Free Essays on The Sotah Ritual In Ancient Israel

Introduction The ritual of the sotah from the book of Numbers is a fascinating passage to read in the Hebrew Bible. For one thing, this ritual deals with the idea of a man being able to bring his wife to trial, even if he has no evidence against her. While such an instance might be seen as negative treatment of women, others might explain it as the Israelites’ constant concern over the idea of impurity. Another interesting aspect of the sotah rite is that it is the only example of an ordeal similar to those practiced in other cultures of the Ancient Near East. While other ordeals are told mostly in story form, Num. 5:11-31 is the only instance in which the actual process of an ordeal is laid out point by point. Finally, the ritual merits attention due to its continued practice even after the Temple was destroyed, as is depicted in the Talmud. These reasons and more are evidence as to why this small 20 verse passage has been subject to such scrutiny and study over the course of the years. Adultery in the Hebrew Bible The ritual for the â€Å"errant woman† in Numbers 5:11-31 is only one of many instances in the Old Testament that deals with the crime of adultery. The crime is described throughout the books in the Hebrew Bible, such as Genesis 20:6, Lev. 18:20, Ezek. 18:6, Ps. 51:6, and Mal. 3:5. A variety of texts discuss the evil of adultery. The Israelites held the act in such harsh light, that a commandment against committing adultery is found in the Decalogue. This certainly indicates that extra-martial affairs were viewed in a severe manner. In the Hebrew Bible, adultery is considered a capital crime, punishable by the population stoning the adulterous wife and her lover to death. Deut. 22:20 commands this communal punishment in order to â€Å"sweep away evil from Israel.† The question remains as to why this crime was considered to be such a transgression. Several explanations exist to account for the seriousnes... Free Essays on The Sotah Ritual In Ancient Israel Free Essays on The Sotah Ritual In Ancient Israel Introduction The ritual of the sotah from the book of Numbers is a fascinating passage to read in the Hebrew Bible. For one thing, this ritual deals with the idea of a man being able to bring his wife to trial, even if he has no evidence against her. While such an instance might be seen as negative treatment of women, others might explain it as the Israelites’ constant concern over the idea of impurity. Another interesting aspect of the sotah rite is that it is the only example of an ordeal similar to those practiced in other cultures of the Ancient Near East. While other ordeals are told mostly in story form, Num. 5:11-31 is the only instance in which the actual process of an ordeal is laid out point by point. Finally, the ritual merits attention due to its continued practice even after the Temple was destroyed, as is depicted in the Talmud. These reasons and more are evidence as to why this small 20 verse passage has been subject to such scrutiny and study over the course of the years. Adultery in the Hebrew Bible The ritual for the â€Å"errant woman† in Numbers 5:11-31 is only one of many instances in the Old Testament that deals with the crime of adultery. The crime is described throughout the books in the Hebrew Bible, such as Genesis 20:6, Lev. 18:20, Ezek. 18:6, Ps. 51:6, and Mal. 3:5. A variety of texts discuss the evil of adultery. The Israelites held the act in such harsh light, that a commandment against committing adultery is found in the Decalogue. This certainly indicates that extra-martial affairs were viewed in a severe manner. In the Hebrew Bible, adultery is considered a capital crime, punishable by the population stoning the adulterous wife and her lover to death. Deut. 22:20 commands this communal punishment in order to â€Å"sweep away evil from Israel.† The question remains as to why this crime was considered to be such a transgression. Several explanations exist to account for the seriousnes...

The Timeline for the End of the Roman Republic

The Timeline for the End of the Roman Republic This  timeline uses the Gracchi brothers attempt at reform as the starting point and ends when the Republic has given way to the Empire as evidenced by the rise of the first Roman emperor. The Gracchi brothers were  Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus. The two  of them were politicians who represented the commoners in the Roman government. The brothers were progressive activists interested in land reforms to benefit the poor. In the 2nd century B.C,  the two  of them  tried to reform Romes social and political structure to help the lower classes.  Events surrounding the politics of the Gracchi led to the decline and eventual fall of the Roman Republic. Overlaps in Roman History Since beginnings and ends overlap, the final entries of this timeline could also be looked at as the beginning of the succeeding era of Roman history, the Imperial period. The beginning of the final period of Republican Rome likewise overlaps the middle of the Roman Republican period. The  End of the Roman Republic   133 B.C. Tiberius Gracchus tribune 123 - 122 B.C. Gaius Gracchus tribune 111 - 105 B.C. Jugurthine War 104 - 100 B.C. Marius consul. 90 - 88 B.C. Social War 88 B.C. Sulla and the First Mithridatic War 88 B.C. Sullas march on Rome with his army. 82 B.C. Sulla becomes dictator 71 B.C. Crassus crushes Spartacus 71 B.C. Pompey defeats Sertorius' rebellion in Spain 70 B.C. Consulship of Crassus and Pompey 63 B.C. Pompey defeats Mithridates 60 B.C. First Triumvirate: Pompey, Crassus, Julius Caesar 58 - 50 B.C. Caesar conquers Gaul 53 B.C. Crassus killed in (battle) of Carrhae 49 B.C. Caesar crosses the Rubicon 48 B.C. Pharsalus (battle); Pompey killed in Egypt 46 - 44 B.C. Caesars dictatorship 44 B.C. End of Civil War 43 B.C. Second Triumvirate: Marc Antony, Lepidus, Octavian 42 B.C. Philippi (battle) 36 B.C. Naulochus (battle) 31 B.C. Actium (battle) 27 B.C. Octavian emperor