Most studies of Jews in the period from Alexander to Trajan have concentrated almost exclusively on Jerusalem and Judea. In this book, John Barclay assembles and analyzes evidence about the Jewish communities in Egypt, Syria, Cyrenaica, Rome, and Asia. Barclay's ambitious goal is to describe, as precisely as the evidence allows, the varying levels of assimilation and antagonism between Jews and the non-Jewish communities in these areas for this 440-year period. With a concluding review of Jewish identity in the Diaspora as a whole, this book provides our first comprehensive and multi-faceted survey of Diaspora communities and Diaspora literature.
Jews in the Mediterranean Diaspora From Alexander to Trajan (323 BCE–117 CE)
About the Book
Reviews
"Barclay's study corrects the traditional oversight that would equate early Judaism with Palestinian Judaism. This highly readable introduction . . . brings together material that is otherwise available only in regional studies or highly technical works. Barclay strikes a rare balance between local conditions and broad issues, and between supporting detail and coherent argument. It is hard to imagine how the chronic need for a synthesis of the Mediterranean Diaspora might have been better satisfied."—Steve Mason, Pennsylvania State University"The book reflects the best of contemporary scholarship and is likely to become an indispensable source of information and reflection on the problems Jews encountered with living in a frequently hostile environment."—A. P. Hayman, Edinburgh University
"This is a superb book which has lifted our discussion of Jews in the Diaspora to a new plane. Since understanding the Diaspora is vital to comprehending a good deal about early Christianity, Barclay has also made a significant contribution to this latter field of investigation."—Paul Trebilco, University of Otago
Table of Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 A Distinguished People
1.2 Current Study of the Diaspora
1.3 The Scope, Plan and Spirit of This Study
PART ONE: THE DIASPORA IN EGYPT
Chapter 2: Jews in Ptolemaic Egypt
2.1 Immigration and Settlement: From Alexander to
Ptolemy V Epiphanes (323-180 BCE)
2.1.1 Immigration
2.1.2 Settlement in the chora
2.1.3 Settlement in Alexandria
2.2 Prominence and Exposure: From Ptolemy VI
Philometor to Cleopatra VII (180-30 BCE)
2.2.1 Political Developments
2.2.2 Social Developments
Chapter 3: Jews in Roman Egypt: From Augustus to Trajan
3.1 The Alexandrian Pogrom and Its Aftermath
3.1.1 The Alexandrian Pogrom
3.1.2 The Embassies and Claudius' Response
Excursus: The Legal Status of Alexandrian Jews
3.2 Jewish Alienation
3.3 Jewish Revolt
Chapter 4: Jews in a Diaspora Environment: Some Analytical Tools
4.1 Introduction
4.2 'Orthodoxy' and 'Deviation'
4.3 Jews and Hellenization
4.4 Assimilation, Acculturation and Accommodation
4.5 Analysing the Evidence
Chapter 5: Levels of Assimilation among Egyptian Jews
5.1 High Assimilation
5.2 Medium Assimilation
5.3 Low Assimilation
5.4 Unknown Assimilation
Chapter 6: Cultural Convergence
6.1 Artapanus
6.2 Ezekiel
6.3 The Letter of Aristeas
6.4 Aristobulus
6.5 Philo
6.5.1 Philo's Social Context
6.5.2 Mosaic Philosophy
6.5.3 Allegory
6.5.4 Israel and the Human Race
6.5.5 Philo and the Jewish Community
Chapter 7: Cultural Antagonism
7.1 The Wisdom of Solomon
7.2 3 Maccabees
7.3 Joseph and Aseneth
7.4 The Egyptian Sibylline Oracles
Chapter 8: Cyrenaica and Syria
8.1 Cyrenaica
8.2 Syria
8.2.1 The Hellenistic Era
8.2.2 The Roman Era
Chapter 9: The Province of Asia
Chapter 10: Rome
10.1 Republican Rome
10.2 The Augustan Era
10.3 From Tiberius to Claudius
10.4 From Nero to Trajan
Chapter 11: Levels of Assimilation among Diaspora Jews Outside Egypt
11.1 High Assimilation
11.2 Medium Assimilation
11.3 Low Assimilation
11.4 Unknown Assimilation
Chapter 12: Cultural Convergence and Cultural Antagonism Outside Egypt
12.1 Pseudo-Phocylides
12.2 Josephus
12.2.1 Josephus' Social Context
12.2.2 Bellum ludaicum
12.2.3 Antiquitates Iudaicae
12.2.4 Contra Apionem
12.3 4 Maccabees
Chapter 13: Paul: an Anomalous Diaspora]ew
PART THREE: JEWISH IDENTITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN DIASPORA
Chapter 14: Jewish Identity in the Diaspora: A Sketch
14.1 The Ethnic Bond
14.2 Social and Symbolic Resources
14.2.1 The Local Community
14.2.2 Links with Jerusalem, the 'Homeland' and other Diaspora Communities
14.2.3 The Law/Jewish Scriptures
14.2.4 The Figure of Moses
14.3 Practical Distinctions
14.3.1 Rejection of Alien, Pluralist and Iconic Cult
14.3.2 Separatism at Meals
14.3.3 Male Circumcision
14.3.4 Sabbath Observance
14.4 Conclusion
Appendix on Sources
Bibliography
Index of Main Subjects and Places
Index of References
Index of Modern Authors
Related Books
City of Demons
Dayna S. Kalleres
Incorruptible Bodies
Yonatan Moss
A State of Mixture
Richard E. Payne
Preaching Bondage
Chris L. de Wet
Melania
Catherine Michael Chin, Caroline T. Schroeder
The Seer and the City
Margaret Foster
The Body and Desire
Raphael A. Cadenhead
The Specter of the Jews
Ari Finkelstein
Demons in the Details
Sara Ronis