The Sabbath Year Cycle in Josephus
The Sabbath year cycle was an important part of Jewish religious history. It was observed with varying degrees of regularity over the centuries. Josephus frequently used the cycle in dating certain events between 175 B.C.E. and 75 C.E.. But his use of this cycle has been criticized as unreliable and...
| 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
1981
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| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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| IxTheo Classification: | HD Early Judaism |
| Further subjects: | B
Jüdische Liturgie
B Josephus, Flavius (37-100) |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | The Sabbath year cycle was an important part of Jewish religious history. It was observed with varying degrees of regularity over the centuries. Josephus frequently used the cycle in dating certain events between 175 B.C.E. and 75 C.E.. But his use of this cycle has been criticized as unreliable and inconsistent. The difficulty focuses on how the year of hardship should be determined. Is it the 7th year (the fallow year when no crops are grown), or is it the 8th year (first year of the new cycle) before the new crops are harvested. The difference in calculation will directly affect the accuracy of the Josephus figures. An examination of the events in Josephus shows that there is a greater degree of accuracy than had been recognized, especially when one takes into account the 7th year vs. 8th year tension. By identifying certain specific dates (the siege of Bethsura; the murder of Simon the Hasmonean; Herod's conquest of Jerusalem; the protest against Caligula's statue; and the destruction of the second temple) it is then possible to construct an accurate Sabbath year cycle for the period of history covered by the writings of Josephus. |
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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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