The Impact of Hellenistic Monarchy on Jewish Identity

The rise of “conversion,” i.e., the interpretation of Jewishness as an elective identity, is frequently described as a consequence of the advent of Hellenism. This article argues that while the main observations on the chronology and the nature of the phenomenon are correct, “Hellenism” as such cann...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Eckhardt, Benedikt 1983- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill [2020]
In: Journal of ancient Judaism
Year: 2020, Volume: 11, Issue: 1, Pages: 11-25
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Antiochus IV Seleucid Empire, King 215 BC-164 BC / Hellenism / Maccabees 165 BC-37 BC / Jews / Religious identity / Political identity
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
BC Ancient Orient; religion
HD Early Judaism
Further subjects:B Hasmonean dynasty
B Genealogy
B Hellenistic monarchy
B Hellenism
B Judaism
B Idumeans
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:The rise of “conversion,” i.e., the interpretation of Jewishness as an elective identity, is frequently described as a consequence of the advent of Hellenism. This article argues that while the main observations on the chronology and the nature of the phenomenon are correct, “Hellenism” as such cannot explain it. A more plausible context is the change of power relations in Judea after the interventions of Antiochus IV. When the depositions of legitimate high priests and the rise of the Hasmoneans called into question the value of genealogy as an ordering principle, the lessons learned were not limited to the political sphere.
ISSN:2196-7954
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of ancient Judaism
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.30965/21967954-12340002