Language:
English
Year of publication:
2024
Titel der Quelle:
Jewish Studies Quarterly
Angaben zur Quelle:
31,2 (2024) 113-135
Keywords:
Josephus, Flavius.
;
Bible. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Pesikta rabbati Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Sacrifice Biblical teaching
;
Gentiles (Jewish law) History
Abstract:
Lev 22:25a ("Neither from the hand of a foreigner shall you offer the bread of your God of any of these [blemished animals]") appears to acknowledge the acceptance of sacrifices from foreigners, as long as the animals are not defective. Throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the Jerusalem temple accepted sacrifices from Gentiles, and rabbinic literature also reflects this practice, quoting Lev 22:25 in support of it. Furthermore, when in 66 CE insurgent priests repealed the practice, Josephus seems to indicate that priests who adhered to the ongoing practice cited Lev 22:25 in their defense. Centuries later, two alternative interpretations of the verse emerge in rabbinic and Karaite texts. The first reads it as proscribing any sacrifices by foreigners. The second reads it as warning Israelites not to offer blemished animals obtained from a foreigner. Attributing these interpretations to Qumranic texts or to the 66 CE insurgents is obviously anachronistic. Moreover, the latter probably did not focus on Lev 22:25 at all, because another temple practice, the exclusion of Gentiles, implied that Gentile offerings should be rejected as well.
DOI:
10.1628/jsq-2024-0007
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
Permalink