The way of imagination

  Legitimization: Herod’s Temple       The Temple was rebuilt by those Jews who returned from Babylon and was dedicated in 515 B.C. [1]   Although it was attacked repeatedly and desecrated by the Seleucids [2] , it was rededicated by the Maccabees in the year 164.   Due to a dynastic rivalry between two Hasmonean brothers, the Roman general Pompey, upon their invitation to arbitrate the dispute and following a 3-month siege, captured Jerusalem in 63 B.C. and brought Judah under the hegemony of the ever-expanding Roman empire.   When the Parthians captured Jerusalem, the Romans backed an Idumean warlord by the name of Herod who, with the help of the legions of Mark Antony, recaptured Jerusalem for Rome in the year 37 B.C. (Herod was granted the title “King of the Jews” and reported to the Roman legate in Syria).   As part of a campaign to legitimize his kingship, Herod undertook a gargantuan renovation project on Mount Zion – including the c...

  A.                 The nomadic God: Moses’ Tabernacle        The prophetic tradition begins with Moses.   Yahweh liberated his people from pagan empire (i.e., Egypt) and constituted Israel as an alternative community of freedom and justice under his reign. [1]   Through the covenant, Yahweh entered into a relationship of solidarity with his people.   Yahweh is the God of freedom [2] , i.e., he is both against all oppression/injustice and he is free from all manipulation – he is the sovereign God. [3]   It was ever Yahweh’s desire to live among his people; this was the raison d’être of the tabernacle (Ex. 29.42-46) in the wilderness and then Shiloh and later still, the Temple in Jerusalem.   The locus of Yahweh’s presence in the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant, which was alternatively described either as Yahweh’s throne or his footstool [4] ...

  “King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying, “Take him, look after him well and do him no harm, but deal with him as he may ask you.” So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan to be brought home. So he stayed with his own people.” (Jer. 39.11-14)   “As I watched, thrones were set in place,     and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow,     and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames,     and its wheels were burning fire… The court sat in judgment,     and the books were opened. …And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its b...

  “Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “ This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” (Jer. 26.11)   “Then the officials said to the king, “ This man ought to be put to death , because he is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he is in your hands ; for the king is powerless against you.” (Jer. 38.4-5)   “Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!”  A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; a...