1End of the Bible • Birth of theBible From last time:Significance of the revolts 66–135 CE End of the Bible/Birth of the Bible What are we really talking about? Writing of latest books/editing of others Birth of the Bible: A post-classical cultureOctober 16, 2006Significance of Revolts: Summary In Palestine Final collapse of Judaean “Temple State”, undercutting traditionalrole of priests as authorities Demographic changes: by fourth century: contraction of Jewishpopulation, concentration in Galilee and South In Diaspora where there were revolts, possible decimation of Jewishpopulations But note: elsewhere (Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy (!), continuedpeaceful coexistence Period of restrictive laws on Jews, Judaism Temple donation now a tax to Jupiter Capitolinus Restricted settlement in environs of Jerusalem Later Jewish traditions remember a period of prohibition of religiouspractices in Palestine after B-K revoltEnd of the Bible•Birth of the BibleWhat are we really talking about? What is the Bible? A collection of books:Historical accounts, laws, poetry Religion of the Bible ≠ Religion of Israel,But Bible is foundational for Judaism Who are the Jews? What is Judaism? “Jew”—a tribal term: descendant of Judah “Jew”—a geographical term: From Judaea/Judah “Jew”—a term denoting religion or cultureThe religion/culture organized increasingly aroundscripture2Writing of latest books/editing ofothers Last books of the Bible (examples): Daniel 7–12 (160s BCE) Song of Songs Chronicles Editing of (examples): Torah Isaiah Psalms Arguably: Much of the BibleCanonization and its implications Terminology Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and ChristianBibles (based on diaspora Jewish Bible) Uncertain (and competing) boundariesfor “Bible” Implications: Judaism in a post-classicalageTerminology Canon (from term for measurement):Books ruled to be in or out of an approved list.(For Heb. Bible, not entirely a formal process) Apocrypha (hidden away):Books in the Greek (Christian) Bible, not in Hebrew Pseudepigrapha (“falsely ascribed,” a moderndesignation and imprecise):A broad category of books on Biblical themes or inthe name of Biblical authors produced in antiquity.3Beginnings of Canonization Tanakh (Jewish Bible) and ChristianBibles (handout) Uncertain (and competing) boundariesof Biblical collectionOutline of Books of theTaNaKh (Hebrew Bible)1,2 ChroniclesTwelve “minor”prophetsNehemiahEzekielEzraJeremiahDanielIsaiahDeuteronomy“Scrolls”1,2 KingsNumbersJob1,2 SamuelLeviticusProverbsJudgesExodusPsalmsJoshuaGenesisKetuvimNevi’imTorahUncertain (and competing)boundaries for “Bible” Book of Ben Sira, Prologue (“Law, Prophets, otherbooks”) possibly earliest reference to 3-part division Josephus: 5 Books of Moses, 13 Books of History bythe Prophets (to 6th Cent. BCE), 4 Books of Poems Qumran (Dead Sea Sect) 4QMMT: Torah, Prophets, David, and other writings Sect seems to include as authoritative texts not in Tanakh Christian Bible (Hellenistic Jewish?): Willing to extendbeyond the 6th Century BCE (Sira, Maccabees, etc.)4Birth of the Bible: A post-classical culture Text of the Bible: Consolidation andCompetiton Bible and Literary Productivity Bible and Communal Identity Bible and SectarianismText of the Bible:Consolidation and Competiton A period of textual fluidity. Includessome “inner-biblical interpretation” Consolidation to a few “standard” formsby 2nd C. BCE (Dead Sea Scrolls) Text and competition (examples) Samaritan interpolations re Mt. Gerizim Later: Christians vs. Jews on Isaiah 7:14Bible and Literary Productivity Retelling Jubilees Testaments Imitation Temple Scroll “apocryphal” psalms, other pseudepigrapha Commentary Qumran Pesher Philo’s philosophical commentaries Source for themes of new works or genres Joseph and Aseneth Ezekiel the Tragedian, Exagoge (Exodus)5Bible and Communal Identity Josephus, Philo, others brag about thesuperiority (and priority) of Torah Bible as source of consolation orinspiration (Daniel 9, and the 70 yearsof Jeremiah 25:11-12) 1 Maccabees: Physical torah as objectto destroy as part of persecutionBible and Sectarianism Examples regarding biblical text (discussedearlier) Qumran Pesher (= interpretation): Biblicalprophecy systematically read to refer to thespecific experiences of the group (=“righteousof Israel”) Legal interpretation as divisiveExample: “day after the sabbath” and date