Topics for Discussion: from Sanders Judaism, Chapter Two:

When did the three "parties" emerge?

Following the success of the Maccabean revolt:

A Hasmonean Coin

Until then the groups were united in their support of the traditional religion against the reforms of the radical Hellenists.

After the revolt, disagreements became more pronounced. All the groups upheld the Torah, but they disagreed about its correct interpretation, and about who was authorized to interpret it.

The Hasmonean Kingdom

The previous leadership--the priests descended from Zadok"--were now replaced by the Hasmonean priestly family.

The Sadducees were the supporters of the former leadership.

The Pharisees may have opposed any expansion of priestly authority, especially the usurpation of kingship, which belonged to the House of David.

The political stakes were now much higher than before. For the first time in centuries, Judea was a fully independent state with control over army, taxes, foreign policy, etc.

Josephus does not mention the parties before this time.

The roots of the division were probably much earlier

Ezra had been both a Zadokite priest and a "scribe," a teacher of the Torah.

Two models of religious authority appear to have coexisted throughout the Persian period:

Hereditary priests presided over the political administration of the community, as well as the Temple.
"Scribes" studied and taught the Torah, and perhaps other components of the religious tradition.

Judaism during the Persian era (550-c.300 B.C.E.):

Scant documentation about this period.

Apparently it was a peaceful, uneventful time.

Centrality of the Temple and priesthood.

Probable influence of Persian religious ideas and institutions:

Angels, Satan
Afterlife (Resurrection)
Need to consciously differentiate between Jewish monotheism and Zoroastrian dualism: Introduction of the recitation of the "Shema'"?

Hellenistic era (c. 300-198 B.C.E.):

The nature and historical origins of "Hellenism."

Ptolemies and Seleucids

Material, cultural and religious manifestations.

Summary of Disputes Among the Three Parties:

Sect:	Sadducees	Pharisees	Essenes
Social Class:	Priests, aristocrats	Common people	?
Figures of Authority:	Priests	"Disciples of the Wise"	"Teacher of Righteousness"
Attitude to Hellenism:	For	Selective	Against
Attitide to Hasmoneans:	Opposed usurpation of priesthood by non-Zadokites	Varied? Opposed usurpation of monarchy?	Varied? Personally opposed to Jonathan ("Wicked Priest")?
Theology: Free will Angels Afterlife	Yes No None	Mostly Yes Resurrection	No ? Spiritual Survival (?)
Attitude to Bible:	Literalist	Sophisticated scholarly interpretations	"Inspired Exegesis"
Attitude to Oral Torah:	No such thing	Equal to Written Torah	"Inspired Exegesis"
Practices:	Emphasis on priestly obligations (for priests)	Application of priestly laws to non-priests (tithes and purity rules)	"Inspired Exegesis"
Calendar:	? Luni-solar (perhaps only under popular pressure?)	Luni-solar	Solar: 364-day year

Miscellaneous Topics related to the Sanders Text:

Page 13

"Relatively new Pharisaic traditions."

"Sadducee special traditions."

Essenes: attribution of views to Law of Moses.

"monastic... isolated...remote"

Page 16

Ben Sira

Page 18 (see also 24, 26, etc.)

Hasideans.

Page 22

The Hellenism of Hasmonean monarchs

"until a true prophet should arise."

Page 24

Theory of Essene origins

Fragment of 'Miqsat Ma'asei Torah' (4QMMT) from Qumran

Two Messiahs

Page 25-6

Sadducee : grammatical issues.

Page 26

Sadducee scholarship ?