See: When Did Jews Start Observing Torah?
From the article ...
For those who would note the dictum "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," read the article.
Close to its end, the author offers:
For information on the author see: Prof. Yonatan Adler. I'm looking forward to reading his book.
From the article ...
The trail of evidence for observance of the Torah’s laws ends around the middle of the second century B.C.E. As we proceed further back in time, we no longer find any evidence—textual or archeological—to suggest that the laws of the Torah were widely observed within Judean society. No texts from before the mid-second century speak of Judeans avoiding pork or other prohibited species of meat or seafood.[18]
No archaeological or textual evidence from before the mid-second century suggests that ordinary Judeans were adhering to the complex web of Pentateuchal ritual purity laws. The same lack of evidence applies to the avoidance of figural art, the observance of Sabbath prohibitions, any kind of Yom Kippur observance, or any kind of ritual inscriptions on doorposts (mezuzot).
Not only do we possess no evidence that these practices and prohibitions were widely observed—we lack evidence that the laws of the Torah on these matters were widely known at all!
No archaeological or textual evidence from before the mid-second century suggests that ordinary Judeans were adhering to the complex web of Pentateuchal ritual purity laws. The same lack of evidence applies to the avoidance of figural art, the observance of Sabbath prohibitions, any kind of Yom Kippur observance, or any kind of ritual inscriptions on doorposts (mezuzot).
Not only do we possess no evidence that these practices and prohibitions were widely observed—we lack evidence that the laws of the Torah on these matters were widely known at all!
For those who would note the dictum "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence," read the article.
Close to its end, the author offers:
Recently, some scholars have suggested that it was the Hasmonean family that sponsored the Torah as an instrument for the unification of their newly autonomous state.[25] I would add that the early Hasmonean leaders may have decided to solidify their position vis-à-vis both their subjects and their enemies by officially adopting a document that might serve to codify the core narratives of the nation’s origins together with the officially sanctioned Judean laws. This single, composite work would have served the Hasmoneans in a way roughly akin to an amalgamated American Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
The Pentateuch—with both its stories about Israel’s origins and its laws—would have served such a role magnificently. In adopting the Pentateuch as the formal conceptual and legal foundation of the newly emergent Judean state, the Hasmonean rulers would have provided a rallying point around which the people of Judea might unite.
The Pentateuch—with both its stories about Israel’s origins and its laws—would have served such a role magnificently. In adopting the Pentateuch as the formal conceptual and legal foundation of the newly emergent Judean state, the Hasmonean rulers would have provided a rallying point around which the people of Judea might unite.
For information on the author see: Prof. Yonatan Adler. I'm looking forward to reading his book.
