Palm Fronds and Citrons: Notes on Two Letters from Bar Kosiba's Administration

Two letters from Nahal Hever, one in Greek and one in Aramaic, deal with the requisitioning of the "four species" (palms, citrons, myrtles and willows) for use in the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in the camp of Bar Kosiba's army. The first part of the paper presents the two texts...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
Main Author: Lapin, Hayim (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: College 1993
In: Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
Year: 1993, Volume: 64, Pages: 111-135
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Bar Kochba (-135)
Parallel Edition:Electronic

MARC

LEADER 00000caa a22000002 4500
001 165010023X
003 DE-627
005 20191105174029.0
007 tu
008 190311s1993 xx ||||| 00| ||eng c
035 |a (DE-627)165010023X 
035 |a (DE-576)518852857 
035 |a (DE-599)BSZ518852857 
040 |a DE-627  |b ger  |c DE-627  |e rakwb 
041 |a eng 
084 |a 1  |2 ssgn 
100 1 |0 (DE-588)1026148820  |0 (DE-627)726189235  |0 (DE-576)175168369  |4 aut  |a Lapin, Hayim 
109 |a Lapin, Hayim 
245 1 0 |a Palm Fronds and Citrons: Notes on Two Letters from Bar Kosiba's Administration 
264 1 |c 1993 
336 |a Text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent 
337 |a ohne Hilfsmittel zu benutzen  |b n  |2 rdamedia 
338 |a Band  |b nc  |2 rdacarrier 
520 |a Two letters from Nahal Hever, one in Greek and one in Aramaic, deal with the requisitioning of the "four species" (palms, citrons, myrtles and willows) for use in the festival of Sukkot (Tabernacles) in the camp of Bar Kosiba's army. The first part of the paper presents the two texts with critical comments. Following the lead of Yadin and others, I argue against the identification of the sender of the Greek letter, Soumaios, with Bar Kosiba himself. In addition, I propose or defend readings that differ from those of the editio princeps and subsequent publications. The second part of the paper draws attention to a number of issues raised by the two letters taken together. The letters offer an interesting window into the chain of command and delegation of authority in Bar Kosiba's administration. Because one of the letters is in Greek and includes an apology for the fact, the letters testify to both the extent and limitations of bilingualism among Bar Kosiba's supporters. If Soumaios, the author of the Greek letter, was a gentile, gentile participation in the revolt requires comment. Finally, I consider the implications of the festival of Tabernacles for our understanding of the second revolt, drawing attention to associations of the festival with both Temple rededication and eschatology, Sukkot and Temple imagery on the coins of the revolt, the use of branches in the representation of royal figures and of victory in classical literature, in the royal propaganda of Hellenistic and Roman rulers, in the New Testament and in ancient Jewish literature, and, most immediately, on the coins celebrating the visit of Hadrian in Judea in 129—30 
600 0 7 |0 (DE-588)118637789  |0 (DE-627)079424864  |0 (DE-576)209175680  |a Bar Kochba  |d -135  |2 gnd 
601 |a Administration 
652 |a HB 
773 0 8 |i In  |a Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion  |t Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion  |d Cincinnati, Ohio : College, 1953  |g 64(1993), Seite 111-135  |w (DE-627)129525642  |w (DE-600)213556-5  |w (DE-576)014944561  |x 0360-9049  |7 nnns 
773 1 8 |g volume:64  |g year:1993  |g pages:111-135 
776 |i Erscheint auch als  |n elektronische Ausgabe  |w (DE-627)1786380900  |k Electronic 
935 |a BIIN 
936 u w |d 64  |j 1993  |h 111-135 
951 |a AR 
BIB |a 1 
ELC |b 1 
ITA |a 1  |t 1 
LOK |0 000 xxxxxcx a22 zn 4500 
LOK |0 001 3335742346 
LOK |0 003 DE-627 
LOK |0 004 165010023X 
LOK |0 005 20190311185159 
LOK |0 008 190311||||||||||||||||ger||||||| 
LOK |0 035   |a (DE-Tue135-1)53790 
LOK |0 040   |a DE-Tue135-1  |c DE-627  |d DE-Tue135-1 
LOK |0 852   |a DE-Tue135-1 
LOK |0 852 1  |c FTHNT097854/64/LNH  |m p  |9 00 
LOK |0 852 2  |b Z 4/278  |9 00 
LOK |0 935   |a iZSA 
LOK |0 936ln  |0 1442044128  |a HB 
LOK |0 938   |k p 
ORI |a SA-MARC-ixtheoa001.raw 
SUB |a BIB 
SYA 0 0 |a Simon,Bar Kosiba,-135,Ben Koseba, Simon,-135,Bar Kokhba,-135,Bar Kokba,-135,Barcochebas,-135,Bar-Cocab,-135,Bar-Kozba,-135,Bar-Cochab,-135,Simeon bar Kosiba,-135,Simeon bar Kokhba,-135,Simon bar Kocheba,-135,Bar-Kosiba,-135,Simeon bar koziba,-135,Bar Kocheba, Simon,-135,Bar Kocheba,-135,Cocab, Bar-,-135,Cochab, Bar-,-135,Cocheba, Bar,-135,Bar-Kokhva,-135,Kokhva, Bar-,-135,Kokba, Bar,-135,Kochba, Bar-,-135,Kosiba, Bar-,-135,Kocheba, Simon bar,-135,Kosiba, Simeon bar,-135,Kokhba, Simeon bar,-135,Shimòn bar Kokhva,-135,Ben Kosiba, Simon,-135,Bar-Koziba,-135,Bar-Kochba,-135,Kokhba, Bar,-135,Koziba, Simeon bar,-135,Shimʿon bar Kokhva,-135