Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Coins In The New Testament, Nanci Debloois

BYU Studies

The coins found at Masada—Ptolemaic, Seleucid, Herodian, Roman, Jewish, Tyrian, Nabatean, etc.—testify not only of the changing fortunes of Judea, but also of the variety of coins circulating in that and neighboring countries during this time. Such diversity generates some difficulty in identifying the coins mentioned in the New Testament.

The Priestly Tithe In The First Century A.D., John A. Tvedtnes

BYU Studies

Among the artifacts uncovered during the archaeological excavation at Masada was a terra-cotta pot with these words written on it: ma^caser kôhēn, "priestly tithe." It is reminiscent of a Herodian-period stone vessel fragment unearthed near the temple mount in Jerusalem, inscribed with the word qorban, "sacrifice." The Herodian vessel fragment also depicts two birds, perhaps indicating that it was used to present doves or pigeons in sacrifice at the temple as specified in Leviticus 12:8. Mishnah Ma^caser Sheni 4.10-11 mentions vessels inscribed with qorban or its abbreviation, q, and notes that among the …

The Masada Fragments, The Qumran Scrolls, And The New Testament, David Rolph Seely

BYU Studies

During the last fifty years, the Judean Desert on the western shore of the Dead Sea has yielded a wealth of textual material from many locations, evidence that has illuminated our understanding of the history of Israel and Judaism in the two centuries preceding and the two centuries following Christ. All of these manuscripts are properly referred to as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Roman Army In The First Century, William J. Hamblin

BYU Studies

At the time of Jesus, the Roman army was at the height of its power and prestige. In the preceding four centuries, Roman legions had raised Rome from a small regional city-state to master of the entire Mediterranean world. Barring a few notable defeats—such as during the war against Hannibal or the battle of the Teutoberg Forest—Roman arms had proved victorious against Gauls, Germans, Iberians, Britons, Mauritanians, Numidians, Cartheginians, Libyans, Egyptians, Illyrians, Macedonians, Greeks, Thracians, Capadocians, Armenians, Persians, Syrians, Arabs, and Judeans, creating one of the greatest military empires of world history. The overwhelming military power of Rome was the …

Casting Stones: Ballista, Stones As Weapons, And Death By Stoning, James V. Garrison

BYU Studies

Josephus reports that once the Romans had completed their great siege ramp on the west side of Masada, they brought up an enormous tower in wheels, over one hundred feet high (based on a twenty-inch cubit) and entirely encased in iron. From this tower, Roman artillery opened fire on those defending the walls, sending showers of stones and other missiles down on them and forcing them to retreat into the fortress. With this objective accomplished, a great battering ram began the assault on the walls, and the fall of Masada became imminent.

The Reliability Of Josephus: Can He Be Trusted?, Eric D. Huntsman

BYU Studies

The author Joseph ben Matthias ha-Cohen, like most members of the Judean upper class, lived in several worlds at once. Born in A.D. 37 to an aristocratic family of priestly lineage, Josephus was ostensibly connected with the Hasmonean family that had ruled Judea between 165 B.C. and 38 B.C. His native language was Aramaic, although the was well versed in Hebrew, which by his time was largely a liturgical language. He was an observant Jew whose religious interests led him to affiliate with the three major schools of Judaism—the Sadducees, Essenes, and the Pharisees.

History And Fable, Heroism And Fanaticism: Nachman Ben-Yehuda's The Masada Myth, Arnold H. Green

BYU Studies

Nachman Ben-Yehuda, The Masada Myth: Collective Memory and Mythmaking in Israel. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1995. xxi; 401 pp. Illustrations, tables, appendix, bibliography, index. $22.95.

King Herod, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

BYU Studies

Herod visited Masada, a Hasmonean mountain stronghold situated near the Dead Sea, on at least two occasions before he began his remarkable career as king of the Jews. Popularly known today as Herod the Great, Herod eventually became connected with this site when he indelibly placed his architectural mark on its isolated rocky plateau. Standing at an elevation of about thirteen hundred feet above the level of the Dead Sea, the fortress, now called Horvot Mezada (Ruins of Masada), is extremely difficult to access because of its steep and sometimes vertical sides.

The Fruit Of The Vine: Wine At Masada And In The New Testament, Jo Ann H. Seely

BYU Studies

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe

who created sweet wine, good must from grapevines,

that is pleasing to a person and good for man,

that gladdens the heart and makes the face shine.

It is consolation to mourners, and those of bitter spirit forget their misery.

It is medicine to all who drink it. (to him who drinks it sensibly).

It is heart's joy, gladness, and great delight to its drinkers.

He, our God, created it of old for pleasure,

among the works established from the beginning,

so that all who drink it shall bless …

Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, And Latin: Languages Of New Testament Judea, Roger T. Macfarlane

BYU Studies

A trilingual inscription placed by Pontius Pilate upon the cross proclaimed "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews." This titulus was able to be read by many of the Jews, John says, not only because of Golgatha's proximity to the city, but also because the text was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Pilate's declaration addressed the multilingual population of Jerusalem, both its residents and also its visitors, who were filling the city during the Passover. Weeks later, on the day of Pentecost, Peter and some Apostles addressed Jews, residents of Jerusalem who had gathered from every nation, and …

And They Cast Lots: Divination, Democracy, And Josephus, Eric D. Huntsman

BYU Studies

After the men had chosen by lot ten of their number who would be their butchers, and when they had laid down beside and thrown their arms around their wives and children who lay waiting, they offered themselves up for the slaughter. —Josephus, Jewish War 7.395 (author's translation)

Suicide At Masada And In The World Of The New Testament, Daniel K. Judd

BYU Studies

One of the most problematic issues surrounding the story of Masada is the reported mass suicide of 960 men, women, and children. Assuming that the suicides actually occurred, were they expressions of courage, selfish acts of cowardice, or blind obedience to authoritarian rule? Were the inhabitants of Masada faithful and devout Jews defending their homeland and families, or were they terrorists using political and religious justifications for their selfish deeds? Because the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus are the only primary sources of information concerning the events at Masada, definite answers to these questions are impossible to ascertain. Thus, …

Introduction, John W. Welch, John E. Hall

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Miquaot: Ritual Immersion Baths In Second Temple (Intertestamental) Jewish History, Stephen D. Ricks

BYU Studies

One of the most intriguing developments in the archaeology of the Second Temple (intertestamental) period of Judaism occurred during excavations supervised by Yigael Yadin and other archaeologists at Masada, the residence built for King Herod the Great. While excavating the south casemate wall at Masada, these archaeologists came upon three structures that looked like a Jewish ritual bath complex—a small pool, a medium-sized pool, and a large pool. During a routine press conference, it was announced that a possible Jewish ritual bath—a miqveh—had been uncovered. News of this discovery spread quickly throughout Israel, particularly in the very orthodox Hasidic …

Gammadia On Early Jewish And Christian Garments, John W. Welch, Claire Foley

BYU Studies

Among the textile fragments excavated at Masada were the remains of pieces of fabric with L-shaped cloth markings affixed to them. Dating to before A.D. 73, these are among the very earliest known examples of such marked garments. Scholars refer to these markings as gammadia, some of them being shaped like the Greek letter gamma (Γ). Though similar patterns have been found in several locations, the significance of these markings remains unknown to archaeologists and art historians. Because these markings seem to appear artistically in conjunction with some hope for life or glory after death, their presence on the …

End Matter, Byu Studies

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

A Final Visit To The Land Of My Birth Baselland, Switzerland June 1994, Ernest Albert Thurkauf

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Mother was exiled 30 years in America -- so I spent 30 days in Liestal, one for every year she was isolated and banished! My mind was constantly on such thoughts as I daily walked the streets of Liestal. Tired as I was, I never reached the point of exhaustion such as she did - - especially when she walked behind the harrows with a four-horse team [One Small Lifetime, page 79.] My 30 days for her 30 years was poor compensation for a devoted mother who almost died to bring me into the world! [One Small Lifetime, bottom of …

Entering The United States Excerpted From One Small Lifetime, Ernest Albert Thurkauf

Swiss American Historical Society Review

In the autumn of 1923, father left for the States. Mother and the four children remained on the farm. Father had to get himself established somewhere. I (age sixteen) was now the man of the house. Mother and I learned to butcher a cow; we sold some young stock and raised pigs and chickens. We somehow made enough to exist. Winter was now coming on, and about every two weeks ma and I had to go to town through the ice and snow -- and occasionally blizzards.

Translation Of An Article From The Liestal Newspaper 21 October 1915

Swiss American Historical Society Review

When a mother with four small children travelled to America, the eldest of which was barely over seven, and the youngest was still hanging on her back -- it was indeed a daring endeavor. It would have been worthy of mention even in peacetime.

Prefatory Note, Leo Schelbert, H. Dwight Page

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

A Return Visit To The Land Of My Youth Alberta, Canada, Ernest Albert Thurkauf

Swiss American Historical Society Review

In my old years, I often had the urge to revisit the scenes of my youthful days in Alberta, Canada. Florence, my beloved wife, and I had hoped to do it together, but because of her failing health and serious strokes, it was never to be. After her passing in 1985, I purchased a new auto with intentions of_ making a North-Western journey alone. But after numerous trips -- up to North Carolina and New York State -- in the two years after her death, I began to have serious misgivings about a long journey alone. My two sisters, as …

Full Issue

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

On The Cross-Cultural Attitudes And Experiences Of Recently Returned Lds Missionaries, Timothy B. Smith, Richard N. Roberts, Burton Kerr

Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy

No abstract provided.

Confession In Lds Doctrine And Practice, Edward L. Kimball

BYU Studies

While the form of confession in the LDS Church has changed from public admission of sin to confession to a bishop, the doctrine and necessary functions of confession remain unchanged.

At The Gate Of Heaven, Lisa Bolin Hawkins

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Beverly Custard, Casualene R. Meyers

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Black Saints In A White Church: Contemporary African American Mormons By Jessie L. Embry, Marcus Helvecio T. A. Martins

BYU Studies

Jessie L. Embry. Black Saints in a White Church: Contemporary African American Mormons. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1994. xv; 270 pp. Appendix, selected readings, index. $18.95.

In Their Own Words: Women And The Story Of Nauvoo By Carol Cornwall Madsen, Michelle Stott

BYU Studies

Carol Cornwall Madsen. In Their Own Words: Women and the Story of Nauvoo. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994. xii; 266 pp. Illustrations, notes, index. $14.95.

Full Issue, Byu Studies

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.