1st Edition

Rome and Judaea International Law Relations, 162-100 BCE

By Linda Zollschan Copyright 2017
    350 Pages
    by Routledge

    350 Pages
    by Routledge



    Rome and Judaea explores the nature of Judaea’s first diplomatic mission to Rome during the Maccabean revolt: did it result in a sanctioned treaty or was it founded instead on amity? This book breaks new ground in this debate by bringing to light the "Roman-Jewish Friendship tablet," a newly discovered piece of evidence that challenges the theory Rome ratified an official treaty with Judaea. Incorporating interdisciplinary research and this new textual evidence, the book argues that Roman-Jewish relations during the Maccabean revolt were motivated by the Roman concept of diplomatic friendship, or amicitia.

    Dedication Page



    Introduction



    Chapter 1: New Evidence: The Roman-Jewish Friendship Tablet     



    Chapter 2: The Timing of the Embassy



    Chapter 3: Early Roman Ties of International Friendship with Hellenistic Powers   



    Chapter 4: Roman International Friendship



    Chapter 5: The Treaty Hypothesis Revisited



    Chapter 6: The Outcome of the Embassy      



    Chapter 7: Epilogue: From Jonathan to John Hyrcanus I



    Bibliography



    Index

    Biography

    Linda Zollschan is an independent research professional based in Israel. She obtained her PhD from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel.

    "Linda Zollschan, by her thorough analysis of the process by which Romans formed international relations as well as her detailed linguistic analysis of the letter at 1 Macc 8:23-32, has provided a new and fascinating understanding of the relations between Rome and the Hasmoneans from the first embassy to Rome in 162 BCE to the arrival of Pompey in Syria in 63 BCE. She concludes that there was no formal treaty between Rome and the Judeans, but a relationship of amicitia (friendship). Her findings are invaluable and essential to any further study of this period."

    - Robert Doran, Amherst College, USA

    "Zollschan is the first to write an entire book on the [political relations between Rome and Judaea] and she presents her results in a clear, succinct way, never leaving any doubt about the line of thought she is pursuing ... [this] book will be the starting point for any investigation into this matter, because she has meticulously documented the history of research on the Romano-Jewish relations and put them in the wider context of international relations and their forms."

    - Walter Ameling, Universität zu Köln, Germany, Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2018 

    "The book ends with an extensive bibliography and a detailed index. Zollschan’s study is a model of historical inquiry, willing and capable of challenging consensus views, focused on the minutiae of textual meanings and historical traditions, in easy command of the primary sources and the extensive and varied secondary literature, without losing sight of the overarching question of the relations between Rome and Judea."

    - Eckhard J. Schnabel, Gordon-Conwell Theological Summary, USA, Bulletin for Biblical Research 2018