Cult as the catalyst for division : cult disputes as the motive for schism in the pre-70 pluralistic environment / by Paul Heger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Heger, Paul, 1924-

Series:

Studies on the texts of the desert of Judah 0169-9962 ; v. 65.

Studies on the texts of the Desert of Judah, 0169-9962 ; v. 65

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Judaism--Liturgy--History--To 1500.

Judaism--History--Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D.

Judaism.

History.

Judaism--Post-exilic period (Judaism).

Jewish sects--History--To 1500.

Dead Sea scrolls.

Grain--Religious aspects--Judaism--History--To 1500.

Jewish law--Interpretation and construction--History--To 1500.

Jewish law--Interpretation and construction.

Grain.

Jewish sects.

Judaism--Liturgy.

Physical Description:

ix, 423 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2007.

Summary:

The study asserts that conflicting sacrificial rules were the motive of the schism in Judean society, in the last period of the Second Temple. The study substantiates the thesis by a meticulous examination and comparison of the rabbinic and Qumran exegetical methods, and an exhaustive scrutiny of biblical sacrificial rules, demonstrating their deficiencies, the cause of the exegetical dissensions among the different groups. A short record of historical struggles, due to cult issues, and a scrutiny of Qumran literature, corroborating the utmost significance of the Temple cult in that group, complement the study. The study is useful for a comprehension of Qumran literature and particularly of the system of thought of its authors and their approach to the biblical writings.

Contents:

Defining 'Cult' 2

Premises 4

Object of this Study: The Focus on Cult Issues 6

Detailed Outline 9

Presentation and Sources 15

1 Cult Dissension in Ancient Israel 17

1.2 The Pre-Exilic Period 18

1.3 The Post-Exilic Period 19

1.3.1 The Effect of the Exile 19

1.3.2 Ideological Dissension among the Returnees 21

1.3.3 Priestly Power and Hellenization 25

1.3.4 Changes in the Practice of Law in the Maccabean Period and its Aftermath 25

1.4 The Impact of Scripture on Judean Society 26

1.4.1 The Significance of Exegesis in the Period of Ezra and Nehemiah 26

1.4.2 Exegetical Disputes 29

1.4.2.1 Sabbath Law and the Development of Relativity in the Law 32

1.4.2.2 Contention Concerning Sacrifice 35

2 Qumran Exegesis 41

2.2 Example: The Grain Minhah-the Limited Time for Consumption 45

2.3 Example: 'New' Laws 54

2.3.1 Consecration of Priests 54

2.3.2 Qumran's Additional Festivals 61

2.3.2.1 Rabbinic Exegesis: The High Priest's Minhah 62

2.3.2.2 Qumran Exegesis: The New Festivals 70

2.4 Scholarly Studies 89

2.4.1 Fishbane's Analysis 89

2.4.2 Nitzan's Analysis 103

2.5 Comparing the Styles 104

2.5.1 The General Laissez-faire Attitude and the Fluidity of the Text 105

2.5.1.1 Minor and Major Variations; Versions 108

2.5.1.2 The Qumran Variations 114

2.5.1.3 The Innovative Structure of Qumran's Non-Biblical Writings: Amalgamations of Texts from Different Sources, Interlacing of Text with Exegesis and New Rules 117

2.5.2 Revelation 121

2.5.2.1 Rabbinic View of Interpretative Authority 123

2.5.2.2 Qumran's View of Interpretative Authority: Revelation 125

2.5.2.3 Impact of Revelation on Qumran's Literary Style 129

2.5.2.4 Impact of Revelation on Qumran Halakhah: Differences and Similarities between Qumran and Rabbinic Halakhah 135

2.5.2.5 Revelation versus Exegesis-Complementary or Incompatible? 143

2.6 The Significance of the Temple and its Sacrificial Celebrations-Qumran and Rabbinic Perspectives 145

3 The Minhah Offering 151

3.1 Scope of the Chapter 151

3.3 The Biblical Commands for the Regular Voluntary Minhah 154

3.4 The Ingredients of the Offering 156

3.4.1 Quantities of Flour and Oil 156

3.4.2 Type of Flour 162

3.4.3 The Type of Oil 164

3.4.4 Frankincense 166

3.5 The Sequence of Development of the Minhah Rules 168

3.5.1 Baked Minhah versus Flour Minhah 168

3.5.2 Shift of Privilege from Altar to Priests 174

3.5.3 Rules Regarding the Minhah's Distribution Among the Priests 190

3.5.4 The Preparation Site 192

3.5.5 The Quantity of Frankincense for the Flour Minhah 202

3.5.6 The Development of Standard Quantities 205

3.5.7 The Components of the "Handful" 207

3.6 Further Issues Regarding Frankincense 211

3.6.1 Sectarian Versus Rabbinic Rules: the Addition of Frankincense 211

3.6.2 Sectarian Versus Rabbinic Rules: the Frankincense of the Showbread 214

3.6.3 Frankincense as a Separate Offering 216

3.7 Preparatory Steps of the Minhah 219

3.7.1 Mixing the Flour and Oil of the Flour Minhah 219

3.7.2 Mixing the Oil of the Oven-Baked Minhah 221

3.7.2.1 Three Applications of Oil for Baked Menahot: The Interpretation of the Rabbinic Concept of "the Menahot Baked in a Form" 222

3.7.3 Types of Oven 230

3.7.4 Oven-Baked Menahot-One or Two Types? 230

3.7.5 How Many Cakes or Wafers Must be Baked? 231

3.7.6 Preparing the Baked Menahot for the Taking of the Memorial Portion 233

3.8 The Offering Stage 238

3.8.1 Bringing the Minhah Near the Altar 238

3.8.2 Placing the Portion on the Altar 242

3.8.3 Time Limit for Eating the Minhah 244

3.9 The Relationship between Rabbinic Rules and Actual Second Temple Practice 248

4 Cult as a Catalyst for Division 257

4.2 Rabbinic References to 'Dissidents' 258

4.2.1 Pharisaic-Sadducean and Pharisaic-Boethusian Disputes 263

4.2.1.1 Calendar Issues-A Schism with the Boethusians? 264

4.2.1.2 Disputes with Boethusians on Non-Calendar Issues: A More Reliable Proposition 271

4.2.1.3 Calendar Issue Relating to the Essenes 273

4.2.2 Pharisaic-Sadducean Debates: Fiction or Reality? 274

4.2.2.1 The Motive Behind the Alleged Debates 274

4.2.2.2 Different Interpretations of Biblical Commands 275

4.2.2.3 Disputes Instigated by Contrasting Logical or Legal Considerations: Nitzoq and the Responsibility of the Slave's Owner 277

4.2.2.4 Disputes That May Have Resulted from Slightly Different Biblical MSS 278

4.2.2.5 Were the Rabbinic Sacrificial Rules Theoretical or Founded Upon Realities? 281

4.2.2.6 Interim Conclusion 284

4.2.3 The Relationship Between the Sadducees and the Essenes/Qumranites 285

4.2.4 Interim Conclusion 302

4.3 Halakhic Disputes as the Motive for Division 313

4.3.1 The Creation of a Separate Codex 313

4.3.2 All Halakhot or Particular Ones? The Bet Shammai-Bet Hillel Disputes as a Paradigm 318

4.3.3 The Different Character of the Bet Shammai-Bet Hillel Disputes and Pharisee-Dissident Disputes 325

4.3.4 Significance of the Temple Cult in Israelite Society 334

4.3.5 The Utter Significance of the Temple Cult in Qumran 338

4.3.6 Interim Conclusions 347

4.4 The Relationship Between Qumran and the Temple Celebrations 349

4.4.1 Did the Qumran Group Participate in the Temple Cult? 349

4.4.2 No Individual Obligation to Bring or Perform Offerings 354

4.4.3 What was Josephus' [Characters not reproducible], the "Votive Offering" Sent to the Temple by the Essenes? 358

4.4.4 How did Qumran Resolve the Obligation of Pilgrimage and the Related Offerings? 360

4.4.4.1 Why did Judah ben Dorotai and his Son Go to the "South"? 362.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [379]-395) and indexes.

ISBN:

9004151664

9789004151666

OCLC:

76853097