Subject: Re: Jerusalem Temple Inscription Warning Gentiles of Death
rggoldenberg@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Date: Sun Dec 20 2009 - 14:26:21 EST
To: "First Century Judaism Discussion Forum" <ioudaios-l@Lehigh.EDU>
From: Dwight Swanson <dswanson@nazarene.ac.uk>
Sent by: owner-ioudaios-l@Lehigh.EDU
Date: 12/20/2009 01:07PM
Subject: Re: Jerusalem Temple Inscription Warning Gentiles of Death
Public inscriptions were a commonplace in the ancient world--cf the
stele in Assyria and Egypt. One has to see some setting in which these
were read out publicly, and in a didactic manner.
Regarding recoginising an uncircumcised male--cf Paul's problem in Acts
21, where 'Jews from the province of Asia' had seen an Ephesian
companion of Paul in the city. There seemed to be ways of knowing.
Further, however, the prominence of miqvaoth at and near the entrances
to the temple suggest it was, indeed, possible to demonstrate one's
circumcision...
ds
Kenneth Litwak wrote:
> David,
>
> Thanks for the information. So given that the inscription did indeed exist, it leaves open the question of why, since on the view of most, neither Jews nor Gentiles could read and therefore the inscription would have no value.
>
> In addition to that, I've often wondered how one would know that an uncircumcised male had entered the Court of Israel and how one would recognize a Gentile woman from a Jewish woman. Particularly for men, it creates images of someone requiring men to demonstrate that they were circumcised.
>
>
> Ken Litwak
> Kenneth D. Litwak, Ph.D.
> Azusa Pacific University
> 901 E. Alosta Ave.
> Azusa, CA 91702
>
> ________________________________
--
Dwight D Swanson, PhD
Senior Research Fellow and
Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies
Nazarene Theological College
Manchester, England
www.nazarene.ac.uk
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