Difference between revisions of "Zerubbabel" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| − | Nothing further is certainly known of Zerubbabel | + | Nothing further is certainly known of Zerubbabel. The twentieth century German theologian Ernst Sellin theorized that Zerubbabel was actually made King of Judah, but was overthrown and put to death by the Persians. On the basis of the attitudes taken by Zechariah and Haggai, Sellin believed that that kingdom, was regarded as messianic. |
| − | Zerubbabel | + | However a rabbinical tradition says that Zerubbabel eventually returned to Babylon and died there. Whatever messianic hopes the prophets of his day had in him were not fulfilled. The work of rebuilding Jerusalem and establishing the tradition of [[Second Temple Judaism]] would be completed by during the reign of [[Artaxerxes I Longimanus]], by the royally appointed scribe [[Ezra]] and the governor [[Nehemiah]]. |
| − | + | Zerubbabel's sons are named in I Chron. 3:19. He achieved legendary status in post-exilic times, as evidenced by his story in [[1 Esdras]], and he is mentioned in ''[[Ecclesiasticus]]'' of [[Sirach]] (49:11) among the famous men of Israel. | |
| − | + | In Christian tradition, he is one of the ancestors of Jesus. In the [[New Testament]], Zerubbabel is mentioned in the [[Gospel of Matthew]]'s version of the [[Genealogy of Jesus]]. He is again mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus recorded in the [[Gospel of Luke]], where verse 3:27 records him as the son of Shealtiel. | |
| + | Zerubbabel is portrayed as the receiver of an [[revelation]] in the [[seventh century]] Jewish ''[[Apocalypse of Zerubbabel]]'', known is Hebrew as the ''Sefer Zerubbabel''. He also plays a large role in the Yiddish writer [[Sholem Asch]]'s final work ''[[The Prophet]]'' (1955). | ||
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Revision as of 04:47, 17 December 2008
Zerubbabel (Hebrew: זְרֻבָּבֶל, Zərubbāvel; Greek: ζοροβαβελ, Zŏrobabel) the leader of the first group of Jews, numbering 42,360, who returned from the Babylonian Captivity in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia (Ezra). A descendant of King David and grandson of Jehoiachin, next to last king of Judah, it was Zerubbabel who laid the foundation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem the next year.
Zerubabbel became a figure of messianic hope in the early days of the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem and later became a figure of legend, as recorded in he apocryphal book of 1 Esdras.
The Muslim historian Ya'qubi attributed the recovery of the Torah and the Books of the Prophets to him instead of Ezra.
Name and background
Zerubbabel was born during the period of Babylonian exile. If the name Zerubbabel is Hebrew, it may be a contraction of Zərua‘ Bāvel (Hebrew: זְרוּעַ בָּבֶל), meaning "the one sown of Babylon," referring to a child conceived and born in Babylon. A similar meaning is derived from the name in Assyrian-Babylonian, since Zəru Bābel means "Seed of Babylon" in that language. It could also related to the Nebrew Zərûy Bāvel (Hebrew: זְרוּי בָּבֶל), meaning "the winnowed of Babylon," in the sense of having being exiled in Babylon.
Zerubbabel's grandfather Jehoiachin reigned in Jerusalem for only three months after replacing his father Jehoichim, who had died during the first seiege of Jerusalem. He was removed from office by the Babylonian army of King Nebuchadnezzar II and taken prisoner to Babylon. After 36 years in captivity (562 B.C.E.), he was removed from prison by the Babylonian King Amel-Marduk.
The Hebrew Bible lists Shealtiel as the second son of Jehoiachin King Jeconiah (1 Chronicles 3:17) and the father of Zerubbabel (Ezra 3:2; 5:2; Nehemiah 12:1; Haggai 1:1, etc.) After the execution of Jeconiah's uncle Shealtiel would have been the legal heir to the throne, if the Davidic line was restored. Likewise, Zerubbabel, as Shealtiel's son, would have a strong claim to any restored Davidic monarchy.
However, the Bible has conflicting texts regarding whether Zerubbabel was actually the son of Shealtiel or of Pedaiah. Although the majority of the references confirm him as Shealtiel's son, one text makes Zerubbabel the nephew of Shealtiel (1 Chronicles 3:17-19) and the son of Pediah, Shealtiel's brother.
Some speculate that the title "son of Shealtiel" does not refer to Zerubbabel's being a biological son but to being a member in Shealtiel's "house." Thus both Zerubbabel (and his putative father Pedaiah) could be called a "son" of Shealtiel if they lived in Shealtiel's household. Alternatively, if Shealtiel had no biological children, Zerubbabel as a legal son could have inherited Shealtiel's position as the dynastic head of the Davidic line in exile. Another explanation is the simplest: that the text which identifies Zerubbabel as a son of Pedaiah could be a scribal error.
In any case, those texts that call Zerubbabel "son of Shealtiel" tend to emphasize Zerubbabel's potential royal claim to the Davidic throne by being Shealtiel's successor.
Whether the identity of Zerubbabel with Sheshbazzar, "the prince of Judah" and leader of the first great band of exiles returning to Jerusalem is correct is discussed in the Jewish Encyclopedia.
Zerubbabel in Persia
A legend preserved in the apocryphal book of 1 Esdras describes the young Zerubbabel as among the wisest of men in Persia, in a story reminiscent of similar legends attributed to the prophet Daniel. According chapter 3:1-5:3 of this work Zerubbabel and two other young courtiers of King Darius agree to engage in a public dispute over the question of what is the strongest thing in the kingdom. The king approves of this contest and declares that the winner of the debate will receive great honor and royal favors. The contest is to be held in front of the king and the royal court.
The first contestant holds that wine is the strongest thing in the kingdom, because "it leads astray the minds of all who drink it. It makes equal the mind of the king and the orphan, of the slave and the free, of the poor and the rich." The second declares that men are the strongest thing in the kingdom, ruling over both land and sea; but he flatteringly adds that the king is even stronger, because "he is their lord and master, and whatever he says to them they obey." Zerubbabel then ironically argues that it is women who are strongest, since they giver birth to men and kings alike, and since men leave their mothers and fathers into to serve women as the wives. He then adds that Truth is even stronger than women. "The whole earth calls upon truth, and heaven blesses her... Truth endures and is strong for ever, and lives and prevails for ever and ever."
Darius concurs with Zerubbabel and, at his request, appoints him to lead a new wave of Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem to complete the restoration of the Temple. Zerubbabel is also given sanction return the sacred vessels that Darius had preserved.
Zerubbabel in Jerusalem
Identity with Sheshbazzar?
The account of Zerubbabel's activities upon returning with the exiles to Jerusalem depends on whether or not he is identical with Sheshbazzar, "the prince of Judah" and leader of the first great band of exiles returning to Jerusalem from Babylon under Cyrus (Ezra 1:8). This, of course would render inaccurate the account of 1 Esdras that he returned under Darius, but that is of little account since 1 Esdras appears to be largely legendary and borrows very heavily from other sources. In any case, Zerubbabel was clearly regarded as the head of the community of returned exiles (Ezra 4:2) and that he is associated in this capacity with the high priest Joshua in the general administration (Ezra 3:2, 8; 4:3; 5:2; Hag. 1 1; Zech. 3-4). He is described by the title of governor ("peḥah") of Judah by the prophet Haggai (1:1; 2:2), and this title is also given to Sheshbazzar by Ezra (5:14), apparently dealing with the same time period.
Some thus suppose that Zerubbabel—like Daniel and the three young Hebrews who were his companions—bore two names, the Hebrew "Zerubbabel" and the Babylonian "Sheshbazzar." In opposition to this view it is pointed that no hint of this identity is given in those portions of Ezra in which both names occur. It has been suggested that "Sheshbazzar" may be identical with "Shenazar" (I Chron. 3:18), one of the sons of Jehoiachin and therefore an uncle of Zerubbabel. At all events, the Book of Haggai makes it clear that Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah in the second year of Darius (520 B.C.E.).
Activities as governor
According to Ezra 3-4:5, Zerubbabel, together with the high priest Joshua and others, erected an altar for burnt offerings in the seventh month, offered morning and evening sacrifices, and kept the Feast of Tabernacles. In the second month of the second year of the return they together laid the foundation of the Temple. They were offered aid by "the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin" (apparently northern Israelites who had not gone into exile) but Zerubbabel rejected this aid on the grounds that it did not accord with Cryus' instructions:
They came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here." But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, "You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us." (Ezra 4:2-3)
After this, the opposition of these "enemies" caused a delay of 17 years.
Roused to fresh activity by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, work was resumed in the second year of Darius (520 B.C.E.).
So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God. (Haggai 1:14)
Messianic fervor gripped the prophet as he spoke further to Zerubbabel, promising not even royal powers like those of Persia could stand against God's power:
"Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. On that day," declares the Lord Almighty, "I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel," declares the Lord, "and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you." (Haggai 2:21-23)
Similar sentiments are echoed by Haggai's contempory, Zechariah, who seems to indicate Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua to be the "two olive trees" he had seen in a vision representing the leaders "anointed" by God as his special servants in the rebuilding of the Temple and the nation: "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground... The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it... Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel." (Zech 4:7-14)
Zerubbabel, however, seems to have been more of a pragmatist. Fresh obstacles were encountered in the suspicions of Tatnai, the Persian "governor beyond the river," and an appeal was made to Darius, who promulgated a decree authorizing the completion of the work. The Temple was indeed finished and dedicated four years later (Ezra 5-6).
Legacy
Nothing further is certainly known of Zerubbabel. The twentieth century German theologian Ernst Sellin theorized that Zerubbabel was actually made King of Judah, but was overthrown and put to death by the Persians. On the basis of the attitudes taken by Zechariah and Haggai, Sellin believed that that kingdom, was regarded as messianic.
However a rabbinical tradition says that Zerubbabel eventually returned to Babylon and died there. Whatever messianic hopes the prophets of his day had in him were not fulfilled. The work of rebuilding Jerusalem and establishing the tradition of Second Temple Judaism would be completed by during the reign of Artaxerxes I Longimanus, by the royally appointed scribe Ezra and the governor Nehemiah.
Zerubbabel's sons are named in I Chron. 3:19. He achieved legendary status in post-exilic times, as evidenced by his story in 1 Esdras, and he is mentioned in Ecclesiasticus of Sirach (49:11) among the famous men of Israel.
In Christian tradition, he is one of the ancestors of Jesus. In the New Testament, Zerubbabel is mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew's version of the Genealogy of Jesus. He is again mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Luke, where verse 3:27 records him as the son of Shealtiel.
Zerubbabel is portrayed as the receiver of an revelation in the seventh century Jewish Apocalypse of Zerubbabel, known is Hebrew as the Sefer Zerubbabel. He also plays a large role in the Yiddish writer Sholem Asch's final work The Prophet (1955).
| House of David Cadet Branch of the Tribe of Judah | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Shealtiel |
Leader of the House of David | Line lost |
| Matthew's Ancestry of Jesus - 11th ancestor from Jesus | Succeeded by: Abiud | |
| Luke's Ancestry of Jesus - 20th ancestor from Jesus | Succeeded by: Rhesa | |
Notes
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
External links
- Easton's Bible Dictionary: Zerubbabel
- Jewish Encyclopedia: Zerubbabel
- Loeb Family Tree: Zerubbabel
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