Russell Gmirkin responded:
On the first question, one might point to the Oniads as figures
holding both high priestly and civil positions. The reference to
Messiah the Prince (or the Anointed Prince) at Dan. 9:25 is
usually taken to refer to Onias III, assassinated in exile in 170 BCE.
Does
David,
1QS 9:11 refers to the time when there shall come the Prophet and the
Messiahs of Aaron and Israel. The Messiah figure or figures we are
discussing are thus distinguished from the coming Prophet. J. Collons, _The
Scepter and the Star_ (1995) has a chapter devoted to the Messiahs
David,
On 164/163 BCE as a land sabbath year, see 1 Macc. 6:28-54; 2 Macc.
13:1-22. 2 Macc. 13:1 dates this to 163, and 1 Macc. 6:48-54 indicates the
reduction of Beth-Zur and Jerusalem were concluded before the expiration of
the land sabbath.
On the weeks of Daniel as land sabbath
Russell,
Thanks again for the bibliography, and I certainly intend to follow up
on it. I agree that Sabbatical years can be important markers in
Jewish historical narratives.
Daniel's Darius the Mede is of course problematic historically and
should be taken into account in evaluating Daniel's
David,
Your observation about Darius the Mede, intriques me. Are you aware that
Herodotus at times slips and calls Persians MEDES ? Are you aware that
the Romans at times called the Parthians MEDES as well ? Did you know that
Cyrus according to Herodotus was the grandson of Astyages, the last
