Who Were the Who Were the Pharisees?Pharisees?

How to analyze the How to analyze the historical sourceshistorical sources

Professor Professor Tzvee ZahavyTzvee Zahavy

April, 2002April, 2002

When?When?

• Before 70 CE. Before 70 CE.

• Time of…Time of…

• Nascent ChristianityNascent Christianity

• Roman GovernanceRoman Governance

• Political TensionPolitical Tension

• Religious EffervescenceReligious Effervescence

PhariseesPharisees

• Hebrew Hebrew xhaurp xhaurp =Separatists=Separatists

• Label used later for those Label used later for those strict in doctrine and ritual strict in doctrine and ritual – outwardly – hypocritical – – outwardly – hypocritical – self-righteousself-righteous

• Carries cultural baggageCarries cultural baggage

Roles Given ThemRoles Given Them

• A sect or philosophical A sect or philosophical school w/ Sadducees, school w/ Sadducees, Essenes, ZealotsEssenes, Zealots

• Precursors to the RabbisPrecursors to the Rabbis

• Enemies of JesusEnemies of Jesus

• Administrators of the StateAdministrators of the State

Critical ReadingCritical Reading

• Cui bono?Cui bono?

• What is the Tendenz?What is the Tendenz?

• Genre, purpose, timelinessGenre, purpose, timeliness

• Source: Jacob Neusner, Source: Jacob Neusner, From Politics to PietyFrom Politics to Piety

Aside: Who Were…Aside: Who Were…

• The 21The 21stst C. Palestinians? C. Palestinians?

• Freedom Fighters?Freedom Fighters?

• Hypocritical Terrorists?Hypocritical Terrorists?

• Religious Martyrs?Religious Martyrs?

• Administrators of a State?Administrators of a State?

• Need for critical questionsNeed for critical questions

M. Smith’s PhariseesM. Smith’s Pharisees

• Small group of Pal. JewsSmall group of Pal. Jews

• Philosophical school Philosophical school (Josephus, Antiquities)(Josephus, Antiquities)–Distinct beliefs, practicesDistinct beliefs, practices

• Oral TraditionsOral Traditions

Josephus (b. 37 CE)Josephus (b. 37 CE)

• Lived before 70 in IsraelLived before 70 in Israel• Have his actual writingsHave his actual writings• A historian: apologist for A historian: apologist for

RomeRome• Claimed to be a Pharisee Claimed to be a Pharisee

(“A sect like the Greek (“A sect like the Greek Stoic School”)Stoic School”)

Josephus’, Josephus’, WarWar• P’s were a Political PartyP’s were a Political Party• Active in the court affairs Active in the court affairs

of the Maccabean Stateof the Maccabean State• Excelling in observance of Excelling in observance of

religionreligion• Real administrators of the Real administrators of the

State – Alexandra SalomeState – Alexandra Salome

More JosephusMore Josephus

• P’s Active politically in Herod’s P’s Active politically in Herod’s CourtCourt

• P’s a philosophical schoolP’s a philosophical school

• Attribute all to fate and GodAttribute all to fate and God

• Belief in the soulBelief in the soul

• Reward and PunishmentReward and Punishment

• Affectionate and harmoniousAffectionate and harmonious

The Antiquities: 20 The Antiquities: 20 Years LaterYears Later• All prayers and All prayers and

sacred rites of sacred rites of worship worship performed performed according to the according to the P’s expositionP’s exposition

• Influence in the Influence in the TempleTemple

• Deviation of the Deviation of the accounts from accounts from those in the those in the WarWar

• M. Smith: P’s now M. Smith: P’s now leading leading candidates for candidates for Roman support in Roman support in Israel and already Israel and already negotiating for it.negotiating for it.

• Fact: a political Fact: a political partyparty

• Fact: a Fact: a “philosophical “philosophical school”school”

Pharisees of the Pharisees of the Gospels (c. 80 CE)Gospels (c. 80 CE)• Who were they?Who were they?

• A Table FellowshipA Table Fellowship

• W/ Dietary lawsW/ Dietary laws

• Observed Ritual purityObserved Ritual purity

• Like Priests in the TempleLike Priests in the Temple

• Scrupulous tithingScrupulous tithing

AntagonismAntagonism

• The enemies of JesusThe enemies of Jesus

• Central to the governance Central to the governance of the Jewish communityof the Jewish community

• Hypocrites and a brood of Hypocrites and a brood of vipersvipers

Role 1: Background Role 1: Background enemies of Jesusenemies of Jesus

–Chief priests and PhariseesChief priests and Pharisees

–Scribes and PhariseesScribes and Pharisees

–Provoke Jesus or trip him upProvoke Jesus or trip him up

–Many passagesMany passages

2: Criticize Jesus2: Criticize Jesus

• He was healing on the He was healing on the SabbathSabbath

• He violates their practicesHe violates their practices

3. General 3. General CondemnationCondemnation• ““Unless your Unless your

righteousness exceeds that righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 5:20)”heaven. (Mt. 5:20)”

4. Agree w/P’s4. Agree w/P’s

• Paul in Acts: I am a Paul in Acts: I am a Pharisee, son of a PhariseePharisee, son of a Pharisee

• Not valued as historical Not valued as historical informationinformation

• Was a narrative conventionWas a narrative convention

5. P’s Condemned5. P’s Condemned• For Specific Practices, BeliefsFor Specific Practices, Beliefs• J eats with the wrong peopleJ eats with the wrong people• P’s fast, Christians do notP’s fast, Christians do not• P’s do not harvest on the P’s do not harvest on the

SabbathSabbath• P’s do not heal on SabbathP’s do not heal on Sabbath• Christians do not wash to eatChristians do not wash to eat• And…And…

Moral CondemnationMoral Condemnation

• P’s keep ritual purity laws P’s keep ritual purity laws but neglect “the weightier but neglect “the weightier matters of the law, justice, matters of the law, justice, mercy and faith”mercy and faith”

• 3 issues to conclude: the 3 issues to conclude: the NT P’s kept the Sabbath, NT P’s kept the Sabbath, ritual purity and tithingritual purity and tithing

Example: Plucking Example: Plucking Grain on the SabbathGrain on the Sabbath

• Mt 12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Mt 12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." to do on the sabbath." 

• He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 

• I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath." Man is lord of the sabbath."

Examples: WoeExamples: Woe• Mt 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Mt 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,

hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!but swallow a camel!

• "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. become clean.

Rabbinic TraditionsRabbinic Traditions

• Mishnah, Tosefta, 2 Mishnah, Tosefta, 2 TalmudsTalmuds

• Later compilationsLater compilations• 200-500 CE200-500 CE• Contain references to pre-Contain references to pre-

70 rabbinic masters = 70 rabbinic masters = PhariseesPharisees

MishnahMishnah• Published ~ 200 CE by Judah Published ~ 200 CE by Judah

the Princethe Prince• Compilation of rabbinic Compilation of rabbinic

sayings from 4 erassayings from 4 eras• Pre-70Pre-70• Yavneh (70-125) Yavneh (70-125) • Usha (125-170)Usha (125-170)• Bet Shearim (170-220)Bet Shearim (170-220)

Mishnah + ToseftaMishnah + Tosefta• Additions to MishnahAdditions to Mishnah• CommentariesCommentaries• Together with Mishnah = Together with Mishnah =

the Oral Torahthe Oral Torah• Taught to Moses along with Taught to Moses along with

the written Torahthe written Torah• Hence: authoritative codeHence: authoritative code

Talmuds (c. 450-500)Talmuds (c. 450-500)

• Babylonian Babylonian –Better known, more Better known, more

authorityauthority

• Talmud of the Land of Talmud of the Land of IsraelIsrael

• Compiled as rabbinic Compiled as rabbinic expositions of the Mishnahexpositions of the Mishnah

AttributionsAttributions

• Rabbi X said….Rabbi X said….

• The House of Hillel v. the The House of Hillel v. the House of ShammaiHouse of Shammai

• ~ 300 pericopae – disputes~ 300 pericopae – disputes

• 65 traditions attested from 65 traditions attested from the generation of Yavnehthe generation of Yavneh

Pharisees of MishnahPharisees of Mishnah

• Purity lawsPurity laws

• Agricultural taboosAgricultural taboos

• Sabbath lawsSabbath laws

PharisaismPharisaism• ““As If” Mode of Religion…As If” Mode of Religion…• Conduct one’s daily life in the Conduct one’s daily life in the

home home as ifas if one were a Priest in one were a Priest in the Templethe Temple

• Eat in purityEat in purity• Family purityFamily purity• Meticulous tithing, agricultural Meticulous tithing, agricultural

lawslaws

Houses of Hillel and Houses of Hillel and ShammaiShammai• Subject of their traditions: Subject of their traditions:

67% deal with table 67% deal with table fellowship + purityfellowship + purity

• Not special ritual feasts – Not special ritual feasts – everyday meals – and on everyday meals – and on Sabbaths and festivalsSabbaths and festivals

What is missing?What is missing?• No mention of governance No mention of governance

or politicsor politics• Mishnah’s are Not like Mishnah’s are Not like

Josephus’ PhariseesJosephus’ Pharisees• They are strikingly similar They are strikingly similar

to the agenda of the to the agenda of the Pharisees of the GospelsPharisees of the Gospels

Gradations in the Gradations in the Mishnah’s EvidenceMishnah’s Evidence• Some traditions of the Some traditions of the

Pharisees can be attested Pharisees can be attested to an earlier generationto an earlier generation

• Some cannotSome cannot

Yavneh (70-125)Yavneh (70-125)

• Rabban Yohanan ben Rabban Yohanan ben ZakkaiZakkai

• Escape from JerusalemEscape from Jerusalem

• Founder of rabbinic schoolFounder of rabbinic school

• Not a political head: that Not a political head: that was the Nasi – Patriarch was the Nasi – Patriarch

• Example: Mishnah Berakhot (Blessings)Example: Mishnah Berakhot (Blessings)

• 1:3 A. The House of Shammai say, "In the evening everyone 1:3 A. The House of Shammai say, "In the evening everyone should recline in order to recite [the Shema] and in the should recline in order to recite [the Shema] and in the morning they should stand,morning they should stand,

• B. "as it says [in the passage of the Shema], When B. "as it says [in the passage of the Shema], When you lie down and when you rise (Dt. 6:7)."you lie down and when you rise (Dt. 6:7)."

• C. But the House of Hillel say, "Everyone may recite C. But the House of Hillel say, "Everyone may recite according to his own manner [either reclining or standing],according to his own manner [either reclining or standing],

• D. "as it says, And as you walk by the way (ibid.) ."D. "as it says, And as you walk by the way (ibid.) ."• E. If it is so [that one may recite however he wishes] E. If it is so [that one may recite however he wishes]

why does [the verse] say, When you lie down and when you why does [the verse] say, When you lie down and when you rise?rise?

• F. [It means you must recite the Shema] at the hour F. [It means you must recite the Shema] at the hour that people lie down [night] and at the hour that people rise [in that people lie down [night] and at the hour that people rise [in the morning].the morning].

• G. Said R. Tarfon, "I was coming along the road [in G. Said R. Tarfon, "I was coming along the road [in the evening] and reclined to recite the Shema as required by the evening] and reclined to recite the Shema as required by the House of Shammai. And [in doing so] I placed myself in the House of Shammai. And [in doing so] I placed myself in danger of [being attacked by] bandits."danger of [being attacked by] bandits."

• H. They said to him, "You are yourself responsible H. They said to him, "You are yourself responsible [for what might have befallen you], for you violated the words [for what might have befallen you], for you violated the words of the House of Hillel."of the House of Hillel."

Example: Tosefta 1:4 Example: Tosefta 1:4

A. Once: R. Ishmael and R. Eleazar ben Azariah wereA. Once: R. Ishmael and R. Eleazar ben Azariah werestaying in the same place. R. Ishmael was reclining and R.staying in the same place. R. Ishmael was reclining and R.Eleazar ben Azariah was standing upright. When the timeEleazar ben Azariah was standing upright. When the timecame to recite the ”Shema`, R. Ishmael arose and R. Eleazarcame to recite the ”Shema`, R. Ishmael arose and R. EleazarBen Azariah reclined.Ben Azariah reclined.

B. Said to him R. Ishmael, "What is this, Eleazar?" B. Said to him R. Ishmael, "What is this, Eleazar?" C. He said to him, "Ishmael, my brother, they say to C. He said to him, "Ishmael, my brother, they say to

one, `Why is your beard grown long?', and he says toone, `Why is your beard grown long?', and he says tothem, `Let it serve [as a protest] against the destroyers.'them, `Let it serve [as a protest] against the destroyers.'

D. "[Just so] I, who was standing, reclined; and you, D. "[Just so] I, who was standing, reclined; and you,who were reclining, arose."who were reclining, arose."

E. He [Ishmael] said to him, "You reclined to carry out E. He [Ishmael] said to him, "You reclined to carry outthe words of the House of Shammai, and I arose to carry outthe words of the House of Shammai, and I arose to carry out[the words of] the House of Hillel [M. Ber. 1:3]."[the words of] the House of Hillel [M. Ber. 1:3]."

F. Another version: "[I arose] so that the students F. Another version: "[I arose] so that the studentsshould not behold and establish the law according to your should not behold and establish the law according to your words."words."

Usha (140-170)Usha (140-170)

• Failure of the revolt of Bar Failure of the revolt of Bar KochbaKochba

• Focus: continuity of the Focus: continuity of the unbroken rabbinic tradition unbroken rabbinic tradition

• Hope for the Messiah, not Hope for the Messiah, not the messianic generalthe messianic general

Judah the Nasi Judah the Nasi (=Patriarch, c. 200)(=Patriarch, c. 200)• Publication of the Publication of the

Canonical MishnahCanonical Mishnah• Formalization of the Formalization of the

religion of the dual Torahreligion of the dual Torah• Groundwork for the Groundwork for the

formulation of Talmudic formulation of Talmudic learninglearning

Talmud: Founding of YavnehTalmud: Founding of Yavneh• "Abba Sikra, the head of the bandits of Jerusalem, was the son of "Abba Sikra, the head of the bandits of Jerusalem, was the son of

Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakkai's sister. Rabban Yohanan said to him Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakkai's sister. Rabban Yohanan said to him saying, "Come to me secretly". He came. Rabban Yohanan asked him, saying, "Come to me secretly". He came. Rabban Yohanan asked him, "How long are you going to carry on this way and kill all the people "How long are you going to carry on this way and kill all the people with starvation?" He said to him "What can I do? If I say a word to with starvation?" He said to him "What can I do? If I say a word to them they will kill me." Rabban Yohanan said to him, "Devise some them they will kill me." Rabban Yohanan said to him, "Devise some plan for me to get out of the city for perhaps I can save a little." He plan for me to get out of the city for perhaps I can save a little." He said to him, "Pretend to be ill and let everyone come to inquire about said to him, "Pretend to be ill and let everyone come to inquire about you, and let them say that you are dead...Then let your disciples attend you, and let them say that you are dead...Then let your disciples attend on you, since they know that a living being is lighter than a corpse. on you, since they know that a living being is lighter than a corpse. Rabban Yohanan did all this...When they reached the gate the [Jewish] Rabban Yohanan did all this...When they reached the gate the [Jewish] bandits wanted to stab him [to ensure that he was dead]. Abba Sikra bandits wanted to stab him [to ensure that he was dead]. Abba Sikra said to them "Shall the Romans say they have stabbed their master." said to them "Shall the Romans say they have stabbed their master." They opened the gate. They opened the gate.

• When Rabbi Yohanan came to Vespasian he said, "Peace to you O When Rabbi Yohanan came to Vespasian he said, "Peace to you O king." Vespasian said to him, "you have been condemned to death on king." Vespasian said to him, "you have been condemned to death on two counts, firstly because I am not a king...and secondly if I am a king two counts, firstly because I am not a king...and secondly if I am a king why did you not come to me until now?" Rabbi Yohanan said to him, why did you not come to me until now?" Rabbi Yohanan said to him, "In truth you are a king for Jerusalem can only be destroyed by a "In truth you are a king for Jerusalem can only be destroyed by a king.... king....

• At this point the messenger arrived saying, "Arise for the emperor is At this point the messenger arrived saying, "Arise for the emperor is dead and the notables of Rome have decided to make you head of the dead and the notables of Rome have decided to make you head of the state." Vespasian was overjoyed and he said to Rabban Yohanan...You state." Vespasian was overjoyed and he said to Rabban Yohanan...You may make a request of me and I will grant it." Rabban Yohanan said may make a request of me and I will grant it." Rabban Yohanan said give me Yavneh and its wise men...He ought to have said to him, "Let give me Yavneh and its wise men...He ought to have said to him, "Let Jerusalem alone." But Rabban Yohanan thought that Vespasian would Jerusalem alone." But Rabban Yohanan thought that Vespasian would not grant so much.." [Talmud Gittin 56a b].not grant so much.." [Talmud Gittin 56a b].

Rabbinization of Rabbinization of Judaism: 200-450 CEJudaism: 200-450 CE

• Rabbinic interpretation of Rabbinic interpretation of Scriptures = MidrashScriptures = Midrash

• Rabbinic meanings to Rabbinic meanings to rituals and festivalsrituals and festivals

• Reverence for the rabbi as Reverence for the rabbi as a holy mana holy man