Yohanan Kohen Gadol (John Hyrcanus) Israel: The Land and its People

[@rickypatterson8973]

I love your lectures! I love your presentation! I’m a Christian trying to learn more about the chosen people. I appreciate various cultural references besides the lecture material. You come across as a bright, humble and very informed and engaging teacher. I’m grateful for your efforts! One day, God willing, I will hope to donate to your cause. Thank you.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thanks for the kind words! In real life I am not as humble.

[@hfranklin2009]

While I am not a Jew, I dearly love these lectures. Found them after heart surgery and didn't have much else to do but watch things I enjoy on Netflix and KZbin. There are just so many British detective series one can watch so I turned to history and religion. I have watched many of your lectures, I find them informative and enlightening. Even entertaining. Thank you so much.

[@marcelomeireles2114]

hfranklin2009 Touching story. And we could say that Dr Abramson performs a heart surgery on us as well, leading us to our circuncision of heart, as non-jews going to shomer sheva mitzvot (observants of the seven laws to sons of Noah). How the Talmud presents this way to the nations is also a very interesting lecture topic, specially for Internet audience (I guess).

[@junedewar3551]

@@marcelomeireles2114 Many people fear the seven Noahide laws. According to these people there is basis for fear. It is claimed those who are devising these laws can turn them against non Jews and Jews who are not in favour with the intent that will issue forth from these laws giving those wielding that authority the power to kill who they desire to kill. It is not biblically logical for any Noahide laws to be forced or implemented for if there was Moses would have had no need for the Ten Commandments to be given him. The opposers make claim it is to be alright for those who made these laws to kill, steal, commit adultery, bear false witness and the rest but it will be the death penalty for anyone not of their organised cult to commit any infringement against these laws and they will use their twisted logic against whoever they choose. I think I have explained it as I heard it.

[@feigier9310]

How did you get the name Herschel if you aren't Jewish? I hope you are well and still following and can answer. A family member who was martyrd by Hitler was named Herschel so I noticed it.

[@hfranklin2009]

@@feigier9310 I was born in 1944 during WWII. My dad had a childhood friend with that name who had gone off to fight in the Pacific Theater in the Army. He insisted I be named after Hershel Sloan. I don't know if he was Jewish, probably not as we were in Western Oklahoma. I didn't know until my early 30s that it was not an uncommon Jewish name. I know a few others with that name, but not many. I am being verbose and I apologize, but I want to tell you a story. Several years ago my wife's niece was getting married. Her mother, my wife, and another sister were in their element working on the wedding. The bride's father had a sister from Chicago who had a relationship with a Jewish man named Israel. The girls all came to me with an assignment, I was asked to take Israel under my wing and keep him entertained for the next three or four days, he didn't know anyone other than his partner. I didn't realize at the time that he was in the early stages of Alzheimer, today I would recognize it because my wife is in the early stages as well. But, he was alert at the time and was wonderful company,. On the second day he asked if I was Jewish because of my name. I explained the origin of the name, the origin as it applied to me, and he asked if I knew what it meant. I didn't so he replied, "Dear one of God." Just the way he said it was touching. During the course of our being together I discovered that he liked to sing. We sang a few songs together. At the reception after the wedding, they had a karaoke machine. I sang a Roger Miller song and asked the guy if he had "Sunrise, Sunset" from "The Fiddler on the Roof." He did so I called Israel to come up and sing with me. I don't think he even knew what karaoke was but he was a trooper. We belted that song out for the bride, took our bows, and gave the microphone up. On the third day of our being together, he told me his story. He was a child when he and his family were taken to Auschwitz. He lost track with his father and he assumed he was killed. He was young enough that he was staying with his mother. One time some were ordered to leave for another location, he was there with his mother. His mother told him to go back in and get whatever he had that passed for a coat. When he got inside, the women there wouldn't allow him to leave. He assumed she had gone to her death, he never saw her again and he thought she had intentionally sent him away to save his life. About six months later I tried to contact him and was told he wouldn't know me. I am saddened that I didn't know him longer and better than I did. He was a lovely little man I came to love during that short episode in our lives. I apologize for the length of my answer to your very kind question. One more note: I was happy to see John Lovett's character on Saturday Night Live several years ago of Harry Hanukkah, his creation of a counterpart of Santa Claus. Rather than a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Harry had a wagon pulled by donkeys. One of them was named "Hershel."

[@Madmen604]

What a gift, wow. What great people are those who donate to support these lectures. I think the biggest challenge is to maintain interest and to satisfy learning. You did that most certainly! You are an excellent teacher, I am jealous. Thank you.

[@jancomestor4820]

The lectures are (and have been) great.

[@jerryg7491]

Thanks as always for this deeply appreciated and thoughtful discussion. The Challenge of "modernity" Is one that you cannot win - your balanced approach I think satisfies the majority of your viewers

[@PartyFlorida]

Wonderful lecture! By the end of next week I will have seen all of your videos. Please keep them coming!

[@RonJohn63]

Lecture starts at 8:58.

[@michaelsmith9453]

I would find it extremely helpful if you could number your lectures. Especially those that flow in a chronological order. Thank you and shalom!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Good idea.

[@kwyzi]

I LOVE these lectures, Thank you, G-d bless you.

[@jessicasevin1870]

What are the names of the previous lectures in this series? May want to add links to them when you post the video or at least list them

[@michaelsmith9453]

The books of Maccabees do appear in the Septuagint. Some of the copies anyway.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Yes, but not the Hebrew bible.

[@mmoviess]

Dr Abramson you are amazing. I would like to ass that in the middle of the Judean Desert there is one of the six or seven Hashmobkte Fortresses still remaining called מצגת הורקניאוסthe Hyrcaneus Fortress named after him who built it.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thanks for the kind words and the reference. *add

[@mmoviess]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD he.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/הורקניה_(מבצר)

[@wesleyclayswank6732]

Isn't the P.Avot quote saying "never trust yourself until the day of your death" rather close to the famous Greek saying "call no man happy until he is dead"? Might there be a connection?

[@wesleyclayswank6732]

Interesting I guess my Jewish brain always assigned the Talmudic meaning to the Greek saying. I guess there is actually hope for me haha.

[@feigier9310]

Dr Abramson, Ive read that the exclusion of Maccabees from the Tanach has ntd with their piety or significance but that no books could ne included after.the age of prophecy ended at 420 BCE. Can you comment?

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Not too sure what to say about this.

[@asher6408]

What about his interaction with Julius Caesar?

[@OleksandrBomshteyn]

there is no sound :-(

[@michaelsmith9453]

I think symbolism within Judaism would be an interesting topic to cover. Especially origins of the Star of David, the menorah Etc.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKWqoZuvjZaqf8U

[@RafaelRabinovich]

There is an issur mideoraita to convert the Edomim (Idumeans) and the Moabim. Conquering them may be OK, but making them Jewish was a serious transgression. (41:00 minute)

[@RafaelRabinovich]

Were there two different men with the name Yochanan who held the title of Cohen Gadol? In the Al HaNisim prayer of Chanuka we begin by mentioning "in the days of Matityahu son of Yochanan the Hasmonean..." ( בימי מתתיהו בן יוחנן החשמונאי כהן גדול). That implies that Matityahu's father was a Cohen Gadol called "the Hasmonean", either because his father was "Hasmon", or because "Hasmon" was the town where he was born. Yochanan Hyrcanus is again a Cohen Gadol with the name of his ancestor.

[@josephinemullar7857]

As Mattathias himself attested the Maccabees were descendants of Phinehas who was told they would be high priests to time indefinite. The Maccabees later descended from the priesthood of Zadok and not Abiathar Numbers 25:10; 31:6. The Mashiach was born of king David's linage in the first century but in His second coming my Mashiach was born by an Alma descended from the Maccabees in her paternal genealogical lineage.

[@normanrobinson4624]

Bridgette and I are very honored to have had the Friends of Jewish History sponsor this lecture in our honor. Personally I'm humbled by the lavish praise that Dr. Abramson paid me for my scholarship and research. This is a link to a shortened version of the research paper I sent him last year. didaskologos.wordpress.com/2016/02/18/john-hyrcanus-the-high-priest-and-ruler-of-judea-who-spread-judaism-by-the-sword/comment-page-1/

[@normanrobinson4624]

You are too kind. G-d willing we will be able to make another pilgrimage to the holy city of Brooklyn again. About 8 more months and we will have that burden of short term debt we incurred last summer paid off. We also need to arrange for Bridgette's sister to come out to stay with her mother for us to get away together. May the One G-d bless all of your endeavors, may His strong hand always be upon you and may you prosper even as your soul prospers. Agape, Norm

[@menachemsalomon]

The idea that traditional movements are the last to organize is quite interesting. It explains why the Chasam Sofer is credited with founding Chareidi Judaism (a concept you've cited in other lectures, actually).

[@andrenewcomb3708]

Looked at Wikipedia. Seems as though a lot of reverses/opposites to Jesus' life. A calling to the sins of mankind in the period. What a piece of work is man.

[@junedewar3551]

Mr Abramson Shalom! You claim the Maccabees were not the line of Zadok? The book of Esdras/ Ezra 7 shows Ezra to be to be a descendant of Zadok. Ezra was the high priest who was responsible for gaining permission for the temple to be built and was announced as king by Artaxerxes the Persian.. The Maccabees are descendants from Aaron.. Here is the list:/ Ezra; Seraiah; Azariah; Hilkiah; Shallum; Zadok; Ahitub; Amariah; Azariah; Meraioth; Zerahiah; Uzzi; Bukki; Abishua; Phinehas; Eleazar; Aaron. Mattathias made claim Hasmoneus his forefather was a descendant of Zadok and Phinehas to whom Yahveh God made the decree the offspring of Phinehas would have a covenant of a priesthood to time indefinite Numbers 25:10-13.. Josephus lists Mattathias as being the son of John, the son of Simeon, the son of Asamoneus, a priest of the order of Joarib. I know this is true because my Elohim spoke to me by a chosen messenger from heaven and told me I was a descendant of Aaron.. I was told my dad would give an account of this before he died as he didn't have long to live. My father did tell me about the high priesthood You might want to agree with others who claim the Maccabee linage was lost but that is not true. If it were true where else would the linage of Phinehas descended or do you think the promise that Phinehas would have offspring to time indefinite was a mistake made by the Most High God?

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Hope you found the video useful!

[@Dan-sc9lq]

Thank you from a gentile follower of Christ.

[@thadstone7877]

BTW their is a Samaritan Community in Halon Israel...

[@abrahamadam2935]

can I convert to judaism

[@motorola1543]

Yea if ur still interested

[@eldansambatyon]

is john hyrcanus part of the priestly line and davidic line or was just appointed by foriegn powers to rule judea? .... macabees are not in the tannakh.... a story made by john of cyrene for greek theaters that somehow got to septuagint as hasmonean propaganda

[@sisterbrothers1677]

Doesn't this guy know Matisyahu is a rapper?

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

He does, actually.

[@debbiecomeau9783]

Every thing is within your power and your power is within you, small shifts in you thinking our consciousness in our dreams Yeshua can move all obstacles in our lives, Peace love and light dolphin girl 🐬 here to save. Humanity 🌍👪👪👪👪👪👪👪

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

"Dolphin girl." Hmm.

[@soringoldenberg2856]

I am afraid that you let your religious beliefs interfere to your historian training. To call the Pharisees the orthodox way of Judaism is most probably anachronistic. The story about them being late to organize is not really an historical argument. Talmud is a rather poor historical source and their poor view of Hasmoneans as usurpers of both temporal and priestly power is well known.

[@donjarrett9485]

Not mention all the miricles God perform during this era,amazing things,are they could not have accomplished against the syrians and other groups of enemies for over a 100yrs ,last time Jews independent.I believe this happened and should been in the bible. Lol

[@mpejones]

Deuteronomy 28: 68 We are awakening!!!!

[@batashanbengotham7189]

Black Hebrew Israelism is a man-made cult by Bivens and Arayah. Deuteronomy 28:68 was fulfilled in the time of the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by Titus. Satan has blinded you of the truth!

[@truth-seeker33]

Agreed.

[@davidsavage6324]

On death of Alexander see Murder in Babylon