Full title
The Price of Mediation: The Role of Priests in the Priestly Halakhah
Research notes
Reader Checked AK|Revised Reader Checked - AK - 05/02/2012
Reference type
Editor(s)
Roitman, Adolfo D.
Schiffman, Lawrence H.
Tzoref, Shani
Year
2011
Journal / Book Title || Series Title
The Dead Sea Scrolls and Contemporary Culture: Proceedings of the International Conference Held at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem (July 6-8, 2008)
Number of volumes
0
Issue / Series Volume
93
Series Title
Studies on the Texts of the Desert of Judah
Publisher
Brill
Place of Publication
Leiden
Pages
377-409
Alternative title
STDJ
Label
25/07/2011
Abstract
The publication of the Qumran scrolls has revealed new data regarding the development of halakhah in priestly circles during the Second Temple period, previously known only from hints and secondary references in rabbinic literature. This talk makes use of the Qumran material to show how Second Temple priests interpreted and modified biblical laws to endow priests with a role as human-divine mediators. I argue that this priestly effort was the root of the priestly dispute with the Pharisees, and I explore the Pharisaic rejection of this priestly mediation as expressed in rabbinic literature.
Primary Texts: Judean Desert Documents