The Family
Southwestern Journal of Theology
Volume 49, No. 1 – Fall 2006
Managing Editor: Malcolm B. Yarnell III
By James C. Vanderkam. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2004. xix + 548 pages. Hardcover, $35.00.
Covering an important facet of Jewish background to the Old Testament and New Testament, From Joshua to Caiaphas is an important and comprehensive examination of the fifty-one high priests of the Second-Temple period. An expert in the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as early Judaism, James C. Vanderkam is the John A. O’Brien Professor of Hebrew Scriptures at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, and he is eminently qualified to write this excellent study.
Jewish high priests had various responsibilities in the four periods of Second-Temple Judaism (Persian, Early Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and Herodian)—sometimes taking on the role of ruler in addition to being spiritual leader. Examining the individual priests—their accessions, important acts, and death or removal from office—gives important insight into the Judaism of the Old Testament, intertestamental period, and the New Testament. The personal focus keeps this study interesting even as it covers almost six hundred years of history, until the “high priesthood whimpers to a sad end (490).”
The challenge Vanderkam faced in his research is the lack of historical sources and the necessary heavy dependence upon Josephus, who occasionally gave contradictory (Viii-ix, 331) or wrong information (138, 174, 434) in his writings. At times Josephus was confusing (183, 203-04) or mischievous (331), and sometimes he had dubious motives which colored his writings (462, 482). Yet, Vanderkam is careful and judicious in handling historical sources. He consistently urges caution when speculating beyond where the evidence points (123, 218-22, 478). For instance, following John Hyrcanus (1340194 BC), there is no extant evidence of a subsequent high priest being a Sadducee until Anaus (Annas) the younger (AD 62) (430,477-78).
Vanderkam handles primary and secondary sources well, and he effectively interacts with conflicting viewpoints – often hypothetical reconstructions (23, 46-37, 59-62, 85-99, 143-53, 445-47, 466-75)- with Vanderkam usually siding with traditional interpretation and chronology (47, 62, 97-99, 153, 447, 475). He deals with the biblical material with fairness and respect (4-18). His numerous content footnotes are valuable. The indices in the back are also helpful; however, an additional index of modern writers would improve this section, as Vanderkam interacts much with Emil Schurer (vii, 260, 272, 33940, 412, 453, 464), Daniel R. Schwartz (441, 443, 445, 450, 469, 472-75), and a host of other scholars throughout the book.
One could find a certain subject and wish more information were present in this volume, such as wanting more about the debate over whether or not th eHasmoneans were Zadokites (Vanderkam give it a 66% chance and says the likelihood should be emphasized, 270); however, when covering six centuries of history, a writer cannot be comprehensive on any one topic. Vanderkam is to be commended for presenting an excellent, scholarly, well-organized, readable, indispensable, and unique look into the high priesthood of the Second-Temple period.
