Priestly Politics and the Cause of War
At the same time things were happening in the temple. Eleazar, the son of the high priest Ananias, a young radical who was Captain of the Temple at the time, persuaded the ministers in charge of temple worship to accept no gift from a foreigner or any sacrifice on behalf of a foreigner. This laid the foundation for war with Rome, as it meant…
Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Already have an account?
You may also like
The Hasmoneans Claim the High Priesthood
When the people heard these things they said, “How shall we thank Simon and his sons? For he and his brothers and the house of his father have stood firm; they have fought and repulsed Israel’s…
Pompey’s Conquest and Appointment of Hyrcanus II
But when the siege engine was brought forward, the greatest of the towers was shaken by it and brought down, and it broke through part of the fortifications, so that the enemy began pouring in. First…
Conflict within the Priesthood
Around this time, King Agrippa granted the high priesthood to Ismael, the son of Fabi. And then hostility and internal division were ignited between the chief priests, on one side, and the priests and…
Priests Attempt to Prevent Revolt
Alarmed at this demonstration, the political leaders and the chief priests tore their clothes and made grovelling appeals throughout the crowd, imploring them to desist, and not to add to what they…
Leading Priests Desert Jerusalem
Many of the upper class, though, were shaken by his [Josephus’] speech. Some of them were too frightened of the revolutionary police to make a move, despite recognizing that they themselves were…
Portents of War and Destruction
And then, before the revolt and the upheaval leading to war, when the people were gathering for the feast of Unleavened Bread on the eighth of the month Xanthicus [in spring, 66 CE], so brilliant a…