Shimo'n ha-Sadiq in his Historical Contexts

Updated by: 
Nadav Berger
Research notes: 
24/01/2012 AS Reader Checked 13/08/2013 NB
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Amitay, Ory
year: 
2007
Full title: 

Shimo'n ha-Sadiq in his Historical Contexts

Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Journal of Jewish Studies
Volume: 
58
Issue / Series Volume: 
2
Pages: 
236-249
Abstract: 

The identity and chronology of Shim῾on ha- Şadiq have been a subject of ongoing controversy for centuries. Three possible candidates have been suggested as Shim ῾on ha- Şadiq: Shim ῾on I and Shim῾on II� Şadoqite high-priests at both ends of the third century BC, as well as Shim ῾on the Hasmonean. A re-examination of the evidence shows that the rabbinic Shim῾on ha- Şadiq cannot be identified exclusively with any of these candidates. Rather, he is a mythical persona based, to varying degrees, on all three. Rabbinic Shim ῾on ha- Şadiq thus represents the swansong of the Şadoqite dynasty in Jerusalem, and the rare respite from major violent conflict, enjoyed by the inhabitants of Eretz-Israel for the most part of the third century. It is the mythical nature of Shim ῾on that enabled later rabbinic authors to connect his name with other, much later, historical events.

Alternative title: 
JJS
URL: 
http://jjs-online.net/toc.php?subaction=fullcontent&id=058_02_236_1&type=article&review=
Label: 
26/11/2007
Record number: 
152