER, R.E., D.C.L. AMONG the more important authorities on Palestine geography is the Onomasticon of Eusebius, translated into Latin by Jerome. It has been used by me in the Memoirs of the Survey, but no continuous account of its contents, as illustrated by the Survey discoveries, has been publisheo by the Palestine Exploration Fund. The following notes may be useful as indicating its peculiar value. Jerome speaks of the nomenclature of the country in words which still apply sixteen centuries later: "Vocabnla qure vel eadem manent, vel immutata sunt postea, vel aliqua ex parte corrupta." His own acquaintance with Palestine was wide aud minute, and he often adds new details of interest to the Greek text of Eusebius which he renders. It is only necessary here to notice tile places which are fixed by the authors, and not those which were (and usually still are) unknown. The order of the names which follow is that of the Onomas­ ticon text, following the spelling of the Greek of Eusebius and the Gree],_ alphabet. Abarim, the Moab Mountains. Jerome says : "The name is still pointed out to those ascending from Livias (Tell er Rumeh) to Heshbon, near Mount Peor-retaining the original uame ; the region round being still called Phasga (Pisgah)." The road iu question appears to be that from Tell er Rameh to 'Aytln Mttsa (Ashdoth Pisgah), and thence to Heshbon, passing under N ebo on the north. Jerome calls Abarim "the mountain where Moses died," evidently N ebo itself ; but Peor (Phogor) seems to have been further south.
    [Show full text]
  • Poverty and Charity in Roman Palestine
    Poverty and charity in Roman Palestine Gildas Hamel Abstract The present book reformats the text, notes, and appendices of the origi- nal 1990 publication by the University of California Press. Its pagination is different. There is no index. i D’ur vamm ha d’ur breur aet d’an Anaon re abred A.M.G. 31 Meurzh 1975 Y.M.H. 12 Geñver 1986 Contents Contents ii List of Figures iv List of Tables iv Introduction ix 1 Daily bread 1 1.1 Food items ............................. 2 1.2 Diets ................................ 19 1.3 Diseases and death ........................ 55 1.4 Conclusion ............................ 58 2 Poverty in clothing 61 2.1 Common articles of clothing ................... 61 2.2 Lack of clothing .......................... 70 2.3 Clothing and social status .................... 81 2.4 Conclusion ............................ 104 3 Causes of poverty 107 3.1 Discourse of the ancients on yields . 108 3.2 Aspects of agriculture: climate and soil . 116 3.3 Work and technical standards . 125 3.4 Yields ............................... 145 3.5 Population of Palestine . 159 3.6 Conclusion ............................ 163 4 Taxes and rents 165 4.1 Roman taxes . 168 ii Contents iii 4.2 Jewish taxes and history of tax burden . 171 4.3 Labor and ground rents . 176 4.4 Conclusion ............................ 190 5 The vocabulary of poverty 193 5.1 Explicit vocabulary: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek . 196 5.2 Explicit vocabulary: self-designations . 209 5.3 Greek and Jewish views on poverty and wealth . 229 5.4 Implicit vocabulary . 239 5.5 Conclusion ............................ 248 6 Charity in Roman Palestine 251 6.1 Discourses on charity .
    [Show full text]
  • NOTES from the MEMOIR. the Memoir of Sheet 7 Is Now Complete, and Contains Many Points of Interest
    NOTES }'ROM THE MEMOIIt. 85 I believe I have found the exact origin of this interesting fragment ; and if so, this origin fully confirms all the observations and conclusions I then drew from the appearance of the fragment. It is nothing else than a piece of the frieze of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which represents different scenes in the life of our Lord. On examining recently a drawing of the frieze, I find that there is a great gap in the scene of the triumphal entry, which this fragment just fills up. I have a photograph of the fragment, but, unfortunately, none of the frieze, else I might be able to show at once that the edges of the fragment correspond with the border of the frieze. It is to be desired that the fragment might be restored to its original place, which would be_an exceedingly simple operation. They told me that it belonged to the foundation of an Arab house ; very likely the truth, because the mutilation may be old enough to allow of the piece broken off being used over again ijl new buildings. We have on this point evidence as far back as 1480, that of the German monk, F. Faber, otherwise Friar Schmidt, who has left us a minute account of the church. After saying that the lintel over the entrance of the church is of white marble (de candidissimo marmore), and that it is sculptured on the out­ side to represent the entry into Jerusalem of the Lord mounted on an ass (sculptum imaginibus de ingressu Domini super asinam in Jeru­ salem), the scene of those who bought and sold in the Temple, and tho resurrection of Lazarus, he adds that these sculptures have been broken and mutilated (violenttr destructce et mutilatce membris).
    [Show full text]
  • Ancient Maresha and Eleutheropolis (City of the Free)”
    “Ancient Maresha and Eleutheropolis (City of the Free)” The Impact of Change and of Roman Occupation On The Cities, The Hinterland and The People By Jean Margaret Swanson Bachelor of Arts (Honours), UWA This thesis is presented for the degree of Master of Arts of the University of Western Australia School of Humanities (Discipline of Classics and Ancient History), Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Year of Submission: 2012 1 THE ELEUTHEROPOLIS MOSAIC AT CHURCH OF ST. STEPHEN UMM-ER-RASAS, JORDAN (See Ch. 4: 62) 2 ABSTRACT In this thesis I have explored a particular section of the history of Israel – the period from 500 BCE to 650 CE (which encompasses the periods of sovereignty of the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman authorities), and a particular section of the land – the ancient Biblical Tel Maresha and the nearby town of Beit Guvrin, which became the Roman city of Eleutheropolis. The evidence consists of literary records and archaeological exploration reports together with first-hand research, combined to provide insights on the lives of the people of this time, both urban and rural, their homes, foods, customs, beliefs, and if/how these changed as one conqueror succeeded another. Whilst the background to the thesis necessarily includes more ancient historical data, the emphasis is on the late Hellenistic and the Roman periods – 1st c BCE to 7th c CE – taking into account the various influences already present and the way in which these were affected by new ideas. Maresha was of significant importance in the early history of Judaea. It was located at the junction of a number of major roads, close to the main trade route which led from the north all the way to Egypt and less than a day’s journey from the major Mediterranean ports of Gaza and Ascalon.
    [Show full text]
  • Book of Obadiah Chapter 1:1-21 1 the Vision of Obadiah. Thus Says
    (1.) Book of Obadiah Chapter 1:1-21 1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom … We have heard a report from the LORD, and an envoy has been sent among the nations saying, “Arise and let us go against her for battle” Swindoll > Dating the book of Obadiah accurately is nearly impossible due to the scant historical information contained in the book. While several options have been proposed by scholars, the best argument places Obadiah in the 840s BC, making him the earliest writing prophet, a few years prior to Joel, and a contemporary of Elisha. The biggest piece of evidence for this early date comes from Obadiah 1:10–14, which indicates an Edomite invasion of Jerusalem. While Edom was too weak a nation to ever invade Judah on its own, Edom no doubt participated with other nations when the winds of change blew in its favor. (2.) Precept Austin > From the historical references in the book, we can locate Obadiah’s ministry in Judah during the reign of Jehoram (848-841 B. C.), son of Jehoshaphat. Edom is indicted because of his violence against his brother Jacob: “On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them …” (11-14). Both 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles tell of the war and rebellion of Edom in the days of Jehoram when Edom, after a fierce struggle, threw off the yoke of Judah (2 Kings 8:20-22; 2 Chronicles 21:8-10).
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Christians and Other Religious Groups in Judaea
    TELAVIV UNIVERSITY THELESTER AND SALLYENTINFACULTYOFHUMANITIES THECHAIMROSENBERGSCHOOL OFJEWISHSTUDIES JEWISH CHRISTIANS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN JUDAEA FROM THE GREAT REVOLT TO THE BAR-KOKHBA WAR THESIS SUBMITTEDFOR THEDEGREE OFDOCTOROFPHILOSOPHY BY: YONATANBOURGEL UNDER THESUPERVISION OFPROFESSORAHARONOPPENHEIMER SUBMITTEDTO THESENATE OFTEL AVIVUNIVERSITY MAY2009 ב תודות::: בראש ובראשונה אני מבקש להודות מכל ליבי לפרופ ' אהרן אופנהיימר שהנ חה אותי בעבודתי ברוחב לב ובנכונות אין קץ לעזור ולסייע לי בכל צורך ובקשה . הוא היה לי לא רק מנחה מקצועי ומסור אלא גם ידיד של אמת . ברצוני להודות למספר חוקרים אשר הועילו לייעץ לי ולחלוק עמי את ידיעותיהם ובמיוחד לפרופ ' בנימין איזק אשר קרא חלק ממחקרי והעיר הער ות חשובות עליו ולד" ר יובל שחר שהקדיש לי רבות מזמנו ושיתף אותי במידע על ממצאיו ומחקריו . כן אני חב תודה לרבים וטובים אחרים ובהם לד" ר סוזן ויינגרטן על העריכה הלשונית , הערותיה המחכימות ועצותיה המקצועיות , לגב ' נילי אופנהיימר על הפניות ביבליוגרפיות רבות וחשובות ולאשבל רצון , עמיתתי ללימודי דוקטורט וידידתי היקרה , שלא חסכה מזמנה כדי לתקן את שגיאותיי בעברית . תודתי נתונה גם לביה" ס למדעי היהדות ובפרט לשרה ורד על כל העזרה והסיוע שהיא העניקה לי . Contents Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………………………………iv Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………..……...1 I- The Jewish Christians’ move from Jerusalem as a pragmatic choice (68 CE) …………………………………………………………………………………. ... ...21 A- The sources ……………………………………………………………………………………...23 B- The choice of Pella ………..…………………………………………………………………..36 C- The date of the migration to Pella ………….……………………………………………..39 D- The material difficulties ……………….…………………………………………………….…47 E- Reconstruction ……..………….……………………………………………………………….…50 F- Scope and significance ………………………………………………………………………..54 G- Appendix of references to the ‘Flight to Pella’ …...……...…………………………..……56 II- The Jewish Christians’ relationship to Jerusalem and the Temple following the Jewish War: .…………... ………………………………………………………...……...…..…60 A- Was there a Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem after 70 CE? .
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Study Guide
    REGIONAL STUDY GUIDE INTRODUCTORY MAP STUDIES IN THE LAND OF THE BIBLE Steven P. Lancaster and James M. Monson Version 6.0 ( August, 2014) What CHANGED IN VERSION 6.0? Copyright © 1999-2014 Version 6.0 provides marginal notes Steven P. Lancaster and James M. Monson to aid users of the newly released All rights reserved. This publication may be received (version 3, 2014) Regional Study and forwarded electronically as well as printed, photo- Maps 4, 5, 6, and 7. copied and distributed at copying cost. However, it It also offers other minor corrections cannot be edited, quoted nor incorporated into other and clarifications. printed or electronic publications without the written consent of the copyright holders. Printed in U.S.A Published by Biblical Backgrounds, Inc. BB Rockford, IL U.S.A. www.biblicalbackgrounds.com REGIONAL STUDY GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................ 3 MARKING PROCEDURES FOR REGIONAL STUDY MAPS................................. 4 THE LAND BETWEEN WITHIN THE WORLD OF THE BIBLE (ME MAP) ...................... 5 I. THE LAND BETWEEN IN ITS MIDDLE EASTERN SETTING (ME MAP) ..................... 15 EVENT 1: ABRAHAM’S JOURNEYS—‘GO…TO THE LAND I WILL SHOW YOU!’ . 15 EVENT 2: PHOENICIA’S MARKETS—‘YOUR RICHES, YOUR WARES, YOUR MERCHANDISE’ . 17 EVENT 3: ISRAEL, THE THIRD—‘A HIGHWAY FROM EGYPT TO ASSYRIA’ . 19 EVENT 4: JESUS’ JOURNEY—‘ARCHELAUS WAS RULING JUDEA IN PLACE OF HIS FatHER HEROD’ . 21 II. IMPERIAL HIGHWAYS THROUGH THE LAND BETWEEN (LB MAP) ..................... 22 EVENT 5: EGYPT’S PRIORITIES—‘LET ME KNOW THE WAY TO paSS MEGIDDO’ . 23 EVENT 6: EZEKIEL’S SIGNPOST—‘THE KING OF BABYLON STOOD…at THE FORK OF THE HIGHWAY’ .
    [Show full text]
  • BOOK REVIEWS 311 Positive Light. She Argues That This Portrayal Reflects the Real Possibilities Open to Upper-Class Women To
    BOOK REVIEWS 311 positive light. She argues that this portrayal reflects the real possibilities open to upper-class women to use their resources and influence for a variety of causes. An inscription from Samos, which claims that the privileges Augustus gave to that island were prompted by the intervention of his wife Livia, serves to illustrate the historical reality behind the texts. In chapter 3 Matthews turns to Acts. Here she takes on the long-standing debate about ‘god- fearers’. She chooses a middle ground between those who would have us believe that ‘god-fearer’ became a technical term describing gentiles sympathetic to Judaism who have not fully converted, and those who think they are nothing more than a rhetorical device in the Book of Acts. While she believes that epigraphic evidence amply proves the first position, she is indeed convinced that god-fearers in Acts are nothing more than rhetorical tools. Luke (the author of Acts) mentions ‘high-standing women’ coupled with men as the objects of Paul’s missionary activity at least three times. Matthews rightly wonders why it is necessary for Luke to mention women at all in these instances, and why he emphasizes their noble status. She answers both questions by claiming that ‘women were prominent among early Christian converts’ and this ‘is suggested by a variety of sources. Luke’s appropriation of the topos of high-standing gentile women supporters is his desire to deflect attention from the numerous women of less reputable backgrounds affiliated with Christianity’ (p. 71). Luke, according to Matthews, uses the same rhetorical devices employed by Josephus to mask a similar historical situation.
    [Show full text]
  • C. R. C. N.B.-I Hope That the Scriptural Emmaus Is Also to Be Found on the Sheet No
    MASONRY TOMBS • 151 . Ashan, fiftean miles from Jerusalem, is probably Beit S!tenna, fifteen English miles west of the city. En Gaunim, near Bethel (Onom.), prob~bly 'Ain Knnia, west of Heitln. Janua.-Three miles south of Legio (LefJun), evidently the modern Yamun. Rebbo.-East of Eleutheropolis, the present Rubba in that direction. Sior (Onom.), between Jerusalem and Eleutheropolis. The ruin of S'aireh, near the Roman road connecting the two. No less than 400 places .are noted in the Onomasticon, nearly all of which we may expect to recover. The Biblical and Early Christian lists in those parts, now surveyed, are filling up rapidly with identifications satisfactory as to position and obeying the laws of philological analogy. They are, afl a rule, found in consulting Gesenius for the derivation of the names, which are not to be found in an Arabic dictionary. c. R. c. N.B.-I hope that the Scriptural Emmaus is also to be found on the sheet No. 17, but defer the question for a future paper, with several other sites of interest. MASONRY TOMBS. TuE note by Dr. Chaplin published in last Quarterly Statement, p. 61, draws attention to the subject of masonry tombs. These monumente are rare in Palestine, and none of them appear to reach the more remote antiquity of the rock-cut sepulchres. The most famous are described by Major Wilson ( Qunrterly Statement, No. 3, p. 69), being: 1st, at KedeJ, where there are kokim which have been used for interments at a late period. 2nd, at Tell Hum, where there are two examples, one having 26 koktm, and being subterranean, with a door of basalt.
    [Show full text]