Some Observations on Rabbinic Reaction to Roman Rule in Third Century Palestine
Whereas several of the pagan writers who deal with the Third Century view it with extreme pessimism, the rabbis present a remarkably more balanced picture. They were especially impressed with the security which the Empire had brought its inhabitants. Though non-Jewish sources speak of the decline in...
| Published in: | Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
College
1992
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| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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| RelBib Classification: | BH Judaism |
| Further subjects: | B
Rabbinic Judaism
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| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | Whereas several of the pagan writers who deal with the Third Century view it with extreme pessimism, the rabbis present a remarkably more balanced picture. They were especially impressed with the security which the Empire had brought its inhabitants. Though non-Jewish sources speak of the decline in the fortunes of the Empire, some of the rabbis regard its success and prosperity as evidence of divine justice. On the other hand, some of the rabbis express disillusionment with the Empire. In particular, we are fortunate in having the comments of a number of rabbis who lived or taught in Caesarea, the seat of Roman administration in Palestine. Several of the rabbis have negative comments about the way in which the Romans choose their rulers from among alien peoples. Those rabbis who were living in Babylonia and who came to Palestine thus have a point of comparison in commenting on the fairness and effectiveness of Roman rule. Not surprisingly, the rabbis are sharply divided as to their sympathies in the constant struggles between the two "super-powers" of the day, the Parthians (and their successors, the Sassanians) and the Romans. |
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| ISSN: | 0360-9049 |
| Contains: | In: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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