Biblically Compatible Archaeology and Geography

by Damien F. Mackey     Razis was a “Father of the Jews”. This is our first connection with Ezra, who is called, in Jewish tradition, “Father of Judaïsm”. Introduction It is difficult to imagine a more dramatic and gory death than that which befell the elder, Razis, as narrated in 2 Maccabees 14 (in Catholic bibles). Highly theatrical, and even comedic would it have been, were it not for the seriousness of the incident and its grim circumstances. Here is the full description of the man’s demise (vv. 41-46): Being surrounded, Razis fell upon his own sword, preferring to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of sinners and suffer outrages unworthy of his noble birth. But in the heat of the struggle he did not hit exactly, and the crowd was now rushing in through the doors. He courageously ran up on the wall, and bravely threw himself down into the crowd. But as they quickly drew back, a space opened and he fell in the middle of

     by   Damien F. Mackey     Here I consider the view expressed in a gloss to Malachi (1:1), in the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, that the prophet Malachi was Ezra the scribe.     Introduction   That Jewish tradition variously identifies the prophet Malachi as Mordecai, or Ezra, is apparent from the following piece in the Jewish Encyclopedia article, “Malachi, Book of” ( http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10321-malachi-book-of ):   —In Rabbinical Literature: Malachi is identified with Mordecai by R. Naḥman and with Ezra by Joshua b. Ḳarḥa (Meg. 15a). Jerome, in his preface to the commentary on Malachi, mentions that in his day the belief was current that Malachi was identical with Ezra (“Malachi Hebræi Esdram Existimant”). The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel to the words “By the hand of Malachi” (i. 1) gives the gloss “Whose name is called Ezra the scribe.” According to Soṭah 48b, when Malachi died the Holy Spirit departed

  by   Damien F. Mackey     “Years later, when it pleased God, the Persian emperor sent Nehemiah back to Jerusalem, and Nehemiah told the descendants of those priests to find the fire. They reported to us that they had found no fire but only some oily liquid. Nehemiah then told them to scoop some up and bring it to him”. 2 Maccabees 1:20       This verse from Second Maccabees greatly intrigues me because, according to it, governor Nehemiah of the Persian era was in contact with priests of the Maccabean era.   Consider what this means from a chronological point of view.   Nehemiah, customarily dated to c. 445 BC, the Persian era, is said to have been personally in touch with “priests” of the Hellenistic era.   The “us” to whom these priests “reported” were, as we learn at the beginning of this Maccabean chapter, “the Jews of Jerusalem and Judea” (1:1), these living in “the year 169” of the Greeks (1:7), which date, we are told, “corresponds to