Zadokite Propaganda in the Late Second Temple Period

A Turning Point in Jewish History

Heerak Christian Kim

Zadokite Propaganda in the Late Second Temple Period is a monumental epoch-breaking work of scholarship in ancient history and Jewish studies. This book examines centuries of scholarship on ancient Jewish group identity and official Jewish religion in the most tumultuous period of Jewish history, namely the beginnings of the Maccabean era. Popularly known as the time period that gave the Jewish world the most famous Jewish celebration period, Hanukkah, the Maccabean Revolt was far more than a rebellion against Syrian domination. The period represented an important turning point in Jewish history, as village priests without any significant heritage or repute successfully overthrew and expelled Zadokite priests from the Jerusalem Temple and the city of Jerusalem itself. The Zadokites had been the legitimate and dominant priests of the Jerusalem Temple since the days of King Solomon, who built the First Jerusalem Temple. The physical and political displacement of Zadokite priests from their places of power, authority, and wealth produced historically significant literate communities, such as the Qumran community, and an abundance of literature, such as commentaries, creative poetry, and apocalyptic works. These writings all lamented the Zadokite displacement and prophesied a New Age, when all would be restored to the way it should be. Thus, Zadokites engaged in propaganda warfare of epic proportions with all their erudition and political savvy, creating a model for effective propaganda warfare. The Zadokite propaganda was so effective that it set the tone for the language and theme of the New Testament.

University Press of America

Pages: 138 • Trim: 6½ x 9½

978-0-7618-6097-6 • Hardback • April 2014 • $78.00 • (£60.00)

978-0-7618-6098-3 • eBook • April 2014 • $74.00 • (£57.00)

Subjects: Religion / Judaism / History, Religion / Judaism / General, Religion / Essays, History / Ancient / General, History / Middle East / Israel & Palestine, History / Military / Ancient Warfare, History / Pre-Modern

Zadokite Propaganda in the Late Second Temple Period

A Turning Point in Jewish History

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Zadokite Propaganda in the Late Second Temple Period is a monumental epoch-breaking work of scholarship in ancient history and Jewish studies. This book examines centuries of scholarship on ancient Jewish group identity and official Jewish religion in the most tumultuous period of Jewish history, namely the beginnings of the Maccabean era. Popularly known as the time period that gave the Jewish world the most famous Jewish celebration period, Hanukkah, the Maccabean Revolt was far more than a rebellion against Syrian domination. The period represented an important turning point in Jewish history, as village priests without any significant heritage or repute successfully overthrew and expelled Zadokite priests from the Jerusalem Temple and the city of Jerusalem itself. The Zadokites had been the legitimate and dominant priests of the Jerusalem Temple since the days of King Solomon, who built the First Jerusalem Temple. The physical and political displacement of Zadokite priests from their places of power, authority, and wealth produced historically significant literate communities, such as the Qumran community, and an abundance of literature, such as commentaries, creative poetry, and apocalyptic works. These writings all lamented the Zadokite displacement and prophesied a New Age, when all would be restored to the way it should be. Thus, Zadokites engaged in propaganda warfare of epic proportions with all their erudition and political savvy, creating a model for effective propaganda warfare. The Zadokite propaganda was so effective that it set the tone for the language and theme of the New Testament.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 138 • Trim: 6½ x 9½

978-0-7618-6097-6 • Hardback • April 2014 • $78.00 • (£60.00)

978-0-7618-6098-3 • eBook • April 2014 • $74.00 • (£57.00)

Subjects: Religion / Judaism / History, Religion / Judaism / General, Religion / Essays, History / Ancient / General, History / Middle East / Israel & Palestine, History / Military / Ancient Warfare, History / Pre-Modern

Author

Heerak Christian Kim, Ph.D., is adjunct professor of biblical studies at Asia Evangelical College and Seminary. He held the renowned Lady Davis Fellowship for research on Jewish identity at the Israeli Institute for Advanced Studies in Israel from 1996–1997. Professor Kim was Raoul Wallenberg Scholar for Human Rights and Democracy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. He created a literary device called “Key Signifier” for examining ancient texts as well as modern literature, media, political speeches, marketing, and communications.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1
Zadokites in the Late Second Temple Period in Light of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and the Hasmoneans
Chapter 2
The Psalms of Solomon and the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Zadokites
Chapter 3
Psalms of Solomon 11 and Its Key Signifiers found in the Old Testament
Chapter 4
Psalms of Solomon 11 Reflected in the New Testament
Notes
Bibliography