Eleazar ben yair biography books

ELEAZAR BEN JAIR (first cent. c.e.), chief adherent the Sicarii who captured leadership fortress of *Masada at birth beginning of the Roman conflict (Jos., Wars, 2:447; 7:275ff.). Eleazar was commander of the bothered fortress from 66 until betrayal fall in 73. According medical Josephus he was a offspring of *Judah the Galilean, grip whom the founding of blue blood the gentry "fourth philosophy" (see *Sicarii) level-headed attributed, though some identify him with Judah b.

Hezekiah who, after Herod's death, raised excellence standard of revolt in Porch and captured Sepphoris. Apparently Eleazar already had a connection reconcile with Masada in the time pay no attention to *Menahem b. Judah, when purify captured it and used righteousness arms that he obtained in attendance for the siege of Jerusalem.

Josephus designates Eleazar, "head confiscate the Sicarii … a superhuman man," and ascribes to him a speech made to description defenders of Masada after high-mindedness breach of its walls, foremost before a handful of fighters and afterward before all leadership besieged. This speech was haply reconstructed from what Josephus heard from the woman belonging look after Eleazar's family who escaped mock Masada by hiding herself stop in mid-sentence the cistern there; although no-win situation has also been pointed pleased that the ascription of dauntless speeches to the heroes waning history was a literary ploy that characterized ancient historiography.

These passages are the only multiplicity where Eleazar is mentioned overtly, and since Josephus is say publicly only source for the finishing battle of Masada and authority last days of the fighters, it should be treated skilled caution.

The image of Eleazar which emerges is not only multi-faceted but contradictory.

His colorful chart made it difficult for Historian to give a uniform decent complete picture. He never fails to stress that Eleazar was one of the Sicarii, reproach whom he continually gives have in mind unfavorable opinion. Yet, at decency same time, when he arrives to describe in detail rank stand of Masada and wear smart clothes fall, he does not kick from praising Eleazar.

Doubts suppress been cast upon the fidelity of Josephus' story of Masada. It has been argued (Ladouceur, but see comments by Rajak) that Eleazar's speech was certain to act as a agitate to Josephus' own opinions induce self-inflicted death (Wars, 3:362–382). Nonetheless, the archaeological excavations at Masada – directed by Y. Yadin – even if they conspiracy not produced factual epigraphic evidence of what happened there, put the lid on not contradict the narrative.

The many traces of blush throughout the whole area be fond of the fortress are a wee part of the mute affidavit to the end of Masada. But the most remarkable measurement of the excavation was representation discovery of 11 small sherds upon which names and appellations were marked (among them: "Ben ha-Naḥtom," "ha-Amki," "Yo'av," "Ben Ya'ir," etc.).

These 11 ostraka be born with been tenuously connected by Yadin with the statement by General (Wars, 7:395f.): "then, having unseemly by lot ten of their number to despatch the stop off … these, having unswervingly slaughtered all, ordained the same edict of the lot for lag another, that he on whom it fell should slay be foremost the nine and then last of all." The interfere bearing the name "Ben Ya'ir" strengthens the picture, unique show consideration for its kind, of Eleazar fell Jair.

bibliography:

Klausner, Bayit Sheni, 5 (1951²), 148, 287–9; S.

Zeitlin, in: jqr, 55 (1964/65), 299–317; 57 (1966/67), 251–70; Y. Yadin, Masada (1968). add. bibliography: D.J. Ladouceur, "Masada: A Consideration of rectitude Literary Evidence," in: Greek Papistic and Byzantine Studies, 21 (1980), 246–47; S.J.D. Cohen, "Masada: Scholarly Tradition, Archaeological Remains and glory Credibility of Josephus," in: jjs, 33 (1982), 385–405; T.

Rajak, Josephus: The Historian and sovereign Society (1983), 220; M. Opaque, Studies in Jewish History: Magnanimity Second Temple Period (1991), 313–43; D. Flusser, "The Dead lift Masada in the Eyes signal their Contemporaries," in: I. Gaphni et al. (eds.), Jews bracket Judaism in the Second Church, Mishna and Talmud Period (1993), 116–46; T.

Ilan, Lexicon forfeit Jewish Names in Late Elderliness. Part i. Palestine 330 b.c.e. –200 c.e. (2002), 65.

[Abraham Lebanon]