I might get into that a lot more later but, as you know, what I have tried to do is follow the Trail that was left for whatever reason.lsayre wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 9:07 am...why would a dominant power/people whom had effectively destroyed another people and flattened their temple, the core of their religion, find it necessary to intricately and secretly weave for them a new religion intended to supplant and uproot and replace that of those recently conquered and effectively enslaved?
I may come back to my Thread here in a minute but for now, John may help with the question you ask:
John 11: 46 - 53 (RSV):
[46] but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
[47] So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
[48] If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation."
[49] But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all;
[50] you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."
[51] He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation,
[52] and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
[53] So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death.
Here is the Program, from the Jewish POV. The Roman Empire, formerly a bit more Collegial, is about to do just what you assert. The FEAR is given in verses 46 - 48. The Jews are given a choice: Accept this imposition of the savior/god story or face destruction and annihilation. The character "Caiaphas" is blunt. "You know nothing at all..." It is EXPEDIENT that what will be imposed should be accepted.
I cannot assert that "Caiaphas" is to be identified with Zakkai but it is very similar reading as Zakkai sets up his School at Yavneh. "Caiaphas" is High Priest, in and among a Group that is seen as Corrupt in the NT. Yet, he has been given the Gift of Prophecy.
Vespasian grants Zakkai his life. Were there strings attached, strings that Zakkai accepted that would force working with a filthy and Unclean Roman, if it guaranteed the continuance of a Modified, more benign Judaism and the continued lives of many?
Judaism was seen as a Threat to the Empire and could not be allowed to succeed. Caligula wants his statue place in the Temple. TONE DEAF to the sensibilities yet aware that there is a Threat. As usual, the Hatred becomes Codified. Enter Nero. Judah must be crushed and the Priesthood destroyed. Only...there is an alternative. A New Religion based on a single Kinder God would replace the unwieldy multiplications of the multi-god pantheon of the Romans. It could even be centered in Rome, under the control of the Empire!!!
"So let a few Jews survive. They would even help in the creation of the New Religion. They must change the face of Judaism but we can oversee that...If they want to live."
I'm getting ahead of myself in the Thread Topic but...Why not?:
Acts 5: 38 - 39 (RSV):
[38] So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men, it will fail;
[39] but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"
Notice that this is REASONED, not aggressive, not assuming that the God of our Fathers will smite the ungodly in a miraculous Show of Righteous Force. I believe that this is a short record of the Zakkai Revolution, the Founding of Rabbinical Judaism. The Empire gets its New Religion. Judaism survives. Historical Win-Win. For the moment.
CW
