03-30-2006, 01:07 PM
Dear friends,
I have tried to find references to the siege of Masada in rabbinical sources, but was unable to find them. It is not because the ancient Jewish sages were not interested in military matters; Bar Kochba is often mentioned (cf. [url:2a4x2unz]http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/bk01.html[/url]). I have checked my conclusion with the wisdom of my friend Yehuda, a modern rabbi, and he was also unaware of any reference to Masada.
However, there may be a "code". For example, the rabbinical sages refer to Rome as "Edom" or "Babylon". (In fact, Bar Kochba, "Child of the star", is a code too.) Yehuda and I may have missed something. Is anyone aware of a rabbinical reference to Masada?
Jona
I have tried to find references to the siege of Masada in rabbinical sources, but was unable to find them. It is not because the ancient Jewish sages were not interested in military matters; Bar Kochba is often mentioned (cf. [url:2a4x2unz]http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/bk01.html[/url]). I have checked my conclusion with the wisdom of my friend Yehuda, a modern rabbi, and he was also unaware of any reference to Masada.
However, there may be a "code". For example, the rabbinical sages refer to Rome as "Edom" or "Babylon". (In fact, Bar Kochba, "Child of the star", is a code too.) Yehuda and I may have missed something. Is anyone aware of a rabbinical reference to Masada?
Jona
