Gideon Fuks | University of Haifa (original) (raw)
Papers by Gideon Fuks
Antagonistic Neighbours: Ashkelon, Judaea, and the Jews, 2000
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, 2015
Harvard Theological Review
... 17On the date of Pilate's dismissal, see E. Mary Smallwood, "The Date of the Dismis... more ... 17On the date of Pilate's dismissal, see E. Mary Smallwood, "The Date of the Dismissal of Pilate from Judaea," JJS 5 (1954) 12-21. 505 Page 4. ... aged to keep the letter but not the spirit of theJewish Law, with ... alien deity (divus Augustus) within the precincts of their Holy City. ...
Journal of Jewish Studies
Journal of Jewish Studies
One o f the more interesting figures o f the First Jewish Revolt against Rom e is that o f Sim on... more One o f the more interesting figures o f the First Jewish Revolt against Rom e is that o f Sim on Bar G iora. He is also one o f the m ore enigm atic figures. A lthough Simon Bar Giora became the main leader o f the revolt after his entry into Jerusalem in the spring o f 69, only a few specific studies have been devoted to him. This may be the result o f the problem atic nature o f some aspects pertaining to him. The fo llow ing remarks will be devoted to som e o f these aspects: his origins, his social tendencies, and the messianic aspirations ascribed to him.
Journal of Jewish Studies, 2002
rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 I... more rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 In the War too his story occupies a relatively large space.2 In both books the main source utilized by Josephus is the Universal History of Nicolaus of Damascus.3 But while in the War Herod is usually portrayed in a positive manner, this is not the case in the Antiquities. In this book one is immediately aware of the fact that Herod is quite often depicted in a negative manner.4 The Antiquities is rife with hostile evaluations of the king,5 most of them, so it seems, based on Josephus' own observations of Herod's personality.6 One of the most persistent negative undercurrents is Herod's disregard for Jewish law and Jewish religious feelings. The aim of this paper is to find out how Josephus handles this material, and what-Can be learned from it about Herod. I will divide the discussion of the evidence into two parts. The first will deal with those cases where Josephus explicitly denounces Herod's actions as injurious to Jewish law. The second part will deal with those incidents mentioned by Josephus, but not commented upon by him as transgressing Jewish religious laws. The order of the discussion follows Josephus' chronological placement of the various events in the Antiquities, which as we shall see is much more detailed in these matters than the War. The first case comes rather early in the story. The young Herod, while serving as the governor of Galilee had Ezekias and many of his men killed.7 The leading men among the Jews (evidently the aristocratic faction opposing the rising power of Antipater and his sons) denounced Herod to Hyracanus, claiming that Herod had done it 'in violation of our law, which forbids us to slay a man, even an evildoer, unless he is first convicted by the Synhedrion to suffer this fate.'8 It is true that Josephus does not speak here directly, but he
rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 I... more rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 In the War too his story occupies a relatively large space.2 In both books the main source utilized by Josephus is the Universal History of Nicolaus of Damascus.3 But while in the War Herod is usually portrayed in a positive manner, this is not the case in the Antiquities. In this book one is immediately aware of the fact that Herod is quite often depicted in a negative manner.4 The Antiquities is rife with hostile evaluations of the king,5 most of them, so it seems, based on Josephus' own observations of Herod's personality.6 One of the most persistent negative undercurrents is Herod's disregard for Jewish law and Jewish religious feelings. The aim of this paper is to find out how Josephus handles this material, and what-Can be learned from it about Herod. I will divide the discussion of the evidence into two parts. The first will deal with those cases where Josephus explicitly denounces Herod's actions as injurious to Jewish law. The second part will deal with those incidents mentioned by Josephus, but not commented upon by him as transgressing Jewish religious laws. The order of the discussion follows Josephus' chronological placement of the various events in the Antiquities, which as we shall see is much more detailed in these matters than the War. The first case comes rather early in the story. The young Herod, while serving as the governor of Galilee had Ezekias and many of his men killed.7 The leading men among the Jews (evidently the aristocratic faction opposing the rising power of Antipater and his sons) denounced Herod to Hyracanus, claiming that Herod had done it 'in violation of our law, which forbids us to slay a man, even an evildoer, unless he is first convicted by the Synhedrion to suffer this fate.'8 It is true that Josephus does not speak here directly, but he
Journal of Jewish Studies
Journal of Jewish Studies
Journal of Jewish Studies
Mediterranean Historical Review, 2000
Greco‐Roman Ashkelon, being an impotant city on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean, had a mi... more Greco‐Roman Ashkelon, being an impotant city on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean, had a mixed pantheon of deities and cults. The purpose of this paper is to collect and describe the variegated evidence for these cults, and to try and trace their origins and possible outside influences. Three main spheres of influence can be discerned: the Phoenician — Ashkelon having close demographic and political ties with Tyre since the early Persian period; the influence of the ‘ordinary’ Greek cults; and that of Egyptian deities — the city having close relations with the Ptolemies and being adjacent to Egypt.
Antagonistic Neighbours: Ashkelon, Judaea, and the Jews, 2000
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, 2015
Harvard Theological Review
... 17On the date of Pilate's dismissal, see E. Mary Smallwood, "The Date of the Dismis... more ... 17On the date of Pilate's dismissal, see E. Mary Smallwood, "The Date of the Dismissal of Pilate from Judaea," JJS 5 (1954) 12-21. 505 Page 4. ... aged to keep the letter but not the spirit of theJewish Law, with ... alien deity (divus Augustus) within the precincts of their Holy City. ...
Journal of Jewish Studies
Journal of Jewish Studies
One o f the more interesting figures o f the First Jewish Revolt against Rom e is that o f Sim on... more One o f the more interesting figures o f the First Jewish Revolt against Rom e is that o f Sim on Bar G iora. He is also one o f the m ore enigm atic figures. A lthough Simon Bar Giora became the main leader o f the revolt after his entry into Jerusalem in the spring o f 69, only a few specific studies have been devoted to him. This may be the result o f the problem atic nature o f some aspects pertaining to him. The fo llow ing remarks will be devoted to som e o f these aspects: his origins, his social tendencies, and the messianic aspirations ascribed to him.
Journal of Jewish Studies, 2002
rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 I... more rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 In the War too his story occupies a relatively large space.2 In both books the main source utilized by Josephus is the Universal History of Nicolaus of Damascus.3 But while in the War Herod is usually portrayed in a positive manner, this is not the case in the Antiquities. In this book one is immediately aware of the fact that Herod is quite often depicted in a negative manner.4 The Antiquities is rife with hostile evaluations of the king,5 most of them, so it seems, based on Josephus' own observations of Herod's personality.6 One of the most persistent negative undercurrents is Herod's disregard for Jewish law and Jewish religious feelings. The aim of this paper is to find out how Josephus handles this material, and what-Can be learned from it about Herod. I will divide the discussion of the evidence into two parts. The first will deal with those cases where Josephus explicitly denounces Herod's actions as injurious to Jewish law. The second part will deal with those incidents mentioned by Josephus, but not commented upon by him as transgressing Jewish religious laws. The order of the discussion follows Josephus' chronological placement of the various events in the Antiquities, which as we shall see is much more detailed in these matters than the War. The first case comes rather early in the story. The young Herod, while serving as the governor of Galilee had Ezekias and many of his men killed.7 The leading men among the Jews (evidently the aristocratic faction opposing the rising power of Antipater and his sons) denounced Herod to Hyracanus, claiming that Herod had done it 'in violation of our law, which forbids us to slay a man, even an evildoer, unless he is first convicted by the Synhedrion to suffer this fate.'8 It is true that Josephus does not speak here directly, but he
rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 I... more rr he history of Herod and his reign is the largest thematic section in Josephus' Antiquities.1 In the War too his story occupies a relatively large space.2 In both books the main source utilized by Josephus is the Universal History of Nicolaus of Damascus.3 But while in the War Herod is usually portrayed in a positive manner, this is not the case in the Antiquities. In this book one is immediately aware of the fact that Herod is quite often depicted in a negative manner.4 The Antiquities is rife with hostile evaluations of the king,5 most of them, so it seems, based on Josephus' own observations of Herod's personality.6 One of the most persistent negative undercurrents is Herod's disregard for Jewish law and Jewish religious feelings. The aim of this paper is to find out how Josephus handles this material, and what-Can be learned from it about Herod. I will divide the discussion of the evidence into two parts. The first will deal with those cases where Josephus explicitly denounces Herod's actions as injurious to Jewish law. The second part will deal with those incidents mentioned by Josephus, but not commented upon by him as transgressing Jewish religious laws. The order of the discussion follows Josephus' chronological placement of the various events in the Antiquities, which as we shall see is much more detailed in these matters than the War. The first case comes rather early in the story. The young Herod, while serving as the governor of Galilee had Ezekias and many of his men killed.7 The leading men among the Jews (evidently the aristocratic faction opposing the rising power of Antipater and his sons) denounced Herod to Hyracanus, claiming that Herod had done it 'in violation of our law, which forbids us to slay a man, even an evildoer, unless he is first convicted by the Synhedrion to suffer this fate.'8 It is true that Josephus does not speak here directly, but he
Journal of Jewish Studies
Journal of Jewish Studies
Journal of Jewish Studies
Mediterranean Historical Review, 2000
Greco‐Roman Ashkelon, being an impotant city on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean, had a mi... more Greco‐Roman Ashkelon, being an impotant city on the shores of the eastern Mediterranean, had a mixed pantheon of deities and cults. The purpose of this paper is to collect and describe the variegated evidence for these cults, and to try and trace their origins and possible outside influences. Three main spheres of influence can be discerned: the Phoenician — Ashkelon having close demographic and political ties with Tyre since the early Persian period; the influence of the ‘ordinary’ Greek cults; and that of Egyptian deities — the city having close relations with the Ptolemies and being adjacent to Egypt.