Talmudic Judaism in Sasanian Babylonia : Essays and studies

Neusner, Jacob. Talmudic Judaism in Sasanian Babylonia : Essays and studies. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1976. First edition. Octavo. xi, (1), 187, (1)pp. Red cloth lettered in gilt, with publisher’s device on front cover. An ex-library copy with minimal rubber stamping on title & at bottom of text block, and a library pocket on rear pastedown, otherwise a near fine copy.

“The Babylonian Talmud… contains two sorts of historical information; first, stories about events, second, data on the life and times of those who produced the Talmud… The absence of references to Jews in the matyrologies is extremely important… But exactly what happened is difficult to say…”
“These papers carry forward the discussion … in my History of the Jews in Babylonia.” (Neusner)

Contents: The Babylonian Talmud as a historical document. — Archaeology and the study of Babylonian Judaism. — The religious uses of history. — The phenomenon of the rabbi. — The rabbi and the magus. — The rabbi and the Jewish community. — The rabbi and the exilarch. — How much Iranian in Jewish Babylonia? — Babylonian Jewry and Shapur II’s persecution of Christianity from 339 to 379.

Volume 14 of the Brill series, “Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity.” near fine. Hardcover. (53244) $95