Chapter 150 of 404

Galileans and the Law

There is no reason to doubt Jesus’ Jewish orthodoxy based on his environment. Later rabbinic opposition to Galilee derives especially from later Babylonian texts²⁶ (notably after the Palestinian rabbis had settled in Galilee following the abortive Bar Kochba revolt of 132-135 CE), though, as we have noted, some earlier rabbinic texts also question Galileans’ observance of the law.²⁷

By contrast, first-century sources indicate Galileans’ loyalty to the law,²⁸ and later Palestinian sources can approve Galilean customs even when they differed from the norms of respected rabbis.²⁹ Moreover, Josephus indicates that most Galileans were loyal to Jerusalem and the priesthood.³⁰ Although Jerusalem exercised no political control over Galilee, Josephus shows that its status as Judaism’s center gave it special influence.³¹

Archaeology confirms Jewish Galileans’ “Jewishness” and “orthodox” practice. ³² Stone vessels, which were considered less susceptible to impurity,³³ predominate, and are common even in pre-70 Sepphoris.³⁴ Distinctly Jewish purification pools are common, again even in Sepphoris; so are distinctive Jewish burial practices such as ossuaries.³⁵ Studies of Galilean bones show pork-free diets, and pig remains are missing in pre-70 Jewish Galilee.³⁶

Galileans apparently shared with Judeans religious customs and some elements of material culture, but differed in some other aspects of culture, such as wealthy Jerusalemites’ decorations and foreign styles.³⁷ That is, they were likely if anything more culturally conservative, rather than more culturally liberal, than Judeans.

↑ Back to top