Study/Writing Questions: MACCABEES
1.Be able to identify the following terms. Identifications must include:
a)fact(s) with dates as appropriate
b)context-relate specific term to larger historical or religious context
c))significance of term to study of Judaism and/or early Christianity
Antiochus IV Hannukah Gymnasion Ben Sira/ Ecclesiasticus
Hasidim Hellenization
Mattathias Judah Maccabee
2. Describe how the issue of Hellenization played out in the genesis of the Maccabean revolt.
3. What explanation do historians offer for the success of the Maccabean revolt?
4. Identify and describe 5 significant innovations/developments in Jewish practice or thought, occurring during the Hasmonean period. Which of these would prove especially significant in the teachings of Jeus accd. to the Synoptic Gospels?
5. 2 Maccabees 7 contains what maybe the earliest recorded story of martyrdom. Be able to recount the story and connect it to the new(pharisaic?) doctrine of resurrection.
2. Describe how the issue of Hellenization played out in the genesis of the Maccabean revolt.
ReplyDeleteThe Hellenization during the time of Antiochus was forced. It is similar to the forced assimilation strategies by the United States on Native Americans. Antiochus outlawed the Torah and made it illegal to obey the laws described in it. He created Greek institutions to help convert the Jews and demanded that they worship an idle. Rather than submit to the laws of the king some Jews went into hiding and others fought back. Mattathias created a guerrilla army to combat the Greek soldiers so they could observe the laws of their ancestors.
3. What explanations do historians offer for the success of the Maccabean revolt?
ReplyDeleteHistorians believe that the Maccabees were so successful because of three main reasons. First is "Judah's brilliant conduct of guerrilla warfare." Judah Maccabee was even picked by Mattathias, his father, because of his "military brilliance". Second, Judah made an alliance with Rome which frightened Antiochus. Here I have a question. Why is Antiochus afraid of a war with Rome if he is already being attacked by them. It says on Wylen 53 "Antiochus...defending his borders against Roman and Persian incursions." Third, during time of the Second Temple the interpretation of the Torah was changing. It was decided that fighting to save one's life did not violate any laws, and if it did "Let them desecrate on Sabbath so that they may sanctify many Sabbaths." Having this belief would not only increase the number of fighters, but increase the willingness of all fighters making the unit stronger as a whole.
1.
ReplyDeleteAntiochus IV, the Seleucid King, in 175 BCE overthrew the high priest Onias. Antiochus began to enforce Hellenistic reform throughout Jerusalem. He also in 169 BCE eliminated the high priesthood, rededicated the Temple to a Greek god, and outlawed the Torah. Jews now were required to worship idols and eat unclean meat. They also were not allowed to circumcise the boys.
Hellenization: This form of living was a major sharp social conflict among the Jews of the time. What is Hellenization, you might ask? Well, it appeared to be the assimilation of Jewish doctrine into “Greekism” (i made that word up) but in lament terms it allowed for upper class Jews to send their children to get a Greek education instead of an education from the Torah. It created a POLIS (a Greek-style city). Well, that sounds good but that was for the upper class Jews, those in the middle and lower class thought Hellenization was an abomination. It took them away from the Jewish doctrine that was specific to them and their culture and way of living.
Hannukah: 165 BCE (pg.140 in Barrett &55 in Wylen) Hannukah was an 8 day feast also called the feast of Lights that occurred after Judas re dedicated the altar. They offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. In Wylen it is stated that it was a late observance of the fall festival of Sukkot. By Judah’s decree Hannukah became a holiday for all Jews.
Gymnasium: A school for the education of the young. Students would learn the subjects of the Greek curriculum in the morning, and participate in athletics in the afternoon. This establishment has a lot to due with Hellenization because Priest of the most aristocratic families sent their children for a Greek education.
Hasidim “pietists” (Wylen, 52): term used by the rabbis to describe those Jews who maintained the highest standard of religious observance and moral action. These individuals ran off into the hill country and hid from the Greeks during Antiochus attacks. They did not fight on the Sabbath so the Greeks waited until the Sabbath to attack and kill them.
Ben Sira/ Ecclesiasticus: Ben Sira was a Jerusalem priest who lived around 200 BCE, he wrote The Wisdom of Jesus ben Sira also called Ecclesiasticus. He wrote the book as wisdom and guidance for his son. It is not canonized by Christians or the Jews.
Mattathias: a priest in the village of Modin. He was apart of the Hasmonean family. He had five sons, Judah “Hammer” being one of them. Mattathias was offered a bribe to forsake his customs and adpot Greek ones. Instead of giving in he slew the Greek with his sword, led his family out of wilderness and became the leader of the revolt. This occurred 168-165 BCE.
Judah: Mattathias appointed his middle son Judah to lead the rebellion. He was nicknamed “Hammer.” His followers are remembered as “the Maccabees” . Judah was known for his military brilliance and made a new interpretation of the Sabbath law. They would not attack on the Sabbath, but they would fight to save their lives (I Macc 2:40-41) This interpreation is important because it allows us to see how Judaism was portrayed during the time of Jesus. This interpretation is a look at the “legal traditions of the Pharisees.” This became the “Oral Torah” of rabbinic Judaism- a way of living by the Torah that was more flexible and liberal than the older priestly traditions. (Wylen, 53)
The first part of the question (C), I’m having difficulty answering so if someone would like to shed light, I would appreciate it.
5.
ReplyDeleteAntiochus carries out a campaign against the Jews, forcing them to forsake their religion in favor of the Greeks’ beliefs. Jews could not maintain a pure temple, keep the Sabbath, perform ancestral festivals, and simply call themselves Jews. Instead, they were required to partake in Greek celebrations such as the procession in honor of Dionysus. Those who did not willingly convert were punished by death. The ultimatum presented by the Greeks to Jews- religion or death- allowed for the first accounts of martyrdom. One example is Eleazar.
Eleazar, an esteemed figure of his time, is forced to eat pork. He refuses. The authorities are also close acquaintances with Eleazar and devise a plan to save his life: Eleazar will eat kosher food claiming that it is the pork commanded by the king. Eleazar refuses again. He reasons that authorities’ plan will send a wrong message to the young Jews- that an old man who has lived a life as a devout Jew would abandon Judaism for a few more years. He is then killed.
In a second example, a mother and her seven sons are also forced by Antiochus to eat pork. They are unwilling, and the king, enraged, begins to torture each individual. Each family member is asked if they will eat the swine or suffer a gruesome death. They all choose the latter (even when the king offers the last brother riches and friendship). The family believes that by enduring a brief period of torture, they will die honorably and receive “ever-flowing life” in Heaven.
When the Pharisaic scribes created an oral law to compliment the written law, Judaism focused on the individual’s salvation in Heaven. This emphasis was necessary to combat the authority of Antiochus. In short, martyrdom allowed individuals to pursue their individual resurrection (the new focus of Judaism) which 1. Spurred revolt against Antiochus thereby 2. Protecting Judaism from external influences.
3. What explanation do historians offer for the success of the Maccabean revolt?
ReplyDeleteMost modern scholars argue that the king was intervening in a civil war between traditionalist Jews in the countryside and Hellenized Jews in Jerusalem. The considered the Maccabean revolt less as an uprising against foreign oppression than as a civil war between the orthodox and reformist parties in the Jewish camp.