Link
to course here: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/cour...
I
bought the audio version. Two or three lectures in, I realised that this is an
exceptional course. This is probably my 40th or so The Great Courses purchase,
so I have some relative perspective on which ones are five stars. This one
certainly is one of them.
Professor
Isaiah Gafni is clearly knowledgable and passionate about this subject matter,
and it clearly shows. His pace, tone, variation of tone & volumes, and
emotions expressed in his speaking are also excellent for audio purchasers of
this course.
Although
I am familiar with the Christian Old Testament (Bible), this course taught me a
lot about early Judaism including the following:
1.
I didn't know that post Solomon (c. 928 BC), the kingdom of Israel was split
into two: The northern kingdom (10 tribes of Israel) and the southern kingdom
of Judah (tribes of Judah and Benjamin). Subsequently in 722 BC the northern
kingdom (capital, Samaria) was conquered by the Assyrian armies of King Sargon
II, and most of its population exiled (and assimilated) to Assyria.
2.
The southern Kingdom of Judah (capital, Jerusalem) was captured by the
Babylonian empire in 597 BC and the first temple (completed by Salomon) was
destroyed in 586 BC. Babylonian Exile occurred from 597 BC.
3.
The Persian empire then defeated the Babylonian empire and in 538 BC king Cyrus
allowed (and funded) the rebuilding of the second Temple in Jerusalem, as well
as facilitated the return of some Jews back to Judea. The second Temple was
consecrated in 516 BC, 70 years after the first Temple was destroyed..
4.
Ezra and Nehemiah were instrumental in their leadership of the Jewish returnees
to Jerusalem.
5.
Although Persian rule was somewhat permissive and supportive(?) of the Jewish
practices in Israel, the Hellenistic influence after Alexander the Great's
conquest of Judea (332 BC onward) provided a stark contrast. Hellenisation
cultural forces were very strong in trying to homogenise ancient cultures
dominated under the Greek rule. This was a serious threat to Judaism as a
culture.
6.
Many Jews in this era became proficient in both Greek and Hebrew and
translation of the sacred texts into Greek became the norm.
7.
Judah the Maccabees and his brothers (Hasmoneans) led a rebellion in 167-164 BC
against Greek Seleucid rulers. The second Temple was reconsecrated in 164 BC.
The Hasmoneans ruled an independent Jewish state and kingdom from 141-63 BC,
until Roman general Pompey took Judea.
8.
Herod became a Roman-backed king from 37 - 4 BC, followed by his son from 4 BC
to 6 AD. After that, Judea became a Roman province.
9.
Learnt the difference between the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Essenes (Dead
Sea (Scroll) Sects).
10.
Jewish uprising in 66-70 BC was squashed by the Romans and led to the
destruction of the second Temple in 70 AD. Another bloody rebellion by Simon
Bar Kokhba (132 - 135 AD) was also squashed by the Romans. This ended the
military rebellions by the Jews against the Romans.
11.
Primarily due to he destruction of the second Temple, Judaism had to further
adapt through the frameworks of local synagogues throughout the diaspora and
legacies of exegesis of sacred texts led by spiritual leaders (rabbi's),
leading to important traditions and documents (including the Mishnah and the
Talmud's) that enabled Judaism to survive and thrive until today. Key early
leaders in this rabbinic tradition were Yohannan ben Zakkai (c 70-80 AD),
Rabban Gamaliel II (c 80-115 AD) and Judah the Patriach (c 200 AD onward).
All
in all, this was an excellent course. I truly enjoyed it and learnt a lot from
it.
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