Prof. Gibson writes: "And if I take the "some say" correctly, this passage also indicates > that there was some doubt that the claim itself (about daughters, etc.) is in any way reliable."
REPLY: The Talmud is FULL of "some say" commentary. I hardly think you are in a position to unwravel the entire Talmud because of the nature of the dialogue-approach to discussion. The Talmud represents various threads within RABBINIC thinking. So this is hardly a touchstone to what was happening during Jeremiah's time: 1) because the Rabbis were a later development, and 2) because it may well be that a Rechabite priesthood would not be favorably viewed by the Rabbinic writers. For example, during Jeremiah's time there was a faction of Jerusalem priesthood that Ezekiel took issue with? Would they have been an opposing voice within the Talmud? Almost certainly! Could this be the SAME group as the Rechabites? Let's explore that. The point of the Talmud references... if anyone can locate the correct ones in Eisenman's book... is to show that even the Rabbinic material acknowledges that the Rechabites had an unusually close relationship with the Priesthood. And the Eusebius reference certainly makes it clear that there WAS a Rechabite Priesthood from the point of view of the Church Fathers. So all of this "fussing" about whether there was or wasn't.... this would be only for those who didn't find Eusebius credible. So perhaps we can focus on the possible connections between the Rechabites and the Enochain community within Judaism to see if there is a "connection" there... rather than play "forensic semantics" with what the Talmud says. The Talmud, as a partisan document, cannot really disprove this point...but presumably it can point out that there WAS an unusual Rechabite "presence" in Jerusalem. Prof. Gibson, I know you find it easier to BLOCK my inquiries than to help explore them with me.... you're pattern is quite consistent in this on other lists. But maybe you could adopt a different approach here. What can you tell me about the Enochian community that would help us in this topic? Someone as knowledgeable as you is bound to have something to contribute on the subject of Enoch and those Hebrew who wrote about him. George Brooks Tampa, FL For private reply, e-mail to George Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from Orion, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: "unsubscribe Orion." Archives are on the Orion Web site, http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il. (PLEASE REMOVE THIS TRAILOR BEFORE REPLYING TO THE MESSAGE)
