For PERSPECTIVES Vol. 2 No. 3 [July-September 1999]
Please feel free to submit short questions or your comments. We reserve the right to answer and publish those we believe to be in the public interest. We reserve the right to use or not use submitted material (in whole or in part), to include your name, and to edit or condense your questions for clarity and space. Click here to submit a question or comment to the editor.
Was Jesus a Vegetarian?
I read your editorial, coming to the conclusion that you are a very lazy scholar. Jesus, in the earliest NT translations, never ate meat or multiplied "fish" in his miracles. The scriptures were intentionally mistranslated and abridged to hide Jesus' vegetarianism (and other aspects of His message and God's Kingdom), because Paul knew he'd have difficulty winning converts if he required gentiles to give up meat (it was tough enough to get Jews to do so). Jesus was brought up as an Essene, a vegetarian Jewish sect, and their writings suggest that they considered Paul a liar, who changed his stances to appeal to different audiences (Paul does this regarding uncleanness of food, as well as circumcision, and even admits to being someone who adapts his teachings to the audience, [rather than to God's Truth]). It's right there in the New Testament, with further explanation in the Dead Sea Scrolls and other Essene Scriptures. Visit http://www.essene.org/ for further enlightenment.
�Jed Shlackman
As a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a professional animal damage controller, I appreciated the way you corrected PETA's claim that Jesus was a vegetarian. I do get so tired of the pop exegesis of the media and these animal rights pagans. I have created a similar page on my website. Thank you again for making this issue known.
�Stephen Vantassel
You may visit Stephen Vantassel's site at: http://www.wildlifedamagecontrol.com/.
For the record, Jesus was neither an Essene nor a vegetarian. Jesus received the baptism of John not Essene baptism. The writers of the New Testament condemned Essene Judaism. The apostle Paul wrote the letter of the Colossians to condemn the Essene gnosticism that troubled the apostolic church. If you missed our editorial on this matter you may view it by clicking here.
Since these first century issues inspire such deep passion perhaps http://www.essene.org/ and http://www.nazarene.net/ can enlighten us in this matter better than their ancient Essene and Nazarene predecessors.
�editor
Mural Artist Seeking Costume Info
Your site is marvelous and it leads me to believe you may be able to help my search. I've been commissioned to paint a large mural for an Episcopalian Church in PA that depicts the first miracle story -- the Wedding at Cana. I want the image to be as authentic to the time period, material culture of costumes, etc., ethnicity, customs as possible. Please let me know what you think. I am a willing detective. Good luck with your work and thank-you very much for the help.
�Mary Veronica Sweeney, New York City
I do not know what Jesus of Nazareth wore at this occasion. I assume he was dressed-up since it was a wedding. I do know that he was a typical Jew of his day.
His eyes were not blue and he did not have blond hair. His hair was probably fuller, but not long, as he was not a Nazarite. His hair was most likely black as was his beard. Eyes dark brown. Complexion quite olive dark. He was not an Essene so he did not wear a nice white, Palm Beach style, robe (the gospels inform us that you could not distinguish him from other Jews in a crowd). The people were quite short and I assume he was not much more than 5' 1" or thereabout. He wore the customary prayer shawl with tassels on it that people could touch.
Almost always over-looked is that fact that we are dealing with a humble man not an over-dressed, flamboyant, preacher nor a hippie. I know that this is not the picture people have of Jesus, but it is at least 90% of the actual Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament. He was not a "comely" man so he was not good looking in any sense. He was a construction worker and probably reflected that look to some extent.
�editor
Papyri Discoveries of the Mid 1890's
I want to thank you for having such a nice and informative site. I have book-marked it and will visit it regularly. It would be great if you could produce an article on the papyri discoveries of the mid 1890's and the impact they had on lexical studies as pertaining to the New Testament text. It was hailed as one of the greatest discoveries for archaeology in the last century. Through it Dr. Deissmann rendered Thayer's lexicon an outdated instrument--almost as soon as it came off of the presses. I would like to see a write-up on that subject sometime. Thanks again for having such a great site.
�David Walden
It has been added to the list of projects.
�editor
How did Antiochus IV Epiphanes Die?
I have accessed your web site to read about Antiochus IV Epiphanes. However, I did not find the information I was searching for. I seek the manner of death of Antiochus, and wish to verify this with Daniel 8:25. Many believe that Antiochus is the Little Horn in Daniel's vision (Ch 8). I am testing this theory. Would you please assist me in this matter?
�R. Kennedy
Specific knowledge of the circumstance and cause of the death of Antiochus IV may no longer exist. Some say he became insane and died. Others report he died in battle. The Britannica states he died of an illness at Tabae. You might try Antiochus IV of Syria by Otto Morkholm (Morkholm 1966).
I do not sense a connection with the manner of his death and Daniel 8:25. I believe the question is the identity of the "He" who opposes the "Prince of princes" (NASB) in verse 25. In context, then, to what time period does the phrase "time of the end" (vs. 17, 19) refer? A rabbinical analysis of this material will be quite different from a premillennialist Christian one. My sense of the material is that the nature of the latter aspects of this prophecy are messianic. That is, the He = the beast of Daniel 11 (specifically the "he" in verses 40-45) and the Prince of princes = the resurrected Jesus Christ in his second coming. The main theme of the book of Daniel leads to the final coming of the Messiah at the end of the age of mankind's rule.
�editor
The Lost 10 Tribes
I read your thesis on the Lost tribes of Israel with tremendous interest. Having considered the issue in my own research, I would like to draw your attention to several factors. Evidently the matter is quite a perplexing one and indeed the sources require elaborate analysis. It is possible that we have given too much currency to them. For instance, the ancient histories we have pertaining to the Northern Kingdom and its subsequent exile come almost entirely from the Book of Kings and Chronicles. From the academic dimension, the account suffered due to the inherent Judean bias and the uncertainty of any truly Northern contributions.
The underlying message of Kings and Chronicles, which I personally believe were completed in their virtually final forms in Babylon, was one of hope for the future. This hope was to be crystallized through the gathering of the exiles and a return to the Promised Land as one nation. However, by this time the Northern Kingdom had lost its independence, heritage and identity. It had become assimilated amongst the peoples of the Assyrian hegemony.
As stated earlier, the lack of a truly Northern record clouds our understanding of the Ten tribes. I am of the view that following the division of the Kingdom in the lifetime of Rehoboam, the North lost its focus in terms of the Ten tribes. After all, they were in reality only significant for the land partition. The North's later history showed it to be far more under foreign influences than its southern neighbor. Of course the tribal lineage was probably maintained as is inferred by the account of Naboth and King Ahab, but its practical use had become archaic. The North reviled everything Judean and stood to be counted in a different context. Ultimately, the concept of a tribal system in the Northern Kingdom began to decline long before the Assyrian deportation.
�Harvey Miller
Our editorial addressed the scientific aspects of this matter. There are many thousands of people in the United States and Europe who believe that certain modern nations have a biblical identify with prophetic implications.Equating the British and northern Europeans as the descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, e.g., Manasseh = the United States of America, Ephraim = the United Kingdom and some of its former possessions (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the like), Ruben = France, Dan = Ireland and Denmark, and so forth; and then applying these identities to interpretation of biblical prophecy provides a startling, controversial hermeneutic. It includes Queen Elizabeth II occupying the throne of King David. There is a growing literature on this topic.
Our analysis of the arguments put forward by the advocates of this hermeneutic suggests that archaeology, history, and linguistics fail to "prove" that the British and northern Europeans are the descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. No more than soft evidence is available and none of it is scientific. Proponents put forward interesting but not compelling evidence. Yet there is insufficient evidence submitted by its critics to falsify the theory beyond a reasonable doubt.
Some people simply dismiss the theory as British Israelism missing the point. British Israelism is an elitist nineteenth mindset advancing British superiority and justifying British colonialism. The theory in issue, however, has to do with ethnic origins and their biblical implications not the behavior of British aristocrats. It is unscientific, anti-intellectual, and naive to reject a theory because you don't like it. Science does not advance this way. We still suggest a significant scientific study to put the matter to rest.
If you are a viewer who has not read the editorial in question you may visit it by clicking here.
�editor
Amazing relationships developed between the Scythian Germans (!) and the Anglo Saxon tribes with also a bit of Celtic mystery for flavor. I don't know about you, but every time I heard somebody mentioning the obscure Scythians I got bright flashing lights warning me of sheer madness... To extrapolate that these people of probable Persian extraction were the ancient Israelites and, even more miraculously, migrated from their lands to the wilderness of Teuton land...it's amazing.
�Rod S., Phoenix
The basis of this comment was the viewer's visit to several websites claiming that the ancient Assyrians migrated to Europe and that accordingly Germany = Assyria in biblical prophecy and the ancient Scythians = wandering tribes of Israelites.
�editor
A Welcome Word
I just want to let you know what a help this web site was to me. I am a high school student and I did a research paper on archaeological evidence that proves the Bible is true. Your web site was a big help and i just wanted to say thank you for putting it together.
�Lauren D
Biblical Archaeology as a Career?
This site was recommended to me by some one who said that you could answer my questions concerning Biblical Archaeology. First of all, I am a 14-year-old, home-schooled freshman and I am interested in becoming a biblical archaeologist. What prep courses would be best to take before college, would it be wise to go for my doctorate, and what would be the best college to go to for all this stuff? I would be very happy if you could answer my questions.
�Sarah DBiblical archaeology is a specialty in archaeology. This is one of the four major sub-fields of anthropology. To be truly successful as a biblical archaeologist you would need to go to a good university and major in anthropology with a strong background in physics, chemistry, and the biological sciences. Plan to go to one of the better graduate schools where you can pursue a master's and doctorate in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology. The career path is university teaching and then doing archaeological research. When the time comes you will want to find a graduate school that maintains a program that deals with the near east.
�editor
I am a senior in high school. All my life I have wanted to be an archaeologist. Since I was in second grade. My dad has been pushing me lately to study law so I can work with his corporation. My dad believes that wealth is somewhat important in my decision. I need to know how archaeologists live.
�ChoiYou might want to consider both. I am a licensed attorney at law in the State of California as well as a biblical archaeologist. Hershel Shanks of the Biblical Archaeology Society is a lawyer as well. Unless you want to teach to support yourself there is no money in biblical archaeology. All of my friends in this field, with one or two exceptions, are academics. But, if you major in anthropology and minor in business, or even visa versa, you position yourself for both careers. Today law schools are not particular about what your major as long as you do well on the LSAT and a 4.0 up, with emphasis on the up, GPA. In any case, your dad makes a good point. With wealth you can maintain a foot in archaeology and have a good life as well. I can not rely on archaeology to support my family that is one reason I worked in academe and the law for so may years.
�editor
A Lost Israelite Tribe in South Africa?
First, what are the implications of the recent DNA evidence (front page New York Times June 15) demonstrating that a tribe of people living in South Africa are shown to be distant immigrants from Yemen who travel southward along the Arabian Peninsula--perhaps from Jerusalem. Second, is there a genetic correlation between the Kohanim? The Levites?
�J. Phillip Obrien
At BibArch� we support such efforts. There is as yet insufficient information to establish genetic relationships as refined as the priestly class and the Levites. The article by Nicholas Wade appeared in the May 9, 1999, Sunday, New York Times entitled "DNA Backs a Tribe's Tradition Of Early Descent From the Jews". The Lemba, a Bantu-speaking people of southern Africa, have a tradition that they were led out of Judea by a man named Buba. They practice circumcision, keep one day a week holy and avoid eating pork or pig like animals, such as the hippopotamus.
�editor
Did the Roman Emperor Nero Visit Jerusalem?
I would like to ask your help in regard to some information on Nero. I have a friend that said that he during his reign went to Jerusalem and desecrated the Temple and set himself up there as god. I have searched through quite a bit of information on Nero in encyclopedias, etc and this is never mentioned. I am wondering if you could direct me to a book and author if this is true or you can just e-mail me back and say no he didn't do that at any time during his reign.
�Lori Baker
I think your friend may have confused Nero with Antiochus Epiphanies. Nero did not go to Jerusalem. Antiochus did and as I recall had a pig offered on the altar which provoked a revolution by the Maccabees.
�editor
Did Mary Ride a Donkey into Bethlehem?
My pastor asked me if I knew of a passage in the scriptures that stated Mary rode into Bethlehem on a donkey while Joseph walked beside her...I couldn't really find a scripture that said that. My pastor says that she read where it is considered degrading for the man to walk while the woman rode. Something about Jewish traditions. I said that I felt that Joseph, being a compassionate man, and obviously in love with Mary, would not have wanted his pregnant wife walking while he rode.......can you enlighten us?
�William Swearengin
The reason you could not find a scripture placing Mary on a donkey is that there is none. How her husband transported her from Nazareth to Bethlehem I do not know. I am not aware of a custom in the Jews of the first-century CE which would place the pregnant woman about to give child in that position. I think you explanation quite fitting under the circumstances.
�editor
Can We Prove the Bible True?
This may sound like a bold attempt but I am trying to prove the Bible. I felt the best way to start was at the beginning. Try and identify the ancient named cities with their modern names. To that end I felt Nod would be the first. Any help would be grateful.�Kevin Birdwell
The Bible is a self-authenticating set of books. Put it to the test. The land of Nod? No one really knows.
�editor
Did Adam and Eve Live During the Time of the Dinosaurs?
My daughter is 12 years old and has some questions about this subject. Did the dinosaurs exist before or after Adam and Eve? If they existed during that time, why didn't they eat Adam and Eve? Why weren't they on Noah's Ark? How did they die?
�pilkeyr
Many people believe that God created the earth and all life forms on the earth about 6,000 years ago. This is not biblical. It is an assumption many well-meaning Christians have made. According to biblical chronology God created Adam and Eve about 6,000 years ago not the earth. The earth is quite old and life has been on this planet for many millions of years. The first anatomically modern Homo sapiens populations appeared about 200,000 years ago. The fossil evidence indicates that dinosaurs appeared on the earth on the earth about 210 million years ago at the beginning of the Mesozoic era. The dinosaurs became extinct at the end of the Mesozoic era about 65 million years ago.
�editor
Elijah's Well
I am interested in any information dealing directly and only with the archaeological digs going on at Elijah's well (at Mt. Carmel) I think it's also known as Wadi ein Siah. Any information you could provide will be greatly appreciated.
�Faith
There are over 3,000 digs in Israel. On this one we have no information. You may need to contact the Israeli Department of Antiquities for the name and address of the excavators.
�editor
The Role of Women in Jacob's Day
I am trying to find out more about the way of life during the time of Jacob (Book of Genesis). I'm particularly interested in the role of women and Jacob's return to his homeland. Any help would be appreciated.
�Jenny Baker
We are here dealing with a nomadic people who were patriarchal pastoralists. In Jacob's case we see matrilateral cross-cousin marriage, polygamy, and bride wealth exchange. Women were property. They were one step from animism. You might want to take a look at a good anthropology text such as Cultural Anthropology by Raymond Scupin (Scupin 1999) for some basic characteristics of tribes.
�editor
Ancient Names of Turkey
I am trying to find the name during biblical times of the present country of Turkey.
�Marie Herrin
The location of Turkey is Asia Minor. For political names I suggest you consult a good set of biblical maps. You can look at the maps for the time frame you are interested in and you should get the name from the map.
�editor
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