Feb. 8

During the first class after the midterm, we learned about Persian Jerusalem. When introduced to the prophet Ezekial, Professor Cargill compares him to a crazy guy on 3rd street. Being from LA, I've been to 3rd street a number of times and it really isn't my cup of tea, mostly because of all the crazy people.  There are a lot of musicians and dancers and then there are always a few crazies.  There is this one guy who paints himself silver and wears painted silver clothing. The only thing not silver are his small black sunglasses.  He has a whistle in his mouth and he makes funny noises and movements when people walk by, and then he expects to get paid.  Now, this isn't normally how I would picture a prophet. Ezekial would draw things in the dirt about what was about to happen.  People thought he was crazy until these visions started to come true.  They started to believe him more and more.

We then learn about this split of the Jews.  The king of Persia basically wakes up one day and asks what all of the Jews are doing there.  So, we have the Jews who stayed in Babylon, the Jews who went back to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the Jews who were left in Jerusalem the entire time.  The Jews who stayed in Jerusalem question the Jews coming back from Babylon, asking what authority they have to come into Jerusalem and live there as if it is their home.  The Jews that are returning though are coming with money.  King Cyrus of Persia gave them money to help rebuild the temple. Then, there is a Persian province created in Judea.