Overview of Jewish History

When did the Exodus happen? 16th cent. BCE 13th cent BCE

A group of Semitic people depicted entering Egypt c.1900 BC. From the tomb of a 12th dynasty official Khnumhotep under pharaoh Senusret II at Beni Hasan.

Hyksos (ruled c. 1700-1550 BCE) The Hyksos were Semites who infiltrated Egypt beginning in the 18th cent. BCE and set up capital at Avaris Hyksos king Salitis occupied Memphis (the Egyptian capital) in 1674BCE Controlled Lower Egypt (first the Delta then the whole North) Defeated by Ahmose I in 1550

Hyksos means “foreign rulers” in Egyptian Amulet bearing the name of the Hyksos King Apophis

Statue of Ahmose I (r. ca. 1550-1525 BCE) Son of guy above Mummy of Seqenenre Tao II, a.k.a. The Brave, began war of liberation against the Hyksos Statue of Ahmose I (r. ca. 1550-1525 BCE) Son of guy above He defeated the Hyksos

Pharaoh Ahmose I defeating the Hyksos

Josephus, Contra Apion 1.73 Manetho, in the second book of his Egyptian History, writes concerning us [the Jews] in the following manner. I will set down his very words, as if I were to bring the very man himself into a court for a witness: “…There came, after a surprising manner, men of ignoble birth out of the eastern parts, and had boldness enough to make an expedition into our country and with ease subdued it by force, yet without our hazarding a battle with them.…This whole nation was called Hyksos.…These people…kept possession of Egypt five hundred and eleven years.” After these, he says, "That the kings of Thebais and the other parts of Egypt made an insurrection against the [Hyksos] shepherds, and that there a terrible and long war was made between them." He says further, "That under a king, whose name was Alisphragmuthosis, the [Hyksos] shepherds were subdued by him, and were indeed driven out of other parts of Egypt… “They went away with their whole families and effects, not fewer in number than two hundred and forty thousand, and took their journey from Egypt…. They built a city in that country which is now called Judea, and that large enough to contain this great number of men, and called it Jerusalem…” This is Manetho's account. And evident it is from the number of years by him set down belonging to this interval, if they be summed up together, that these shepherds, as they are here called, who were no other than our forefathers, were delivered out of Egypt, and came thence, and inhabited this country.

Why not the Hyksos? Evidence of destruction and new settlements in Israel only in the 13th cent., not in the 16th cent. “Pitom and Raamses” Pharaohs of Shemot are likely: Seti I (1294-1279BCE) Ramses II (1279-1213BCE) Merneptah (1213-1203 BCE)

Historical context of the biblical story Puts the migration of Jacob’s family to Egypt within the context of a larger movement of Semites moving to Egypt Explains how Joseph could rise to great power and marry an Egyptian noblewoman. He was a Semite just as they were. Explains why Pharaoh was so paranoid about the Israelite nation increasing and joining enemies to conquer the Egyptians.

Events of the First and Second Temples

King David - 1000BCE 1 Samuel 16:12

Assyrians Babylonians Persians Greeks Romans 10 Northern tribes exiled in 722 BCE Babylonians Destroyed Temple I in 587 Persians Allowed Jews to return in 539BCE Greeks Destroyed Persians in 332BCE Romans Entered Israel in 63BCE destroyed Temple II in 70 CE

From the Last Kings to the Persian Period: Prophecy and Archaeology The Foundations of Jewish Survival 5 Stages of Galut, 5 Stages of Geulah

שבכל דור ודור עומדים עלינו לכלותינו, והקדוש ברוך הוא מצילנו מידם. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?”  - Mark Twain “Concerning The Jews,” Harper’s Magazine, 1899 First exile and return under the guidance of prophets serves as a model for the second exiles and hopes for redemption.

Babylonian Empire

5 Stages of Galut Stage 1 – Judah becomes a vassal state Jehoiakim (608-597BCE) Three years is vassal to Egypt Changes sides in 605 and Becomes vassal to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia After 3 more years switches back to Egypt Nebuchadnezzar attacks and conquers Jerusalem in 597BCE Burned manuscript of Jeremiah. Jer 36

Babylonian Kings Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 605-562) Nabopolassar (r. 626 – 605) Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 605-562) Amel-Marduk (r. 562-560) a.k.a אויל מרדך Nergal-sharezer (r. 560 – 556) Labashi-Marduk (r. 556) Nabonidus (r. 556 – 539)

Sources of Chronology Ptolemy’s Canon Uruk King List Ptolemy of Alexandria (85-165) Famous geographer and astronomer Passed on a canon of kings covering 900 years Uruk King List In Baghdad Museum (unless looted in 2003) Lists kings and years reigned from 647-226 http://www.livius.org/k/kinglist/uruk.html

Cuneiform VAT 4956 An Astronomical Diary

Absolute Dating From VAT 4956: “Year 37 of Nebuchadnezar, king of Babylon. Month I (the first of which was identical with) the 30th (of the preceding month), the moon became visible behind the Bull of heaven…Saturn was in front of the Swallow…Night of the 3rd, the moon was two cubits if front of…” This accurately describes 568 BCE and no other year.

“Chronology Papers” by W. Dolen “But not only did these tablets report on lunar eclipses, and one planet position with specific dates (month and day), these tablets report on many planet positions. By ascertaining through retro-calculation the position of these planets on certain dates, we narrow the dates down to the exact year in the Christian Era system. “For example the 523-522 BC tablet contains several positions of the planets Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and Mars during this time period. Jupiter repeats its synodic period every 71 (70.987) or 83 solar years. Venus repeats itself every eight years. Saturn repeats itself every 59 years. And Mars repeats itself every 47 (46.979) years. These four planets will all be in the same position in relation to themselves and the stars on the same solar date approximately every 1,575,064 years.” (vol. 5 p. 112)

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, Book 2 Ch. 6 “The same summer, at the beginning of a new lunar month, the only time by the way at which it appears possible, the sun was eclipsed after noon. After it had assumed the form of a crescent and some of the stars had come out, it returned to its natural shape.” This text describes a lunar eclipse in the first year of the Peloponnesian war = 431BCE

Stage 2 – Exile of Yehoiachin Yehoiachin 597BCE Reigns for three months Captured by Nebuchandezzar in a siege Imprisoned in Babylonia Craftsman and elite of Judea is exiled with him Freed in 562BCE by Amel-Marduk

Destruction Dates Kings Jeremiah Exile of Yehoyachin (2 Kings 24:12) (Jer 52:28) “8th of his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] reign. “in the 7th year”

עד שיבא הכתוב השלישי ויכריע ביניהם The Jerusalem Chronicle (ABC 5) A.K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles 11. In the seventh year, the month of Kislîmu, the king of Akkad mustered his troops, marched to the Hatti-land,12. and besieged the city of Judah and on the second day of the month of Addaru he seized the city and captured the king. 13. He appointed there a king of his own choice, received its heavy tribute and sent to Babylon. In British Museum Hatti is Assyria’s Western provinces Earlier in doc mentions Ashkelon see Jer 47:5-7 and Zephaniah 2:4-7 in 609BCE 12. In the accession year Nebuchadnezzar went back again to the Hatti-land and until the month of Šabatu13. marched unopposed through the Hatti-land;  in the month of Šabatu he took the heavy tribute of the Hatti-territory to Babylon.14. In the month of Nisannu he took the hands of Bêl and the son of Bêl and celebrated the Akitu festival.15. In the first year of Nebuchadnezzar [604/603]in the month of Simanu  he mustered his army16. and went to the Hatti-territory, he marched about unopposed in the Hatti-territory until the month of Kislîmu.17. All the kings of the Hatti-land came before him and he received their heavy tribute.18. He marched to the city of Aškelon and captured it in the month of Kislîmu.19. He captured its king and plundered it and carried off spoil from it.

How to count to 7 Nebuchadnezzar begins reign in Elul/September 605 = year 0 Nissan/April 604 – Adar/March 603 = year 1 Nissan/April 603 – Adar/March 602 = year 2 Nissan/April 602 – Adar/March 601 = year 3 Nissan/April 601 – Adar/March 600 = year 4 Nissan/April 600 – Adar/March 599 = year 5 Nissan/April 599 – Adar/March 598 = year 6 Nissan/April 598 – Adar/March 597 = year 7

Theological Significance of Dating Systems מכילתא דרבי ישמעאל יתרו - מס' דבחדש פר א ד"ה בחדש השלישי בחדש השלישי לצאת בני ישראל מארץ מצרים. מגיד שמונים חדשים ליציאת מצרים, אין לי אלא חדשים, שנים מנין, ת"ל בשנה השנית לצאתם מארץ מצרים; אין לי אלא באותו הפרק, בפרק אחר מנין, ת"ל (במדבר לג:לח) בשנת הארבעים לצאת בני ישראל מארץ מצרים. כל אלו עד שלא נכנסו לארץ, משנכנסו לארץ מנין, ת"ל (מלכים א' ו:א) ויהי בשמונים שנה וארבע מאות שנה לצאת בני ישראל מארץ מצרים. כל אלו עד שלא נבנה הבית, משנבנה הבית מנין [שמונין לבניינו,] ת"ל (דה"ב ח:א) ויהי מקץ עשרים שנה אשר בנה שלמה את בית ה'. לא רצו למנות לבנינו, ימנו לחורבנו, שנ' (יחזקאל מ א) אחר אשר הוכתה העיר. לא רצו למנות לעצמם, ימנו לאחרים, שנ' (דניאל ב:א) בשנת שתים למלכות נבוכד נצר חלם נבוכד נצר חלומות; ואומר (חגי א:טו) בששי בשנת שתים לדריוש המלך; ואומר (שיר השירים א:ח) אם לא תדעי לך היפה בנשים; ואומר (דברים כח:מז) תחת אשר לא עבדת את ה' אלהיך ועבדת את אויביך.

Stage 3 – Breach of Jerusalem Walls Zedekiah 597-587 BCE Placed on throne by Nebuchadnezzar Rebelled and entered alliance with Egypt Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem on 10th of Tevet 589 BCE Walls are breached in Tamuz 587 BCE Watched children murdered before being blinded

Mishnah Ta’anit 4:6 חמשה דברים אירעו את אבותינו בשבעה עשר בתמוז, וחמשה בתשעה באב. בשבעה עשר בתמוז נשתברו הלוחות, ובטל התמיד, והובקעה העיר. ושרף אפוסטמוס את התורה והעמיד צלם בהיכל. בתשעה באב נגזר על אבותינו שלא יכנסו לארץ, וחרב הבית בראשונה ובשניה, ונלכדה ביתר, ונחרשה העיר.

17th of Tammuz? Jer 52:6-7 (=2 Kings 25:3-4) By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine had become acute in the city; there was no food left for the common people. Then [the wall of] the city was breached. All the soldiers fled…

תלמוד בבלי מסכת תענית דף כח עמוד ב The Bavli’s Answer תלמוד בבלי מסכת תענית דף כח עמוד ב הובקעה העיר בשבעה עשר הוה? והכתיב (ירמיהו נ"ב) בחדש הרביעי בתשעה לחדש ויחזק הרעב בעיר, וכתיב בתריה (ירמיהו נ"ב) ותבקע העיר וגו'! אמר רבא: לא קשיא; כאן בראשונה, כאן בשניה. דתניא: בראשונה הובקעה העיר בתשעה בתמוז, בשניה בשבעה עשר בו.

The Yerushalmi’s Answer ירושלמי מסכת תענית פרק ד דף סח טור ג /ה"ה כתיב בתשעה לחדש הובקעה העיר ואת אמר הכין? אמר ר' תנחום בר חנילאי קילקול חשבונות יש כאן הדא היא דכתיב ויהי בעשתי עשרה שנה באחד לחדש היה דבר יי' אלי לאמר בן אדם יען אשר אמרה צור על ירושלם האח מהו האח אין תימר באחד באב עדיין לא נשרף אין תימר באחד באלול ביום ולילה נפק בלדרה מן ירושלם ואתי לצור אלא קילקול חשבונות יש כאן רבי יוחנן ורבי שמעון בן לקיש רבי יוחנן אמר למלך שהיה יושב ומחשב חשבונות באו ואמרו לו נשבה בנך ונתקלקלו חשבונותיו אמר יעשה זה ראש לחשבונות רבי שמעון בן לקיש אמר למלך שהיה יושב ומחשב חשבונותיו באו ואמרו לו נשבה בנך ונתקדש אמר ייעשה זה ראש לחשבונות

5 Stages of Destruction Stage 1 – Judah becomes a vassal state in 605 BCE Stage 2 – Exile of Yehoiachin in 597 BCE Stage 3 – Breach of Jerusalem Walls in 587 BCE Stage 4 – Beth Hamikdash Destroyed

Destruction of Temple I 587 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar

Destruction of the Temple Destruction Dates Kings Jeremiah Exile of Yehoyachin Destruction of the Temple (2 Kings 25:8) (Jer 52:12) (Jer 52:29) “8th of his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] reign. (2 Kings 24:12) “in the 7th year” (Jer 52:28) “On the 10th day of the 5th month in the 19th year…” “18th year” “On the 7th day of the 5th month in the 19th year of King Nebuchadnezzar…”

Bavli Ta’anit 29a Resolving the different dates for the Temple’s destruction חרב הבית בראשונה - דכתיב (מלכים ב' כ"ה) ובחדש החמישי בשבעה לחדש היא שנת תשע עשרה [שנה] למלך נבכדנאצר מלך בבל בא נבוזראדן רב טבחים עבד מלך בבל ירושלם וישרף את בית ה' וגו', וכתיב (ירמיהו נ"ב) ובחדש החמישי בעשור לחדש היא שנת תשע עשרה [שנה] למלך נבוכדנאצר מלך בבל בא נבוזראדן רב טבחים עמד לפני מלך בבל בירושלם וגו'. ותניא: אי אפשר לומר בשבעה - שהרי כבר נאמר בעשור, ואי אפשר לומר בעשור - שהרי כבר נאמר בשבעה. הא כיצד? בשבעה נכנסו נכרים להיכל, ואכלו וקלקלו בו שביעי שמיני, ותשיעי סמוך לחשיכה הציתו בו את האור, והיה דולק והולך כל היום כולו, שנאמר (ירמיהו ו:ד) אוי לנו כי פנה היום כי ינטו צללי ערב. והיינו דאמר רבי יוחנן: אלמלי הייתי באותו הדור - לא קבעתיו אלא בעשירי, מפני שרובו של היכל בו נשרף. ורבנן: אתחלתא דפורענותא עדיפא.

5 Stages of Destruction Stage 1 – Judah becomes vassal to Babylonia in 605 BCE Stage 2 – Exile of Yehoiachin in 597 BCE Stage 3 – Breach of Jerusalem Walls in 587 BCE Stage 4 – Beth Hamikdash Destroyed Stage 5 – Gedaliah murdered on 1st of Tishre 587 BCE

Stage 1 of Redemption Yehoyachin Freed and Given Daily Allowance And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin (562 BCE) king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison; and he spoke kindly jto him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table; and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, every day a portion, as long as he lived. (2 Kings 25:27-30)

ANET 308 – Lists of Food Deliveries to Important People 1 ... to Ia-'-u-kin, king ... to the qîpûtu-house of ... ... for Shalamiamu, the ... ... for 126 men from Tyre ... ... for Zabiruam the Ly[dian] ... 2 10 sila of oil to ... [Ia]-'-kin, king of Ia-[a-hu-du] 2½ sila of oil to the [five so]ns of the king of Ia-a-hu-du 4 sila to eight men from Ia-a-hu-da-a-a ... 3 1½ sila for three carpenters from Arvad, ½ sila each 11½ sila for eight ditto from Byblus, 1 sila each ... 3½ sila sila for seven ditto, ½ sila each ½ sila for Nabû-êtir the carpenter 10 sila to Ia-ku-ú-ki-nu, the son of the king of Ia-ku-du (Yehudah) 2½ sila for the five sons of the king of Ia-ku-du through Qana'a Comment The third list is the most interesting, because it suggests that Jehoiachin had five sons, whereas the Bible says that there were seven (1 Chronicles 3.17-18): The sons of Jehoiachin, the captive: Shealtiel his son,  Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. Perhaps two had died, or had not yet come of age. It is also possible that a mistake was made by someone who copied this verse, because the wording is a bit odd and there is a variant reading. The text, as we now have it, suggests that only Shealtiel was Jehoiachin's son, and the other names are in fact without qualification. Perhaps they are descendants of Malchiram, son of Shealtiel, and perhaps we must read: The sons of Jehoiachin, the captive: Shealtiel his son,  Malchiram his son, and Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, Nedabiah, the sons of Malchiram. Of course, this implies that the five sons of text three are in fact five descendants, which is certainly possible, because the word "son" was frequently used in a very loose sense. This creates another problem, however: why aren't Shealtiel and Malchiram mentioned in text three? Perhaps they had become courtiers of one of the Babylonian kings, but this is just a hypothesis. A final remark: because Jehoiachin had been king for a mere three months, he could also be described as "the son of the king of Judah" in the third text. Literature ANET = James K. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Texts relating to the the Old Testament (1955 second edition) Diana Edelman, The Origins of the 'Second' Temple. Persian Imperial Policy and the Rebuilding of Jerusalem (2005), pp.21-22 Irving Finkel, "The Lament of Nabû-šuma-ukîn" in J. Renger (ed.), Babylon. Focus mesopotamischer Geschichte, Wiege früher Gelehrtsamkeit, Mythos in der Moderne (1999 Saaerbrücken) 323-341 © Jona Lendering for Livius.Org, 2007 Revision: 4 July 2007 Livius.OrgAnatoliaCarthageEgyptGerm. Inf.GreeceJudaeaMesopotamiaPersiaRomeOther

Stage 2 of Redeption – Cyrus Grants Permission to Return and Rebuild in 539 BCE דברי הימים ב פרק לו )כ) וַיֶּגֶל הַשְּׁאֵרִית מִן הַחֶרֶב אֶל בָּבֶל וַיִּהְיוּ לוֹ וּלְבָנָיו לַעֲבָדִים עַד מְלֹךְ מַלְכוּת פָּרָס: (כא) לְמַלֹּאות דְּבַר יְקֹוָק בְּפִי יִרְמְיָהוּ עַד רָצְתָה הָאָרֶץ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתֶיהָ כָּל יְמֵי הָשַּׁמָּה שָׁבָתָה לְמַלֹּאות שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה: פ (כב) וּבִשְׁנַת אַחַת לְכוֹרֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס לִכְלוֹת דְּבַר יְקֹוָק בְּפִי יִרְמְיָהוּ הֵעִיר יְקֹוָק אֶת רוּחַ כּוֹרֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס וַיַּעֲבֶר קוֹל בְּכָל מַלְכוּתוֹ וְגַם בְּמִכְתָּב לֵאמֹר: ס (כג) כֹּה אָמַר כּוֹרֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס כָּל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ נָתַן לִי יְקֹוָק אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהוּא פָקַד עָלַי לִבְנוֹת לוֹ בַיִת בִּירוּשָׁלִַם אֲשֶׁר בִּיהוּדָה מִי בָכֶם מִכָּל עַמּוֹ יְקֹוָק אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ וְיָעַל:

Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonians and permits the Jews to return to Israel and rebuilt the Temple 539BCE

Prophecy of Return ירמיהו פרק כה:יא-יב וְהָיְתָה כָּל הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לְחָרְבָּה לְשַׁמָּה וְעָבְדוּ הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה אֶת מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה: וְהָיָה כִמְלֹאות שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה אֶפְקֹד עַל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל וְעַל הַגּוֹי הַהוּא נְאֻם יְקֹוָק אֶת עֲוֹנָם וְעַל אֶרֶץ כַּשְׂדִּים וְשַׂמְתִּי אֹתוֹ לְשִׁמְמוֹת עוֹלָם: ירמיהו פרק כט:י כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְקֹוָק כִּי לְפִי מְלֹאת לְבָבֶל שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה אֶפְקֹד אֶתְכֶם וַהֲקִמֹתִי עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת דְּבָרִי הַטּוֹב לְהָשִׁיב אֶתְכֶם אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה: Zech 1:12 and 7:5 Ezra and 2 Crhon Daniel doesn’t like either

Paying Back the Loan ויקרא פרק כו (לד) אָז תִּרְצֶה הָאָרֶץ אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ כֹּל יְמֵי הֳשַׁמָּה וְאַתֶּם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיכֶם אָז תִּשְׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ וְהִרְצָת אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ: (לה) כָּל יְמֵי הָשַּׁמָּה תִּשְׁבֹּת אֵת אֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׁבְתָה בְּשַׁבְּתֹתֵיכֶם בְּשִׁבְתְּכֶם עָלֶיהָ:

Cyrus Cylinder Now in the British Museum

Cyrus Cylinder in British Museum, London

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Cyrus Cylinder [28-33] By his exalted word, all the kings who sit upon thrones throughout the world, from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea [i.e., from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf], who live in the districts far-off, the kings of the West, who dwell in tents, all of them, brought their heavy tribute before me and in Babylon they kissed my feet. From Babylon to Aššur and from Susa, Agade, Ešnunna, Zamban, Me-Turnu, Der, as far as the region of Gutium, the sacred centers on the other side of the Tigris, whose sanctuaries had been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images of the gods, who had resided there [i.e., in Babylon], to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings. In addition, at the command of Marduk, the great lord, I settled in their habitations, in pleasing abodes, the gods of Sumer and Akkad, whom Nabonidus, to the anger of the lord of the gods, had brought into Babylon. [34-36] May all the gods whom I settled in their sacred centers ask daily of Bêl and Nâbu that my days be long and may they intercede for my welfare. May they say to Marduk, my lord: "As for Cyrus, the king who reveres you, and Cambyses, his son, [lacuna]." The people of Babylon blessed my kingship, and I settled all the lands in peaceful abodes.

Replica of Cyrus Cylinder in UN, New York

A seal from the 6th cent. BCE “Belonging to Yehoyishma, daughter of Sawas-sar-usur.” Sawas-sar-usur is a well-known neo-Babylonian name that means "Shamash [the Babylonian sun-god] protect the king Nahman Avigad, "Seals of Exiles," Israel Exploration Journal 15:4

Stage 3 Rebuilding of Second Bet Hamikdash in 520-516 BCE Texts: Ezra 1-6, Haggai 1 People Involved Sheshbazzar – Yehoyachin’s son Zerubabel – Yehoyachin’s grandson Haggai Zechariah Dates Commences in Darius I’s 2nd year = 520 Finished on Adar 3 of Darius’ 6th year = March 516 Describe Sheshbazzar and Zerubabel Note that Ezra is not part of these activities and only goes later on Make note of group that stops them are identified with Samaritans whom we deal with later on.

Building of Temple II 516 BCE under Zerubabel

Achaemenid Dynasty Cyrus II, the Great ruled from c.550-530 BCE Cambyses II ruled 529-522 BCE Smerdis (Bardiya), ruled 522 BCE Darius I, the Great ruled 521-486 BCE Xerxes I ruled 485-465 BCE Artaxerxes I Longimanus ruled 465-424 BCE Xerxes II ruled 424 BCE Sogdianus ruled 424-423 BCE Darius II Nothus ruled 423-405 BCE Artaxerxes II Mnemon ruled 404-359 BCE Artaxerxes III Ochus ruled 358-338 BCE Artaxerxes IV Arses ruled 338-336 BCE Darius III Codomannus ruled 336-330 BCE

A Second Interpretation of Jeremiah’s 70 years זכריה פרק א (יב) וַיַּעַן מַלְאַךְ יְקֹוָק וַיֹּאמַר יְקֹוָק צְבָאוֹת עַד מָתַי אַתָּה לֹא תְרַחֵם אֶת יְרוּשָׁלִַם וְאֵת עָרֵי יְהוּדָה אֲשֶׁר זָעַמְתָּה זֶה שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה: זכריה פרק ז (א) וַיְהִי בִּשְׁנַת אַרְבַּע לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיָה דְבַר יְקֹוָק אֶל זְכַרְיָה בְּאַרְבָּעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ הַתְּשִׁעִי בְּכִסְלֵו: (ב) וַיִּשְׁלַח בֵּית אֵל שַׂר אֶצֶר וְרֶגֶם מֶלֶךְ וַאֲנָשָׁיו לְחַלּוֹת אֶת פְּנֵי יְקֹוָק: (ג) לֵאמֹר אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים אֲשֶׁר לְבֵית יְקֹוָק צְבָאוֹת וְאֶל הַנְּבִיאִים לֵאמֹר הַאֶבְכֶּה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִשִׁי הִנָּזֵר כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי זֶה כַּמֶּה שָׁנִים: פ (ד) וַיְהִי דְּבַר יְקֹוָק צְבָאוֹת אֵלַי לֵאמֹר: (ה) אֱמֹר אֶל כָּל עַם הָאָרֶץ וְאֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים לֵאמֹר כִּי צַמְתֶּם וְסָפוֹד בַּחֲמִישִׁי וּבַשְּׁבִיעִי וְזֶה שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה הֲצוֹם צַמְתֻּנִי אָנִי:

How to Count 70 ירמיהו פרק כה:יא-יב וְהָיְתָה כָּל הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לְחָרְבָּה לְשַׁמָּה וְעָבְדוּ הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה אֶת מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה: וְהָיָה כִמְלֹאות שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה אֶפְקֹד עַל מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל וְעַל הַגּוֹי הַהוּא נְאֻם יְקֹוָק אֶת עֲוֹנָם וְעַל אֶרֶץ כַּשְׂדִּים וְשַׂמְתִּי אֹתוֹ לְשִׁמְמוֹת עוֹלָם: ירמיהו פרק כט:י כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְקֹוָק כִּי לְפִי מְלֹאת לְבָבֶל שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה אֶפְקֹד אֶתְכֶם וַהֲקִמֹתִי עֲלֵיכֶם אֶת דְּבָרִי הַטּוֹב לְהָשִׁיב אֶתְכֶם אֶל הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה: Ezra and 2 Chron Zech 1:12 and 7:5 Daniel doesn’t like either Reign of Nebuchadnezzar in 605 to conquest of Cyrus in 539 2. Destruction in 587 to Rededication in 515

Stage 4 - Activities of Ezra and Nehemiah Ez 7-8 Sent by Artexerxes (I? in 458BCE) Ez 9-10 Mixed Marriages

Book of Nehemiah Arrived in 455BCE Ch 1-7:3 Rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem 7:4-73 Census of returned exiles 8:1-12 Ezra reads the Torah in public 8:13-17 Celebrate Sukkoth 9-10 A new covenant 11-12:26 Repopulation, lists of people 12:27-13:3 Dedication of city walls 13:4-31 Legislation of laws

Early Midrash in Nehamiah Ch 10 10:1-28 List of Signatories 29-30 Pledge to keep Hashem’s law in general 31-40 pledge to keep a set of particular laws 10:31 prohibition to intermarry all people in land from Exodus 34:11-16 and Devarim 7:1-3 10:32 buying is prohibited on Shabbat extending Ex 34:21 (farm work), 35:3 (fire), Jer 17:21 (burden), Amos 8:5 (selling), Neh 13:5 (selling and pressing wine) 10:33 extends Ex 30:11-16 to be an annual tax 10:35 enables law of Vayikra 6:1-6, wood to burn continually 10:36 extends Devarim 26:2 to fruit trees

Stage 5 of Redemption and yet a third interpretation of Jeremiah’s 70 Read Daniel 9 70 = 70 x 7 = 7 x 7 + 62 x 7 (434) + ½ x 7 + ½ x 7 = 490 From Nebuchadnezzar to Hashmonaim From Destruction I to Destruction II ??? Daniel is disappointed. Perhaps he expects the temple to be rebuilt and is counting from Yehoyachin, or he is depressed that only a few people came back. Haggai also shows. Zech 1:12 also complains that its been 70 years and nothing happened.

Seder Olam Chronology סדר עולם רבה פרק כח רבי יוסי אומר שבעים שבעים (דניאל ט:כה), משחרב בית ראשון ועד שחרב בית אחרון, שבעים לחרבנו וארבע מאות ועשרים לבנינו... רבי יוסי אומר מלכות פרס בפני הבית ל"ד שנה, מלכות יון מאה ושמונים, מלכות בית חשמונאי מאה ושלש, מלכות הורודוס מאה ושלש, מכאן ואילך צא וחשוב לחרבן הבית

Bavli Avodah Zarah 9a R. Yose ben Halafta taught: Persian rule lasted 34 years after the building of the Temple, Greece ruled 180 years during the existence of the Temple, the Hasmonean rule lasted 103 years during temple times, the House of Herod ruled 103. Thence onward, one should go on counting the years as from the Destruction of the Temple.

Comparing Chronologies Seder Olam Chronology 421 Destruction of Temple I 369 Darius the Mede received kingdom 368BCE Koresh reigns, decree of return 366-352 Purim during Ahashverosh 352 - 317 Daryavesh reigns 351 Begin rebuilding Temple Historians’ Chronology 586 Destruction of Temple I 539 Cyrus takes Babylonia 538 Cyrus decrees return 521-486 Darius I reigns 520 Begin rebuilding Temple 484 Purim during Artexerxes I

והוצאתי והצלתי וגאלתי ולקחתי, והבאתי 5 Stages of Galut Judah becomes vassal to Babylonia in 605 BCE Exile of Yehoiachin in 597 BCE Breach of Jerusalem Walls in 587 BCE Beth Hamikdash Destroyed in 587 BCE Gedaliah murdered on 1st of Tishre 587 BCE 5 Stages of Geulah Yehoyachin Freed and Given Daily Allowance Cyrus Grants Permission to Return and Rebuild in 539 BCE Rebuilding of Second Bet Hamikdash in 520-516 BCE Activities of Ezra and Nehemiah Hasmonean Independence

Purim Story – under Persians

Hanukah Story – 164 BCE

Destruction of Temple II – 70 CE

Arch of Titus

Rabbis Reconvene at Yavneh after 70 CE

Bar Kokhba Revolt - 132 CE Front: Trumpets. "לחרות ירושלים" Other coins include Eleazar the priest, a second Messianic figure. Perhaps R. Eleazar Hamoda’i. Front: Trumpets. "לחרות ירושלים" Back: Lyre. "ש[נה] ב לחר[ות] ישראל"

Texts and Time Periods 1000BCE King David 587 BCE Destruction of Temple I 539 BCE Cyrus the Great – Persian rule 516 BCE Second Temple Built 332 BCE Alexander the Great – Greek rule 164 BCE Maccabean Revolt 150BCE-70CE Pharisees 70 CE Second Temple Destroyed 132 CE Bar Kokhba Revolt 50-200 CE Tannaitic Period 220 CE Mishnah & Tannaitic Midrash Compiled 200-500 CE Amoraic Period 400 CE Yerushalmi & Amoraic Midrash Compiled 500-700 CE Savoraim in Babylonia 600 CE Bavli Completed

Rabbinic Texts Tannaitic Mishnah Midrashim Tosefta 200CE Talmud Yerushalmi 400CE Amoraic Midrashim Talmud Bavli 600CE See https://fc.gannacademy.org/gannopedia/genremap/rlgenremaphebrew.html

Generations of Tannaim 1 40-80CE Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai's generation 2 80-110 Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh, Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua's generation, the teachers of Rabbi Akiva. 3 110-135 The generation of Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues, R. Ishmael. 4 135-170 The generation of Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda and their colleagues. Live in Usha. 5 170-200 Rabbi Judah haNasi's generation

Tannaitic Midrash רבי עקיבא רבי ישמעאל ------ בראשית מכילתא דרבי שמעון בר יוחאי מכילתא דרבי ישמעאל שמות ספרא (רק קטעים) ויקרא ספרי זוטא ספרי במדבר מדרש תנאים דברים

Why is it called the “Mishnah”? The Hebrew root "ShNH" means "to repeat," (ושננתם לבניך) and refers to memorization by repetition. "Mishnah" therefore has the sense of "that which is memorized by rote," as distinct from the Rabbinic designation for the Bible: "Miqra,"that which is read and recited from a written text. The Jewish sages whose statements are quoted in the Mishnah are known as Tanna'im (singular: "Tanna"), derived from the Aramaic root related to the Hebrew "ShNH". The era in which the Mishnah was developed is therefore referred to as the "Tanna'itic" era.

“Our” Mishnah On the Talmud page, the passages from the Mishnah (for which the Talmud serves as a commentary) are introduced with the abbreviation "MTNY'," short for the Aramaic “Matnitin," "our mishnah." It is customary for the Babylonian Talmud to refer to "our Mishnah" (or: We learned), to distinguish it from other, "external," mishnahs, referred to in Aramaic as "baraita.“ Some of the bataitot are collected in the Tosefta.

When were the contents of the Mishnah was composed? There are traditions in the Mishnah that claim to go back before the fifth century B.C.E. (the "Great Assembly"; cf. Nehemiah 8-10), as well as a few additions from as late as the mid-third century C.E. However, the main body of the Mishnah consists of teachings attributed to authorities from about the middle of the first century, through to the second decade of the third century C.E.

Pre - Mishnah Sherira Gaon – before Mishnah, each Rabbi had his own formulation and order of traditions. Rebbi’s Mishnha is based on that of R. Akiva: תוספתא מסכת זבים פרק א הלכה ה כשהיה ר' עקיבא מסדר הלכות לתלמידים אמר כל מי ששמע טעם על חברו יבוא ויאמר

Contents of the Mishnah First Order: Zeraim ("Seeds"). 11 tractates. It deals with agricultural laws and prayers. Second Order: Moed ("Festival"). 12 tractates. This pertains to the laws of the Sabbath and the Festivals. Third Order: Nashim ("Women"). 7 tractates. Concerns marriage and divorce. Fourth Order: Nezikin ("Damages"). 10 tractates. Deals with civil and criminal law. Fifth Order: Kodshim ("Holy things"). 11 tractates. This involves sacrificial rites, the Temple, and the dietary laws. Sixth order: Tohorot ("Purities"). 12 tractates. This pertains to the laws of purity and impurity, including the impurity of the dead, the laws of ritual purity for the priests (cohanim), the laws of "family purity" (the menstrual laws) and others.

Order of Masechtot within a Seder Rambam tries to explain order of tractates in the Mishnah based on either chronological or logical progression.

SEDER MOED Shabbat Eruvin Pesachim Shekalim Yoma Sukkah Beitzah Rosh Hashanah Ta'anint Megillah Moed Katan Hagigah

SEDER MOED Shabbat 24 Eruvin 10 Pesachim 10 Shekalim 8 Yoma 8 Sukkah 5 Beitzah 5 Rosh Hashanah 4 Ta'anint 4 Megillah 4 Moed Katan 3 Hagigah 3

SEDER NASHIM Yevamot 16 Ketubot 13 Nedarim 11 Nazir 9 Sotah 9 Gittin 9 Kiddushin 4

SEDER NEZIKIN Bava Kamma 10 Bava Metzia 10 Bava Batra 10 Sanhedrin 11 Makkot 3 Shevuot 8 Edutoyot 8 Avodah Zarah 5 Avot 5 (6) Horayot 3

SEDER KODASHIM Zevahim 14 Menahot 13 Hullin 12 Bekhorot 9 Arakhin 9 Terumah 7 Keritot 6 Me'ilah 6 Tamid 6 Middot 5 Kinnim 3

SEDER TOHOROT Keilim 30 Oholot 18 Negaim 14 Parah 12 Tohorot 10 Mikvaot 10 Niddah 10 Makshirin 6 Zavim 5 Tevul Yom 4 Yadaim 4 Uktzin 3

SEDER ZERAIM Berakhot 9 Peah 8 Demai 7 Kilaim 9 Sheviit 10 Terumot 11 Ma'asrot 5 Ma'aser Sheini 5 Hallah 4 Orlah 3 Bikkurim 4 See Elman in Anthology quoting Geiger

The most reliable complete manuscript of the Mishnah.

Save one life… משנה מסכת סנהדרין פרק ד משנה ה לפיכך נברא אדם יחידי ללמדך שכל המאבד נפש אחד מישראל מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו איבד עולם מלא וכל המקיים נפש אחת מישראל מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו קיים עולם מלא ומפני שלום הבריות שלא יאמר אדם לחבירו אבא גדול מאביך http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvGu3Y9e8y0

Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 – Ms. Kaufman

Comparing Mishnah & Tosefta תוספתא מסכת חולין פרק ח הלכה ו טיפת חלב שנפלה על החתיכה ר' יהודה אומר אם יש בנותן טעם באותה חתיכה וחכמים אומרים באותה הקדרה אמר רבי נראין דברי ר' יהודה בזמן שלא ניער ולא כסה ודברי חכמים בזמן שניער וכסה: משנה מסכת חולין פרק ח טיפת חלב שנפלה על החתיכה אם יש בה בנותן טעם באותה חתיכה אסור ניער את הקדרה אם יש בה בנותן טעם באותה קדרה אסור

Purpose of Mishnah Book of Textbook of Practical Halakha Oral Tradition Quotes the opinion of a single Rabbi in the Tosefta as “the Sages” in order to say that he represent the Halakha. There are still multiple opinion and contradictions within the Mishnah. Also, Mishnah includes impractical temple and purity laws.

Why Include Controversy? Eduyot ch. 1, Mishnah 5. And why do they record the opinion of a single person among the many, when the Halachah must be according to the opinion of the many? So that if a court prefers the opinion of the single person it may depend on him. For no court may set aside the decision of another court unless it is greater than it in wisdom and in number. If it was greater than it in wisdom but not in number, in number but not in wisdom, it may not set aside its decision, unless it is greater than it in wisdom and in number. Mishnah 6. R. Judah said: if so, why do they record the opinion of a single person among the many to set it aside? So that if a man shall say, thus have I learnt the tradition,’ it may be said to him, ‘according to the [refuted] opinion of that individual did you hear it.

Amoraim Eres Yisrael Bavel 1 220-260 Yehoshua ben Levi Rav (Sura) Shmuel (Nehardea) 2 260-290 R. Yohanan Rav Yehuda Rav Huna 3 290-320 R. Zeira Rabbah Rav Nahman 4 320-350 R. Yirmiah Abaye and Rava 5 350-400 R. Yehuda Hanasi IV Rav Papa 6 400-500 Rav Ashi

Important Political Events 313CE Constantine converted to and declared toleration for Christianity 351CE Jewish Revolt against Gallus protesting anti-Jewish legislation 362CE Julian the Apostate announced rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash 380 Christianity declared the official religion of the roman empire 395 Roman Empire splits into two 425CE Elimination of the Patriarchate 638CE Muslim Conquest

Texts and Time Periods 1000BCE King David 587 BCE Destruction of Temple I 539 BCE Cyrus the Great – Persian rule 516 BCE Second Temple Built 332 BCE Alexander the Great – Greek rule 164 BCE Maccabean Revolt 150BCE-70CE Pharisees 70 CE Second Temple Destroyed 132 CE Bar Kokhba Revolt 50-200 CE Tannaitic Period 220 CE Mishnah & Tannaitic Midrash Compiled 200-500 CE Amoraic Period 400 CE Yerushalmi & Amoraic Midrash Compiled 500-700 CE Savoraim in Babylonia 600 CE Bavli Completed