Vines Intertwined: A History of Jews and Christians from the Babylonian Exile to the Advent of Islam

864 Pages·2010·27.25 MB·English

by  Leo Dupree Sandgren

Vines Intertwined: A History of Jews and Christians from the Babylonian Exile to the
Advent of Islam
© 2010 by Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC
P. O. Box 3473
Peabody, Massachusetts 01961-3473
ISBN 978-1-59856-083-1
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Printed in the United States of America
First Printing — April 2010
Scripture quotations marked nrsv are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copy-
right 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches
of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked rsv are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
copyright 1952 (2d ed., 1971) by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Biblical quotations designated njb are from The New Jerusalem Bible, copyright 1985 by
Darton, Longman, and Todd, Ltd., and Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell
Publishing Group, Inc. Used by permission.
Hendrickson Publishers is strongly committed to environmentally responsible printing prac-
tices. The pages of this book were printed on 30% post consumer waste recycled stock using
only soy or vegetable content inks.
Cover Art: Millet and Grapevines. Roman mosaic, from the triclinium of the House of Millet
at Oudna. 3rd CE. 113'9" x 10' (420 x 306 cm).
Location: Musee National du Bardo, Tunis, Tunisia
Photo Credit: Gilles Mermet / Art Resource, N.Y.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sandgren, Leo Duprée.
Vines intertwined : a history of Jews and Christians from the Babylonian exile to the
Advent of Islam / by Leo Duprée Sandgren.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-59856-083-1 (alk. paper)
1. Jews—History—586 B.C.–70 A.D. 2. Jews—History—70–638. 3. Palestine—History—
To 70 A.D. 4. Palestine—History—70–638. 5. Judaism—History—Talmudic period,
10–425. 6. Christianity and other religions—Judaism—History. 7. Judaism—Relations—
Christianity—History. I. Title.
DS121.7.S26 2010
261.2´609015—dc22
2009044835
Contents
List of Maps xix
Abbreviations xxi
Introduction 1
PArt OnE (640–201 b.c.e.)
Chapter 1: From Josiah to the Fall of Jerusalem (640–586 b.c.e.) 11
1.1 Ancient Near East 11
1.2 Josiah’s Reform 16
1.3 Decline of Judah 18
1.4 Jeremiah 20
1.5 The Neo-Babylonian Empire 23
1.6 Fall of Jerusalem 26
Chapter 2: Exile and return (586–500 b.c.e.) 28
2.1 Judah during the Exile 28
2.2 Exile in Babylon 30
2.3 Cyrus of Persia 34
2.4 Cambyses 35
2.5 Return under Zerubbabel 38
Chapter 3: restoration of Judah (500–400 b.c.e.) 42
3.1 Ezra the Scribe 43
3.2 Nehemiah the Governor 45
3.3 Jews of Babylon 48
3.4 Elephantiné Conflict 49
Chapter 4: The Hellenistic Age Begins (400–301 b.c.e.) 54
4.1 Judah of the Silent Generations 54
4.2 Persia and Macedonia 54
4.3 Alexander of Macedonia 57
4.4 Diadochi 63
vi Vines Intertwined
Chapter 5: Ptolemaic Era (301–201 b.c.e.) 67
5.1 Ptolemy I Soter 67
5.2 Syrian and Punic Wars 68
5.3 The Diaspora Jews 71
5.4 High Priests 72
5.5 Tale of the Tobiads 73
Synthesis of Part One: Religious Development—Foundations I
(640–201 b.c.e.) 76
S1.1 The Axial Age 76
S1.1.1 Greek Transition 76
S1.1.2 Hebrew Transition 79
S1.2 Hebrew Scripture 80
S1.2.1 Torah 81
S1.2.2 Prophets 82
S1.2.2.1 Sacred History 82
S1.2.2.2 Divine Oracles 83
S1.2.2.3 Writings: An Ongoing Process 86
S1.3 Currents of Jewish Thought 86
S1.3.1 Zadokite Priesthood 87
S1.3.2 Apocalyptic (Enochian Tradition) 87
S1.3.3 Jewish Wisdom Tradition 90
S1.4 Diaspora Jews 93
S1.4.1 Synagogue 94
S1.4.2 Septuagint 94
PaRt twO (201 b.c.e.–14 c.e.)
Chapter 6: The Maccabean Revolt (201–161 b.c.e.) 99
6.1 Mediterranean World 99
6.2 Seleucid Kingdom 99
6.3 The Polis of Jerusalem 102
6.4 Maccabean Revolt 107
Chapter 7: Rise and Fall of the Hasmonean Kingdom (161–67 b.c.e.) 112
7.1 Mediterranean World 112
7.2 Jewish Diaspora 113
7.3 Hasmonean Dynasty 114
7.3.1 Jonathan the Hasmonean 118
7.3.2 Simon the Hasmonean 120
7.3.3 John Hyrcanus 122
7.3.4 Aristobulus I 125
7.3.5 Alexander Jannaeus 125
7.3.6 Salome Alexandra 127
Contents vii
Chapter 8: The Coming of rome (67–27 b.c.e.) 129
8.1 Mediterranean World 129
8.2 End of the Hasmoneans 129
8.3 Rise of Herod 138
Chapter 9: Pax Augusta and Herod the Great (27 b.c.e.–14 c.e.) 143
9.1 Mediterranean World: Pax Augusta 143
9.2 Herod: Expansion and Grandeur 143
9.3 Babylonians Zamaris and Hillel 151
9.4 Herod’s Finale 152
9.5 Aftermath of Herod 154
9.6 Roman Rule of Judaea 156
9.7 End of the Augustan Age 157
Synthesis of Part two: religious Development—Foundations II
(201 b.c.e.–14 c.e.) 158
S2.1 Currents of Judaism 158
S2.1.1 Wisdom 158
S2.1.1.1 Tobit 158
S2.1.1.2 Ben Sira 159
S2.1.1.3 Letter of Aristeas 160
S2.1.2 Eschatology: Visions for the Future 161
S2.1.2.1 Enoch’s Dream Visions 161
S2.1.2.2 Daniel 7–12 162
S2.1.2.3 Jubilees 164
S2.1.2.4 Sibylline Oracles 164
S2.1.3 Messiah 166
S2.1.3.1 Psalms of Solomon 167
S2.1.3.2 Dead Sea Scrolls 169
S2.1.3.3 Parables of Enoch 170
S2.1.3.4 Ruling Ideology 170
S2.2 Jews and Jewishness in the Roman Empire 171
S2.2.1 Hellenistic Rome and the Jews 171
S2.2.2 Diaspora Jews and Jewishness 173
S2.2.3 Judaean Associations 176
S2.2.3.1 Sadducees 176
S2.2.3.2 Pharisees 177
S2.2.3.3 Essenes 178
S2.2.3.4 Others 180
S2.2.3.4.1 Fourth Philosophy 180
S2.2.3.4.2 Samaritans 181
S2.3 The People Called Israel 181
S2.3.1 Common Practices 183
S2.3.2 Essential Theology 183
viii Vines Intertwined
PArt tHrEE (14–138 c.e.)
Chapter 10: Birth of the nazarenes (14–37 c.e.) 187
10.1 Rome: Tiberius 187
10.2 The Jews 188
10.2.1 Roman Diaspora 188
10.2.2 Jews of Babylonia and Syria 189
10.2.3 Palestine 190
10.3 The Nazarenes 193
10.3.1 John the Baptist 193
10.3.2 Jesus of Nazareth 194
10.3.3 Birth of the Nazarenes 202
10.3.4 Paul of Tarsus 207
Chapter 11: A troubled Diaspora for Jews and Jewish Believers
(37–54 c.e.) 210
11.1 Rome 210
11.1.1 Caligula 210
11.1.2 Claudius 212
11.1.3 King Agrippa I 214
11.2 Jewish Diaspora 216
11.2.1 Conversion of King of Adiabene 216
11.2.2 Pharisee Influence in Babylonia? 217
11.2.3 Alexandria 217
11.2.3.1 Philo the Jew 218
11.2.3.2 Apion the Greco-Egyptian 219
11.2.3.3 Strife in Alexandria 220
11.2.4 Jews under Claudius 222
11.3 “Christian” Apostolic Era 224
11.3.1 Paul of Tarsus: Missionary to the Gentiles 225
11.3.2 Incident at Antioch 227
Chapter 12: The Great war (54–70 c.e.) 231
12.1 Rome 231
12.1.1 Nero 231
12.1.2 Judaea before the War 233
12.1.3 The Great War 236
12.2 Jews: The Last “Pharisees” 242
12.3 Christians: End of the Apostolic Era 244
12.3.1 Paul 244
12.3.2 Peter 247
12.3.3 James the Just 248
12.3.4 Persecution under Nero 249
Contents ix
Chapter 13: Jews and Christians without a Temple (70–117 c.e.) 250
13.1 Rome 250
13.1.1 Flavian Dynasty 250
13.1.2 Trajan and the Diaspora Revolt 253
13.2 Jews 256
13.2.1 Judaea and Rabbinic Origins 257
13.2.2 Johanan ben Zakkai and His Disciples 259
13.2.3 Gamaliel II and Yavneh 261
13.2.4 Jews of Babylonia 265
13.3 Christians 266
13.3.1 Eastern Congregations 266
13.3.2 Clement of Rome and the West 266
13.3.3 Persecution of Christians 267
Chapter 14: Farewell Jerusalem: The Last Jewish War (117–138 c.e.) 271
14.1 Rome 271
14.1.1 Hadrian 271
14.1.2 Bar Kokhba Revolt 273
14.2 Jews 277
14.2.1 The Sages 277
14.2.2 Rabbinic Martyrs 281
14.2.3 The Other One 282
14.3 Christians 283
14.4 The Early Syncretistic Milieu 285
Synthesis of Part Three: Jews and Christians I (14–138 c.e.) 286
S3.1 Kingdom of God: Theocracy 286
S3.1.1 Theocracy among Jews 287
S3.1.1.1 God: Theology and Worship 287
S3.1.1.2 Laws 288
S3.1.1.3 Leaders 291
S3.1.1.3.1 Kingship 291
S3.1.1.3.2 Priesthood 292
S3.1.1.3.3 Prophet 293
S3.1.3.3.4 Synagogue Leaders 294
S3.1.1.4 People of God 295
S3.1.1.5 Land of Israel 298
S3.1.2 Theocracy among Christians 298
S3.1.2.1 God: Theology and Worship 298
S3.1.2.2 Laws 300
S3.1.2.3 Leaders 304
S3.1.2.3.1 Jesus and His Followers 304
S3.1.2.3.2 Apostolic-Era Church 305
S3.1.2.3.3 Postapostolic-Era Church 307
x Vines Intertwined
S3.1.2.4 People of God 308
S3.1.2.5 Land of Israel 312
S3.2 Jews and Christians, and Jewish Believers 312
S3.2.1 Paul the Jew 313
S3.2.2 Matthew’s Sectarian Jewish Community 315
S3.2.3 Ignatius and the “Judaizers” 320
S3.3 Sabbath and Sunday 322
S3.4 Gamaliel II and Birkat ha-Minim 324
S3.5 Early Rabbinic Encounters with Christians 325
PArt FOur (138–312 c.e.)
Chapter 15: Antonine Peace and the Struggles of Jews and Christians
(138–192 c.e.) 331
15.1 Roman Empire 331
15.1.1 Antoninus Pius 331
15.1.2 Marcus Aurelius 332
15.1.3 Commodus 333
15.2 Jews 334
15.2.1 Palestine 334
15.2.2 Rabbinic Tradition History 335
15.2.2.1 Principal Rabbis 336
15.2.2.2 Rabbinic Power Struggles 338
15.3 Christians 340
15.3.1 Critics of Christians (and Jews) 342
15.3.2 The Christian Defense 344
15.3.3 The Internal Challenge 346
Chapter 16: Severan Decay, Christian Growth, and the Glory of Judah
the Prince (192–235 c.e.) 351
16.1 Roman Empire 351
16.1.1 Severus 351
16.1.2 Caracalla 353
16.1.3 Elagabalus 354
16.1.4 Severus Alexander 354
16.2 Jews 355
16.2.1 Jews of Palestine 355
16.2.2 Jews of Babylonia 360
16.3 Christians 362
16.3.1 Roman West 362
16.3.1.1 Clement of Alexandria 363
16.3.1.2 Tertullian 364
16.3.1.3 Hippolytus 366
16.3.2 Syrian East 366