Jewish History in Conflict

A Study of the Major Discrepancy between Rabbinic and Conventional Chronology

By: Mitchell First

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Hardcover | 1 June 1997

At a Glance

Hardcover
256 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.3 x 15.9 x 2.2

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The author writes: "According to Seder Olam Rabbah, the work that forms the basis for almost all rabbinic chronology, the .period from the defeat of the Babylonians by the Medeo-Persians until the beginning of Greek rule, encompassed 52 years and spanned the reigns of three Persian kings. According to the chronology that is universally accepted by historians today (conventional chronology), this period of Persian rule over the land of Israel encompassed 207 years (539 to 332 BCE) and during this period more than ten Persian kings reigned. "This discrepancy between the traditional Jewish chronology and conventional chronology has not gone unnoticed. The purpose of this study is to collect and categorize the variety of Jewish responses to this discrepancy, both by Jewish scholars and rabbinic authorities. Part I provides an introduction to the discrepancy. Part II contains the earliest Jewish responses to the discrepancy. In the major part of the study, Part III, the responses to the discrepancy from the time of Azariah de Rossi (16th century) to the present time are collected and categorized. This unified collection and categorization of the many responses will enable students and scholars to have easy access to what has been written by Jewish scholars and rabbinic authorities about the discrepancy and will facilitate scholarly evaluation of the responses. "Part IV is an evaluation of the responses' attempts to answer the fundamental question raised by the discrepancy. Part V presents observations on the rabbinic responses. Part VI is a summary and conclusion."

Industry Reviews

"Mitchell First has produced a groundbreaking study in Jewish intellectual history. By examining Jewish responses to an obvious teaching and the results of classical and modern scholarship (regarding matters of chronology), First has opened a window on how knowledgeable Jews throughout the generations have responded to such discrepancies. His lucid and erudite analysis of the history of the controversy will become the point of departure for all future discussion of this issue, including any and all attempts to resolve it once and for all." - Sid Z. Leiman Professor of Jewish History and Literature Brooklyn College, CUNY--Sid Z. Leiman

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