Language:
English
Year of publication:
2021
Titel der Quelle:
Four Kingdom Motifs Before and Beyond the Book of Daniel
Angaben zur Quelle:
(2021) 191-204
Keywords:
Talmud Bavli Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Politics in rabbinical literature
;
Kings and rulers in rabbinical literature
;
Rome In rabbinical literature
Abstract:
While the four kingdoms motif takes on a central exegetical role in the rab-binic understanding of the relationship between Jewish and world history, its apocalyptic potential with respect to contemporary events is generally underplayed. The Babylonian Talmud, in contrast to the Palestinian rabbis, focuses on comparison between contemporary Rome and Persia, and de-bates which will prevail at the end of days. The key Talmudic locus for this question is an extended commentary on the table of nations, in b. Yoma 10a. The divergence of opinion there as to whether Rome or Persia will de-feat the other has often been taken as reflecting a response to historical events, whether in Palestine or in Babylon. However, the view that Rome will be defeated, although presented as a Palestinian rabbinic position, is actually dependent upon interpretative choices that are intrinsically Baby-lonian, and differ from those found in actual Palestinian works, such as Genesis Rabbah. Ultimately, the divergent opinions reflect an internal Bab-ylonian dispute, with each of the two major academies, Sura and Pumbedi-ta, advocating opposite sides.
DOI:
10.1163/9789004443280_011
URL:
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