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The Persian conquest of Jerusalem in 614CE compared with Islamic conquest of 638CE. Its Messianic nature and the role of the Jewish Exilarch
By Ben Abrahamson and Joseph Katz
Published 2007

Abstract:

Explores the conquests of Jerusalem in 614CE and 638CE within the context of previous attempts at Jewish restoration. Discusses reasons for a Persian-Jewish alliance and later a Judeo-Arab alliance. In an attempt to reconcile contemporary sources, an account is given of Babylonian Jewish Exilarch Nechemiah ben Hushiel, his brother Shallum (Salmaan Farsi) and nephew Yakov (Ka'b Al-Ahbar) who played pivotal roles in these conquests. Proposes that the twelve men who went to Mecca to meet with the Prophet were Jewish refugees from Edessa, by way of Medina. Suggesting that the authors of Sefer Zerubavel and of the Prayer of Shimon bar Yochai were Jews from Medina.

Chapters

1. Jerusalem and the Temple, attempts at restoration
2. Rabbinic disregard and even opposition to Jewish attempts at restoration
3. Origins of the Jewish Exilarch
4. From the Hasmonean Priest-Monarchs to Herod's Judeo-Arab Kingdom
5. Trajans' war and the Exilarch's rise to power under the Parthians
6. The Coordinated Revolt of Bar Kochba
7. The Exilarchs under the Sassanids: Friends of the Rulers, Enemies of the People
8. The Jewish Exilarch’s relationship with the Rabbinical authorities
9. The Politicization of Religion
10. The Mazdakite Revolution and reduction of the power of the Nobles
11. War between the Exilarch and the Mazdakites
12. Waves of Israelites to Arabia bringing Judaism in various stages of development
13. The introduction of Persian Rabbinism into Sadducean Arabia
14. Declaration of Jewish Independence, first in Persia then Arabia
15. After-effects of the Failed Attempts at Jewish Independence
16. Phocas and the Final Persian-Roman War
17. Nehemiah ben Hushiel and The Jewish Crusade
18. Conquest and Disaster at Jerusalem
19. The Pivotal Years
20. Signs of the Coming of the Prophet
21. The Jews seek a New Leader
22. Changing of the Qiblah
23. The Battle of Badr, 'Uhud and Khandaq; the Expulsion of the Priestly Tribes
24. Christian followers antagonistic to Jewish followers of the Prophet
25. Shallum ben Hushiel (Salmaan Farsi) finds the Prophet
26. To Save the Jews of Israel from Byzantine slaughter
27. Death of the Prophet, Abu Bakr's Appointment, and Shallum's Rebellion
28. The Conquest of Persia and Shallum's Return
29. Conquest and Victory at Jerusalem
30. The Temple of Shallum (Solomon) and the Messianic Age
31. Heman ben Shallum (Abdullah Ibn Saba)
32. Yakub of Syria (Ka'b al-Ahbar) Last Jewish Attempt at Islamic Leadership
33. Saba'iya, Khawarij, the Exilarch's men: a Question of Islamic Leadership
34. Khalif 'Umar's Selection of Rabbinic Judaism as "true" Judaism
35. Absorption of Islamic Christians under Mu’awiyah
36. Khalif 'Ali' Attempts to bring back "authentic" Islam
37. Hussein's attempt to recreate the Prophet's entry into Medinah
38. Fading into Mysticism, the last Messiahs
39. Concluding Remarks
40. Table 1. Babylonian Exilarchs
41. Appendix A: Joseph Schwartz quote on Shallum ben Hushiel (Salmaan Farsi)

This manuscript is also available as a pdf file