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Yannai and Pella, Josephus and Circumcision*

Yannai and Pella, Josephus and Circumcision* Abstract Josephus’ notice that Alexander Yannai destroyed Pella because its inhabitants refused to Judaize ( Ant. 13.397), which does not sit well in its context and also contradicts Josephus’ reports elsewhere, seems to be based upon a Greek source. Given the fact that Greek writers about conversion to Judaism usually focused upon circumcision, failure to mention it here may indicate that Yannai did not demand it—a possibility that directs attention to the fact that Qumran texts show little interest in circumcision, apparently because they adhered to a priestly view according to which Gentiles cannot become Jews. Sadducees, such as Yannai, probably held the same view. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Dead Sea Discoveries Brill

Yannai and Pella, Josephus and Circumcision*

Dead Sea Discoveries , Volume 18 (3): 21 – Jan 1, 2011

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0929-0761
eISSN
1568-5179
DOI
10.1163/156851711X602421
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Josephus’ notice that Alexander Yannai destroyed Pella because its inhabitants refused to Judaize ( Ant. 13.397), which does not sit well in its context and also contradicts Josephus’ reports elsewhere, seems to be based upon a Greek source. Given the fact that Greek writers about conversion to Judaism usually focused upon circumcision, failure to mention it here may indicate that Yannai did not demand it—a possibility that directs attention to the fact that Qumran texts show little interest in circumcision, apparently because they adhered to a priestly view according to which Gentiles cannot become Jews. Sadducees, such as Yannai, probably held the same view.

Journal

Dead Sea DiscoveriesBrill

Published: Jan 1, 2011

Keywords: Pella; circumcision; conversion; Alexander Yannai; Josephus; Sadducees; Qumran; priestly Judaism; Hasmoneans

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