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Jerusalem: Portrait of the City in the Second Temple Period (538 B. C. E. -70 C. E. ) » (1ST)

Book cover image of Jerusalem: Portrait of the City in the Second Temple Period (538 B. C. E. -70 C. E. ) by Lee I. Levine

Authors: Lee I. Levine, Authorr Add
ISBN-13: 9780827607507, ISBN-10: 0827607504
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Jewish Publication Society
Date Published: October 2002
Edition: 1ST

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Author Biography: Lee I. Levine

Book Synopsis

Jerusalem in the Second Temple period experienced dramatic growth as it achieved unprecedented political, religious, and spiritual prominence. Lee Levine traces the development of Jerusalem during this time—through its urban, demographic, topographical, and archeological features, its political regimes, public institutions, and its cultural and religious life.

Publishers Weekly

Everything you've ever wanted to know about the Jerusalem of 2,000 years ago must surely be covered in Jerusalem: Portrait of the City in the Second Temple Period (538 B.C.E.-70 C.E.), a mammoth textbook by Lee Levine. This comprehensive study opens with the period during and after the Babylonian exile, discussing Nehemiah's reforms and the decision to build a second temple, then traces the history of Jerusalem until the Romans destroyed that second temple in 70 C.E. Levine covers all of the intricacies of the Hellenistic and Roman occupations, the rise of various religious sects such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the customs associated with temple worship. Though dry at times, this is a well-organized and exhaustively informative resource. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Pt. IFrom Cyrus to the Hasmoneans
Ch. 1The Persian Era (539-332 B.C.E.)3
The Restoration of City and Temple8
The First Returnees: Hopes Thwarted by Hardships12
The Temple Rebuilt15
The Era of Ezra and Nehemiah20
The Enigmatic Fourth Century B.C.E.31
The Persian Era in Perspective42
Ch. 2The Hellenistic Era (332-141 B.C.E.)45
The Ptolemaic Era (301-198 B.C.E.)48
The Seleucid Era (198-141 B.C.E.)65
Ch. 3The Hasmonean Era (141-63 B.C.E.)91
The Hasmonean Factor in Jerusalem Society92
Three Episodes in Hasmonean Jerusalem99
The Urban Setting106
Political and Religious Groupings in Hasmonean Jerusalem114
Common Judaism under the Hasmoneans133
Hellenization in Hasmonean Jerusalem143
The End of an Era147
Pt. IIHerodian Jerusalem
Ch. 4The Historical Dimension151
Transition to Roman Rule151
From Pompey's Conquest to the Rise of Herod (63-37 B.C.E.)158
Herodian Politics: At Home and Abroad (37-4 B.C.E.)165
Herodian Rule in Jerusalem170
Herod's Domestic Woes179
Evaluating Herod and His Rule181
The Reign of Archelaus (4 B.C.E.-6 C.E.)183
Ch. 5The Urban Landscape187
The Antonia194
The Western Towers196
Herod's Palace198
Entertainment Institutions201
Funerary Remains206
Water Supply and Installations213
Ch. 6The Temple and Temple Mount219
The Temple Mount: Physical Dimensions and Functions226
The Temple and Its Courts237
Temple Functionaries243
The Temple as a Religious Focus245
Ch. 7Jerusalem in the Greco-Roman Orbit: The Extent and Limitations of Cultural Fusion255
The Temple257
Residential Quarters260
Funerary Remains261
Political Institutions265
Language270
Pharisaic Exegesis276
Defining the Limits of Acculturation278
Pt. IIIThe First Century C.E.
Ch. 8The Historical Dimension285
Direct Roman Rule: The Earlier Period (6-41 C.E.)285
Jerusalem under Agrippa I (41-44 C.E.)295
Procuratorial Rule (44-66 C.E.): The Collapse of Jerusalem Society302
Ch. 9The Urban Configuration313
Geographical Expansion313
The Third Wall315
Topography318
The Lower City319
The Upper City326
The Northern Commercial Quarter335
The Bezetha Quarter (the New City)337
Demography340
Economic Activity343
AppThe Use of Rabbinic Literature in the Study of Second Temple Jerusalem349
Ch. 10Social Stratification351
The Social Dimension351
High Priests352
Priests358
The Herodian Dynasty361
The Nonpriestly Aristocracy365
Diaspora Jews369
Ch. 11Religious Ambience375
Religious Life in First-Century Jerusalem375
Scribes381
The Christian Community382
Common Judaism in First-Century Jerusalem387
Synagogues394
Ch. 12The Destruction of Jerusalem (66-70 C.E.)401
Causes of the Revolt401
Jerusalem during the Revolt (66-70 C.E.)404
The Siege and Fall of the City406
Epilogue413
Glossary417
Abbreviations420
Bibliography423
Illustration Credits470
Subject Index472

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