Guide
Conflict in the Temple
1st–3rd Centuries
The Temple sometimes became a site of conflict and violence. Josephus writes of a number of instances in which political and religious conflicts erupt into violence on the pilgrimage festivals, when massive crowds gather at the Temple (see also “Archelaus’ Rise to Power”). The Mishnah and Tosefta include variant accounts of a conflict between priests that results in violence. Accounts like these may have served as a way of asserting rabbinic authority over ritual.
Related Primary Sources
Primary Source
Violence at the Temple on Sukkot
As for Alexander, his own people were in sedition against him. For during the celebration of a festival, when he stood at the altar and was about to offer sacrifice, the people rose up against him and…
Primary Source
Violence at the Temple on Passover
The usual crowd had converged on Jerusalem for the feast of unleavened bread, and the Roman cohort had taken up position on the roof of the temple colonnade—there is always an armed guard on duty at…
Primary Source
The Mishnah on Conflict between Priests
There was an incident in which two [priests] simultaneously ran up the ramp [to the altar in order to reach it first], and one pushed the other, who fell and broke his leg. When the court saw that…
Primary Source
The Tosefta on Conflict between Priests
There was an incident involving two priests who were running simultaneously up the ramp [to the altar]. One of them pushed the other [when he was] within four arms’ lengths [of the altar], and he took…