Notes for Religious Studies 369:

Introduction to Judaism

Model of the Second Temple of Jerusalem

Judaism during the Second Temple Era

Important developments of the time:

• Redaction and acceptance of the Bible as national covenant
  --> perceived end of active prophecy; importance of seeking God's guidance through study of the Bible.
  Perception of ancient revelations as "foretellings" of the future.
• Political transition from
• Persian era
• Peaceful time, little information about it.
• Centrality of Temple and Priesthood in leadership and religious life.
• Influence of Persian religious beliefs -- e.g., angels [and Satan], afterlife [resurrection].
• to Hellenistic era
• Synthesis of Greek and Middle Eastern cultures.
• Translation of Bible to Greek: Septuagint

An old manuscript of the Septuagint

• Synthesis of biblical religion with Greek philosophy: Philo of Alexandria

Philo of Alexandria

• Pressure to assimilate to "global" standards, including religious reforms.
• Forced imposition of Hellenistic religious reforms by Antiochus IV Epiphanes:
• Gymnasium in Jerusalem
• Forbidding of circumcision, Sabbath, Torah study.
• Eclectic cult in Temple: Sacrificing pigs to Zeus.
• Unclear whether the initiative came from Antiochus or from Jewish Hellenists.

A coin issued by the Hasmonean king Alexander Janneus (103-76 BC)

• Successful revolt against reforms was lead by the Hasmoneans, a priestly family.
• Their successful rededication and purification of the Temple in 64 B.C.E. was marked by the creation of a new holiday: Hanukkah ["Feast of Dedication"].

• Hasmoneans established themselves as political rulers and High Priests.
• According to tradition, kings were supposed to be from the dynasty of King David, and High Priests from the descendents of Zadok.

Historical background for sectarian divisions:

• Collapse of the coalition that had joined forces against the extreme Hellenists in the Maccabean / Hasmonean revolt.
• Dissatisfaction with assumption of political power and high priesthood by Hasmonean dynasty: Sadducees claimed the priesthood; royalty was supposed to come from the line of David, the non-priestly tribe of Judah.

Summary of Disputes Among the Three Parties:

Sect:	Sadducees	Pharisees	Essenes [Including information from Qumran scrolls]
Origin of Name:	Descendants of Zadok, ancient High Priestly family	From Hebrew : P'rushim, meaning "separated ones"-- because their strict standards of purity limited their contacts with common people.	Unclear: Possibly from word meaning 'healers"
Social Class:	Priests, aristocrats	Common people	[Possibly founded by extreme Sadducees]
Figures of Authority:	Priests	"Disciples of the Wise"	"Teacher of Righteousness"
Attitude to Hellenism and Romans:	For Hellenism. Allied with the Romans as being able to guarantee the safety of the Temple	Selective Synthesis between Hellenistic assimilation and cultural separation	Against
Attitide to Hasmoneans:	Opposed usurpation of priesthood by non-Zadokites	Varied? Opposed usurpation of monarchy?	Varied? Personally opposed to Jonathan ("Wicked Priest")?
Theology: Free will Angels Afterlife	Yes No None	Mostly Yes Resurrection	No [Yes] (in Dead Sea Scrolls) Spiritual Survival (?)
Attitude to Bible:	Literalist	Sophisticated scholarly interpretations: applied Torah to all aspects of life.	"Pesher" (interpreted Scripture as foretelling of recent history) "Inspired Exegesis"
Attitude to Oral Torah:	Rejected	Equal to Written Torah	Developed their own body of interpretation and extra biblical traditions.
Practices:	Temple and the surrounding rituals considered the central element for religious life.	Application of priestly laws to non-priests (tithes and purity rules)	Dictinctive interpretations of Torah laws, special rules for their own community ("Manual of Discipline") , shared property, celibacy, strong emphasis on purity.
Calendar:	? Luni-solar (perhaps only under popular pressure?)	Luni-solar	Solar: 364-day year

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Of the Second Commonwealth movements, only the Pharisees survived the destruction of the Temple in the guise of the "Rabbis."