1	Centurion: The World of the Legion in Palestine during the First Century L.D. Alford Session 6: Hebrew Life and Love
2	Centurion
3	Introduction Centurion is a Historical Fiction Novel Published by Capstone Follows life of Centurion Abenadar Time 6 BC to AD 35 Location Levant (Palestine) Hebrew life and love
4	Class Syllabus 1. Centurion’s character, lineage, and life 2. Palestine in 6 BC to AD 35 3. The Legions 4. Training a Legionnaire 5. The making of a Centurion 6. Hebrew life and love 7. The events of the crucifixion and resurrection—a historical perspective 8. Conclusion
5	Characters Primary Abenadar ben Abenadar Iustus from Natzeret Ruth Secondary – in this session Yochanan the Immerser – John the Baptist Yotam – Jotham, Ya’akov – Jacob talmid (talmidim (p), talmidah (f)) - disciple Tzadok (Tz’dukim) – Sadducee Parush (P’rushim) – Pharisee cohen (cohanim) – priest, L’vi - Levite
6	Jewish Law Torah Bound to the Torah Trained as a child Hebrew Foundation of life Circumcision Reinforced by living, custom, practice Prayers and blessings
7	Prayers and Blessings Abenadar reached for the pot, but Ruth put her hand on his arm. “Bless it first, my lord. Say a prayer of thanksgiving to Adonai, blessed be He. One like my father would have said.” Her head nodded up and down and her eyes were a thousand miles, or perhaps, years away. Abenadar searched his memory. The blessing was ancient words in his mind, sentences so long unused he stumbled over them. “Blessed are You Adonai, Ruler of the Universe, who draws bread from the earth.” Ruth didn’t care. She smiled at him as though the words he said were as resounding as a cohen’s, one of the Temple priests.
8	Shabbat Shabbat - Sabbath Day ends when three stars can be seen after sunset – day begins at the opposite time at sunrise Restrictions No work - Stopped work on the Tabernacle No carrying No travel Pikuach Nefesh – all Sabbath restrictions may be violated to preserve life
9	Shabbat What can you do Visit the prophets Honor and delight Kindling Sabbath lights – before sun goes down Kiddush over the wine Challah – two whole loaves of bread Double portion of manna Two rows (12 loaves) of showbread in Temple Sabbath meals Zimirot – table hymns Sex is recommended for married couples
10	Centurion In the morning, Ruth fed Abenadar bread and honey with thick slices of goat’s cheese. When he arrived at breakfast in the camp, Gaius wondered aloud why Abenadar didn’t eat the morning meal of cibaria. Abenadar worked his men twice as hard that day. He didn’t return to the small house until after the sun was well down. The streets were emptier than he was used to. When he came through the door, the hearth was cold and Ruth did not greet him. She sat at the table and, as he stepped into the room, she straightened her shoulders. “My lord, it is Shabbat.”
11	Centurion “Shabbat?” said Abenadar. “Yes, Shabbat. You should have been home before the sunset.” “I didn’t realize.” “I waited for you.” The Shabbat lamps were already lit on the table before her. Abenadar sat beside her, and she said the blessing over the lamps. Ruth swept her hands three times over the flames, and covered her eyes with her hands. “Blessed are you, Adonai, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments and who has commanded us to kindle the light of Shabbat.”
12	Centurion Abenadar remembered his own mother blessing the light of Shabbat, and he sadly realized how late Ruth’s blessing came. On the table stood their two cups of wine and a meal of challot bread and hummus.
13	Centurion Abenadar remembered the Kiddush. The words were rough on his lips, but he knew them; his mother had made him learn it by heart when he was only a small child: “And it was evening, and it was morning… the sixth day. And the Heavens and the earth and all that was in them were completed. And Adonai completed on the seventh day all the work that He had done. And Adonai rested on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. And Adonai blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on that day Adonai rested from all his work, which He had created. Blessed are You, Adonai, Ruler of the Universe, Creator of the Fruit of the vine.” Abenadar put his hand over the cups and Ruth said, “Amen.”
14	Centurion Abenadar continued more strongly, “Blessed are You, Adonai, Ruler of the Universe, who sanctified us with Your commandments. Lovingly You have favored us with the gift of Your holy Shabbat as our inheritance, a reminder of creation, first among the sacred days which recall the exodus from Egypt. You have chosen us for Your service, and given us a sacred purpose in life. In loving favor, You have given us Your holy Shabbat as a heritage. Praised are you, Adonai, who sanctifies the Shabbat.” Abenadar and Ruth together said, “Amen.”
15	Centurion Abenadar picked up the challot loaves and held them together, “Blessed are You, Adonai, Ruler of the Universe, who draws bread from the earth.” Abenadar broke one of the loaves and handed it to Ruth. They ate in silence as the oil in the lamps slowly burned lower and lower. Ruth didn’t say anything to him, but Abenadar knew she was pleased he remembered the blessings. After a while, Abenadar said, “I will work the schedule so I can keep Shabbat with you, but this time I cannot.” “You cannot? But you will break the Law.” She turned her face away from him.
16	Centurion “I may break the Law. I am not used to keeping Shabbat. In the camp, I barely know one day from another.” Ruth held her hands together in her lap and stared into the flickering flame of the lamps. “I’m sorry, Ruth. I will keep the next Shabbat and every one I can, but tomorrow morning I must be in the camp for the muster.” She did not speak to him. Abenadar said the blessing at the end of the meal, and they went to bed.
17	Festivals Major and Minor Major – those required under the Covenant of Laws (dabar) Minor – those added later Major Festivals - under the body of Covenant of Laws Pilgrim festivals Passover Shavuot Sukkot Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur
18	Festivals Minor Festivals Purim Hanukkah Lag ba-Omer Tu b’Av Tu b’Shevat
19	Festivals Rosh Hashanah – “head of the year” <new year> 1st and 2nd Tishrei Originally a single day Second day added during Diaspora because of difficulty determining the new moon Day God determines the fate of every individual for the upcoming year Kingship of God Challot are round Sounding of the Shofar – commandment is to hear the sound of the shofar
20	Festivals Yom Kippur Day of Atonement – indi & communal repentance Day Kohen Hgadol would enter the Holy of Holies and pronounce name of God before people - Shabbat shabbaton 25 hour fast - The five afflictions Eating and drinking Bathing for pleasure Anointing the body with oil Wearing leather shoes Sexual relations Repentance, confession, resolve to abandon evil Must obtain repentance from others first
21	Festivals Pilgrim Festivals – Deut 16:16 Passover – spring Shavuot – summer Sukkot – autumn
22	Festivals Sukkot – autumn Festival of Booths (also called Tabernacles) 7 days Associated with messianic redemption (Zech14:16) Water ceremony – cleansing the altar Dwelling in the sukkah Gathering the four species Etrog (citron) Lulav (palm) Hadas (myrtle Aravah (willow)
23	Festivals Sukkot – autumn Traditions Hoshana Rabbah – the seventh day of Sukkot 7 circuits around the altar/synagogue Strike willow branches on the ground near the altar Willow branches covered the altar Shemini Atzeret – the eighth day of assembly Recitation of the Yizkor (May god remember) for those who have died
24	Herod’s Temple
25	Sukkot Ruth nodded. “Will you take me to the Temple now? Today is Hoshana Rabbah, the Day of the Great Hosannah. You haven’t celebrated the festival, but I want you to join me when our Covenant with Adonai is restored for the year. And I would also like to see Yeshua again.” “Why not? Surely the man is marvelous to watch.” Ruth leapt up and pulled Abenadar up with her. “Come on then.” Ruth and Abenadar paused only long enough to grab a couple of branches from the booth on the top of their house, then they joined the growing throng of worshipers that headed toward the Temple.
26	Sukkot As the crowds made their way to the Temple, they were exuberant. They sang and waved the fresh green branches over their heads. At the Temple, Ruth and Abenadar joined the many who did not or could not enter into the Court of Women. They stood in the Court of the Goyim as close to the entrance to the Court of Women as possible. From there, through the wide spaces between the columns, they could see the Altar and the enclosed Holy Place.
27	Sukkot At the Altar, the cohanim beat the last of the leaves from their willow branches. The crowd was exultant. The people moved aside for the cohen who carried the golden ewer filled with water from the Pool of Shiloach. With great dignity, he made his way toward the Altar. The crowd parted before him and reformed behind him. He passed close enough to Ruth and Abenadar that they could see the clear water from the spring in the ewer. The cohen climbed the Altar and, with majestic formality, poured out the ewer at its base. The people automatically began to sing the Hallel, and almost as an afterthought, the L’vi’im musicians joined them on their flutes.
28	Sukkot “Hallelu Yah,” sang the L’vi’im. “Hallelu Yah,” repeated the crowd. “Hallelu, O ye servants of Y’hovah.” “Hallelu Yah.” The Hallel went on and on, and as the crowd recited each stanza of the Psalm, their response swelled louder and louder. At the end, the crowd’s reply became a vast roar: “Save now, we beseech Thee, Y’hovah. Hallelu Yah. O Y’hovah, we beseech Thee, send us prosperity. Hallelu Yah. Blessed be He that comes in the name of Y’hovah. Hallelu Yah.”
29	Sukkot As the last echo of the words of the Hallel reverberated through the Temple, the people fell on their faces, and the cohanim blew three great trumpet blasts. Compared to the roar of the worshipers, the noise of the trumpets sounded almost muted. The musical blast was the counterpoint that ushered in an unnatural silence. No one moved or said a word. They all waited Adonai’s response to the Hallel. In the past, the response always came as the blessing of the Cohen Hagadol, the high priest.
30	Sukkot Before the Cohen Hagadol could speak, in that silence, a man stood at the base of the Altar and turned to face the people. He cried out to the crowd. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink! Whoever puts his trust in me will truly become like the Pool of Shiloach and rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being.” The cohanim at the Altar stood dumbfounded, and with the people, they hung on every word. Everyone in the Temple could clearly hear the voice. The speaker was Yeshua. Abenadar recognized him immediately. At first, the people were paralyzed. Then as Yeshua stood with his arms outstretched, they spoke to one another in whispers. “Surely this man is the prophet.”
31	Sukkot “This is the messiah,” asserted others. The cohanim’s words were subdued. Almost unheard, they said, “How can the Messiah come from the Galil? Listen to the man’s accent. Doesn’t the Tanakh say that the Messiah is from the seed of David and comes from Beit-Lechem, the village where David lived?” But the voice of the people drowned them out. To them the words of Yeshua needed no other explanation. The covenant ceremony focused on Yeshua’s words and their import of Adonai’s salvation. Without the Cohen Hagadol’s blessing, the festival was over, but the people began to leave for their own homes expressing a greater joy that, in their own time, they had witnessed Adonai’s revelation.
32	Festivals Hanukkah 8 day begins 25 of Kislev (December) Commemorates the victory of Judah Maccabee over the Syrians At rededication of the Temple found a single small pot of dedicated oil—not defiled that burned for 8 days until the priests could dedicate more oil Festival of lights
33	Festivals Tu b’Sheval 15th day (full moon) of Shevat (Jan-Feb) New year of the trees Day on which God decides how bountiful each tree will be Purim 14th of Adar Celebrates the deliverance of the Jews by Esther Means “lots” for the “pur” lots cast by Haman
34	Festivals Passover 15th of Nisan 7 days in Isreal and 8 days in Diaspora Redemption from Egypt and Exodus Hametz eating of leavened products is prohibited Seder – first night of Passover Zeroa – roasted bone symbolizes the pascal lamb Beitzah – roasted egg, symbolizes Temple offering Karpas – fresh parsley, symbolizes spring Maror – bitter herbs, symbolizes Egyptian slavery Haroset – chopped fruits, nuts, wine, and spices – symbolizes the mortar used to build in Egypt Hazeret – maror (usually lettuce) for the korech sandwich
35	Festivals Passover Four questions Why do we eat matzah? Why do we eat bitter herbs? Why do we dip twice? Dipping of Joseph’s coat in blood Dipping of the hyssop in to blood of the pascal lamb to mark the door posts Why do we eat reclining? Non slaves in the ancient world ate reclining Celebrates the rescue from slavery by God
36	Festivals Omer period 7 weeks from Passover until Shavuot Shavuot “weeks” Anniversary of the giving of the Torah to Moses Presentation of leavened challots before the Lord Wave offering Only leavened bread allowed to be presented in the Torah Ruth is read
37	Centurion Key events of festivals and Shabbat indirectly and directly deliniated
38	Mikvah Purification Required when: Contact with the dead Other ritually unclean (tamei) objects Nazirites upon completing their vows Lepers upon healing Priests before performing Temple rites Men following nocturnal emission (tevilath Ezra, "immersion of Ezra") women after giving birth or menstruating.
39	Mikvah Ancient mikvahs dating from Temple times (predating 70 AD) can be found throughout the Land of Israel, as well as in the diaspora
40	Mikvah: Present Situation Orthodox Jews Required for women after childbirth or menstruation before intercourse Men before their wedding Women before wedding, after last pre-wedding menstrual cycle Converts to Judaism Minority of Reform rabbis do not require Some Hasidic men, immerse, daily, before Shabbat, or before certain Jewish holidays
41	Mikvah: Present Situation Use of the mikvah viewed as private matter Men and women may have separate mikvah facilities in separate locations May have different designated times to use the same mikvah Jewish funeral home: immerse body during purification before burial
42	Mikvah: Requirements Rules regarding construction of mikvaot are complicated Living water Immersion must take place in a "mayan" (spring or well) Certain rivers or lakes Mikvah expert consulted for status of a particular body of water Standard bathtubs cannot be used
43	Mikvah: Requirements Living Water Rain water can be used Source of most mikvah water today Certain amount of rainwater is required, can be augmented with regular tap water Allows water to be frequently changed A pool of rainwater (bor) connected to mikvah, duct is closed to empty and replace the regular water without having to replace the rain water
44	Mikvah: Procedure Water must cover entire body All clothing, jewelry, and bandages must be removed Hair must be combed straight so no knots In contemporary mikvaot for women, always an experienced attendant, commonly called "mikvah lady", to watch immersion and ensure woman has been entirely covered with water
45	Yochanan the Immerser John the Baptist Baptizo – to dye Beit-Anyah
46	Yochanan the Immerser “Very well.” The Immerser stepped into the river. The muddy water rose above his waist. He reached his hand out to Ruth. She grasped his outstretched fingers and stepped into the water beside him. “Are you confessing your sins, and have you turned your heart toward Adonai, blessed be He?” “Yes,” answered Ruth, trembling. “I immerse you as a sign; make straight the way for Adonai.” With these words, Yochanan gently submerged Ruth for a moment and then brought her back up out of the water. Ruth rose out of the Yarden sodden, but exuberant. A large smile enveloped her features with a light as bright as the sun.
47	Yochanan the Immerser Why not the Mikvah Compromise May change in a 2^nd edition Problem is few understand Mikvah Potentially requires long explaination Potentially Yochanan would not immerse women Does not fully answer the question
48	Jewish Sects Proclamation of Simon as king and high priest caused a split into Jewish sects Essenes Pharisees Sadducees Zealots
49	Jewish Sects Essenes Jewish tradition: may have been started by the ex-high priest prior to Jonathan Strictly interpreted Law rejected many elements of Jewish “tradition” Separated from sacrificial Law Resurrection of dead Reward and punishment after life
50	Jewish Sects Pharisees Like Essesens disagreed with Hasmodeans as high priest and king Oral Torah along with the Torah Advocated greater leniency in punishments Believed in resurrection Believed in eternal punishment for wicked Supported by the people Paul (Saul) was a Pharisee
51	Jewish Sects Sadducees Held only Torah as basis for Law No resurrection No punishment after death Generally controlled Temple and high priest
52	Jewish Sects Zealots 6 ce founded by Judas of Galilee Basically Pharisees with an extremist bent Violently opposed the Romans and Hellenization
53	Jerusalem
54	Marriage Marriage is sex, sex is marriage Jewish society developed numerous protections for women dowry chethubah—marriage contract Rights based on familial system and protection For pagans and women not under system marriage was an assent
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56	Summary Torah Jewish way of life Festivals and Shabbat Mikvah Marriage
57	Next Time The events of the crucifixion and resurrection—a historical perspective