Discovering Second Temple Literature by Malka Z. Simkovich

Author:Malka Z. Simkovich
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HIS022000 History / Jewish, REL040030 Religion / Judaism / History, REL040040 Religion / Judaism / Sacred Writings
Publisher: The Jewish Publication Society

In this talmudic account, Abba Sikra and Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai hatch a plan that requires Rabbi Yohanan to fake his own death in order to meet with the Emperor Vespasian and discuss the Jews’ situation. Because Jews were not buried within Jerusalem’s city walls, Rabbi Yohanan’s “corpse” was to be carried out of Jerusalem for his burial. The Talmud notes that the “Biryonei” guarding the city wanted to stab Rabbi Yohanan in order to ensure that he was truly dead, but Abba Sikra reproved them, saying that the Romans would then believe that the great rabbi had been murdered by his own people, which would humiliate the Jews. The Biryonei tried to shove Rabbi Yohanan, but again, Abba Sikra protested. Finally, the Biryonei allowed Rabbi Yohanan’s body to be carried out of the city unharmed, whereupon he was taken to Vespasian and “returned to life” to confront the newly appointed emperor.

When Vespasian asked Rabbi Yohanan why he had not paid him homage earlier, Rabbi Yohanan blamed the Biryonei, saying that they would not let the Jews of Jerusalem leave the city during the war. Vespasian retorted that the Jews should have destroyed the city’s walls in order to allow the Romans to drive the Biryonei out.67

While the details of this story may not be historically precise, it probably contains historical kernels of truth. There may well have been a group of Jews controlling the gates of Jerusalem at the height of the Jewish War. It may also be that certain Jewish groups stood in opposition to the Rabbis, who wanted to open dialogue with the Romans, rather than prolong a painful war and endure the inevitable loss of life. The truth, however, was probably less black and white, and the lines between the Rabbinic community and the Zealots leading the rebellion were likely more blurred than this story suggests.

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