第4章古代オリエントThe Near East

The history of the Hebrew people as recorded in the Hebrew Bible tracks their emergence in Canaan, their oppression in and exodus from Egypt, their construction of a united monarchy, and their many conflicts among themselves and with empires like Neo-Assyria and Neo-Babylonia. But the archaeological record and various portions of the Bible cast some doubt on a number of aspects of this general story. For example, archaeology does not support the occurrence of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan after the Exodus, though at least some of King Solomon’s building projects have been discovered in sites like Gezer, Hazor, and Megiddo. And the stories of Hebrews migrating to Egypt may preserve much older traditions related to the arrival of the Hyksos there.

聖書に記されたヘブライ人の歴史は、カナンでの成立、エジプトでの抑圧と脱出、統一王国の建設、内部対立、新アッシリアや新バビロニアとの紛争をたどる。しかし考古資料や聖書自身の一部は、この筋書きの多くの点に疑問を投げかける。たとえばヨシュアのカナン征服は考古学的に支持されない。一方、ソロモンの建設事業の少なくとも一部は、ゲゼル、ハツォル、メギドで発見されている。またエジプトへの移住物語には、ヒクソス到来に関わる、はるかに古い伝承が残っているかもしれない。

The Bible also describes the monotheistic worship of Yahweh, the definitive characteristic of the Hebrews. But contrary to what the Bible suggests, this religious practice did not arise fully formed. Rather, it developed over centuries and under unique circumstances and geopolitical pressures. By the time the Persian Empire extended its domination across the Near East, the religion of Judaism as we know it today was starting to take shape. It demanded absolute obedience to Yahweh and his many laws, including specific dietary restrictions. And the worship of Yahweh was centralized in the temple at Jerusalem.

聖書は、ヘブライ人を決定的に特徴づける、ヤハウェへの一神教的崇拝も語る。しかし聖書の印象とは違い、初めから完成した形で現れたわけではない。何世紀もかけ、独自の状況と地政学的な圧力のもとで発展した。ペルシア帝国が近東へ支配を広げる頃、今日知られるユダヤ教が形を取り始めた。ヤハウェと、食事の制限を含む多くの法への絶対的な服従が求められ、崇拝はエルサレムの神殿へ集約された。