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New Testament History |
The 40 days in
the desert
After the 40 days in the wilderness Christ celebrated 3 Sabbaths[5] and then the Festival of Hanukkah.[6] The 3 Sabbaths were Saturday 9 Kislev, Saturday 16 Kislev, and Saturday 23 Kislev. The Festival of Hanukkah started on 25 Kislev 29 AD = Monday 19 December (the vision of Monday 24 December 1821). Around the time that Christ left the desert, Pilate installed Roman ensigns in Jerusalem during a night.[7] Josephus describes this erection of Tiberius’s ensigns in Jerusalem as the first issue occurring during Pilate’s government.[8] The incident took place when the army was moving to its winter quarters.[9] Since the Roman campaigning season lasted until the month of October,[10] the erection occurred in the month of November. Given that the Jews protested against these ensigns, such that Pilate ordered to move them from Jerusalem to Caesarea.[11] The Megillat Ta‘anit commemorates a removal of statues out of the inner courtyard of the Temple on 3 Kislev. The ensigns were removed on 3 Kislev 29 AD = Sunday 27 November, i.e. 4 days before Christ left the desert on 7 Kislev.
[1] A.C.E., Life, 2:1. [2] A.C.E., Life, 2:2. [3] A.C.E., Life, 2:4. [4] A.C.E., Life, 2:16-17. [5] A.C.E., Life, 2:22, 27, 32. [6] A.C.E., Life, 2:33. [7] A.C.E., Life, 3:177-178 (the vision of Tuesday 21 January 1823 = Tuesday 16 January 31 AD = 4 Shevat): “Pilate had already had several encounters with the Jews, who detested him. Once he had ordered the Roman standards to be brought into the city, whereupon the Jews raised a sedition. Another time, on the occasion of a certain feast upon which the Jews were not allowed to bear arms nor to touch money, I saw Pilate’s soldiers go into the Temple, break open the box in which were the offerings, and carry off the contents. That was when John was still baptizing at the Jordan near On, and Jesus came out from the desert”; A.C.E., Vie, 4:99 (the vision of Thursday 23 January 1823 = Thursday 18 January 31 AD = 6 Shevat): “Je me rappelle, à cette occasion, qu’une fois, je crois que ce fut à l’époque où le Sauveur sortit du désert, Pilate avait fait porter à Jérusalem pendant la nuit des enseignes des légions avec des images des dieux, et que cette violation des engagements antérieurs avait occasionné une sédition telle qu’il avait dû céder et les faire emporter. Une autre fois, pendant le sabbat, alors que les Juifs ne pouvaient faire usage de leurs armes, il fit briser les troncs des offrandes et enleva ainsi un butin considérable.” [8] Josephus, B.J. 2.169-174; A.J. 18.55-59. The next issue described in Josephus concerns an insurrection at Passover 31 AD (B.J. 2.175-177; A.J. 18.60-62). A similar incident with standards occurred at Pentecost 31 AD. [9] Josephus, A.J. 18.55. [10] Keppie 1984: 51. [11] Josephus, B.J. 2.174; A.J. 18.59. |