The Makers and Teachers of Judaism: From the Fall of Jerusalem to the Death of Herod the GreatKent, Charles Foster
Religion
The Makers and Teachers of Judaism: From the Fall of Jerusalem to the Death of Herod the Great
Kent, Charles Foster
Bible -- History of Biblical events; Jews -- History -- 586 B.C.-70 A.D.
recounts, Sanballat, in order to satisfy his son-in-law, ceded lands and
special rights to him and to the other Jerusalem priests, who were
attracted by these offers, and ultimately built the famous temple on Mount
Gerizim over which Manasseh and his descendants presided. In many ways the
temple and service on Mount Gerizim appear to have been duplicates of
those at Jerusalem. The same law was recognized by both communities; they
shared together the same traditions and the same ideals; and yet their
subsequent history illustrates the psychological truth that of all forms
of hatred that between brothers is the most venomous and lasting. The
bitter rivalry and growing hatred that resulted from this act are
reflected even in the wisdom teachings of Ben Sira (B. Sir. 47:21, 24,
25). They also fundamentally color the writings of the Chronicler. The
strenuous efforts that he made to discountenance the claims of the
Samaritans reveals the intensity of the feud even in the Greek period (cf.
II Chron. 11:13-16). His zeal in trying to prove that the rebuilders of
the Jerusalem temple were of Jewish extraction was doubtless inspired by
the Samaritan charge that during the Babylonian and Persian periods they
had freely intermarried with the heathen population of the land. He was
compelled to admit that even the high priestly families had been guilty of
this sin, but asserted that the foreign wives were later divorced or else
the offenders were expelled from Jerusalem. In the light of the oldest
records it appears that the Samaritans were able to establish almost as
pure a lineage as the Jews. Naturally during the succeeding years the
ancient breach continued to widen until it was beyond all healing.
* * * * *
THE GREEK AND MACCABEAN AGE
Section CIV. THE JEWS UNDER THEIR GREEK RULERS
[Sidenote: 1 Mac. 1:1-4]
Now after Alexander the Macedonian, the son of Philip, who came from the
land of the Greeks, had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, he
reigned in his place as the first ruler of the Syrian kingdom.
He fought many battles,
And won many strongholds,
And slew the kings of the earth;
He went on to the ends of the earth;
And took spoils from a multitude of nations.
And when the earth was at peace before him,
He was exalted and his heart was lifted up;
He gathered an exceedingly great army,
And ruled over countries and peoples and principalities;
And they became tributary to him.
[Sidenote: Jos. Ant. XI, 8:7a, c]
Now when Alexander was dead, the government was divided among his
successors. It was about this time that Jaddua the high priest died and
Onias, his son, took the high priesthood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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