Topical Study tool for Students: Seder Olam: Cyrus the Great.
This article has been designed for students as a quick study tool. It contains both basic information on the Seder Olam Rabbah, and links to articles about the Seder Olam Rabbah. For Information on King Cyrus, SEE:King Cyrus the Great : Reference File.
Topic 1. What is the Seder Olam Rabbah?
Here in point fashion are some of the details provided on four websites [Listed underneath].
Jewish literature of second century A.D
Dated to about 160 AD.
It was first printed in 1514.
It is a Midrashic chronological work
Generally regarded as a work of the tanna Jose b. Halafta. [The "tannaim" were the masters of the "oral law," i.e. the men who wrote the Talmud.]
It is terribly flawed in the chronology it presents
Results in Adam having been created in 3760 B.C.
It attempts to chronologise ancient history from various ancient Israelite historical works
It is a chronological record extending from Adam to the revolt of Bar Kokba
It is complete only up to the time of Alexander the Great;
From Alexander to Hadrian occupies a very small portion at he end of 'chapter' 30.
Originally the "Seder 'Olam" was more extensive
In its present form the work consists of thirty chapters
Each ten chapters forms a section, or "gate."
It probably consisted of two parts
The 2nd part dealing with the post-Alexandrian period, has been lost
Many passages quoted in the Talmud are missing in the present edition of the "Seder 'Olam."
The writing style follows that of the Sadducees.
It is similar to the Ethiopic Book of Jubilees, although more coherent.
It records the destruction of the Second Temple as the year 3828 from Creation.
The author relates the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel to the time between the destructions of the 1st and 2nd temples.
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
