A Week in the Fall of Jerusalem
by Ben Witherington III
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Pub Date Aug 14 2017 | Archive Date Aug 07 2017
InterVarsity Press | IVP Academic
Description
New Testament scholar Ben Witherington leads us behind the veil of centuries to see and experience the historical and social realities of the epochal event of the fall of Jerusalem. It’s A.D. 70. Amid smoke, clamor, and terror, Jerusalem is falling to the Romans, its temple being destroyed. As Jews and Christians try to escape the city, we travel with some of them through an imagined week of flight and faith.
As a part of a broader series of books including A Week in the Life of Corinth and A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion, this narrative retelling of events in the ancient church gives vibrancy and light to what often appears clouded and heavy.
Advance Praise
"With skill and drama, Ben Witherington takes us through what the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 might have been like—fascinating, to say the least, and instructive as well."
—Darrell Bock, senior research professor of New Testament
studies, executive director for cultural engagement, The Hendricks
Center, Dallas Theological Seminary
"Three very important things happened in the first century AD: Jesus
died on a Roman cross, Jesus was resurrected, and the city and temple of
Jerusalem were captured and destroyed by the Romans. These three
events, which took place within one generation, changed the world. The
first two events have been discussed endlessly and have been dramatized
in literature, theater, and cinema. But the third event, the fall of
Jerusalem, has received very little attention. This is why I welcome Ben
Witherington's imaginative but historically and culturally
well-informed drama of what a week in the fall of Jerusalem might have
been like. It's a fun read but also very informative and instructive."
—Craig A. Evans, Houston Baptist University
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780830851737 |
| PRICE | $16.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 192 |
Links
Featured Reviews
Deborah W, Reviewer
"A Week in the Fall of Jerusalem" is a narrative retelling mixing nonfiction about the Fall of Jerusalem with fiction about what happened to various Christ followers. The first two or three days focused on what happened in Jerusalem in A.D. 70 when the Romans finally broke into the city. Then the story shifted focus to the scattering of the Christ followers, their plans for the future, and things that had happened to them between A.D. 30 and A.D. 70.
The fictional parts were largely speculative. For example, as Levi (Matthew) flees Jerusalem, he meets other Christ followers, collects stories from Christ's life, then returns to Galilee to finally give up tax collecting and start work on his gospel. Mary, Martha, and Joanna flee to Pella, where Mary Magdalene has been living. Titus, Josephus, and some other people (some purely fictional) also have brief parts.
As the narrative unfolded, various historical and cultural elements were mentioned. The author provided sidebars that gave further information on these topics--things like slaves, taxes, villas, and coins. The author used modern wording and phrasing, so it's an easy read. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting book, though I liked "A Week in the Life of Corinth" better.
Terry B, Reviewer
This account of a week in the Fall of Jerusalem tries to tell the reader what happened to many different people after Jerusalem fell.
Joanna, one of Jesus' followers, escapes to Mary and Martha's home in Bethany. She tries to persuade them to leave the area because the Romans will probably come after people there because it is so close to Jerusalem.
Levi, one of Jesus' disciples, escapes from Jerusalem with a copy of Mark's gospel, which he wants to share with the people he meets, along with using it as a template for his own gospel manuscript.
Josephus, a friend of Titus' who destroyed Jerusalem, is telling Titus that he will write a manuscript about the Fall of Jerusalem that will put the blame on the Jews who are in revolt against the Romans for the attack on Jerusalem and not the Romans themselves.
You will have to read the account for yourself to find out what happens to Joanna, Martha, Mary, Levi and Josephus, along with the believers in Yeshua and the Jews who were able to leave Jerusalem.
JT T, Reviewer
Ben Witherington has been one of my favorite Bible communicators to follow when it comes to an in-depth study of God's Word. I own all of his new testament commentaries and when I saw this book come out, I had to grab it and I am so thankful I did. What a rich history he paints for us around Jerusalem and especially around individuals who are around during the fall of Jerusalem and how they respond to the tragedy of this event. I love how some of the people find and join in with others believers as they keep their head above the chaos of brokenness and mess. It is much like what we do today when we get together as a community in the midst of our chaos. It is such a great read and brings some thoughts to life.
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