Q. Rabbi, you claim that the Kaaba was rebuilt by Onias IV in 150BCE based on the pattern of the Temple of Solomon (pbuh), but fell into idolatry and corruption soon thereafter Would you please direct me to your paper on this thesis? A. I am working on a manuscript The Quraish as descendants of Onias IV. I argue for the antiquity and Abrahamic origin of the Kaaba. The main proof I bring is that Josephus claims that Onais IV built his Temple in Heliopolis based on Isaiah 19:19, which mentions two structures, one in the land of Egypt and the other on the border of Egypt. During Ptolemy VI Philometors time the border was briefly in Arabia. This is supported by architectural similarities between the Kaaba and the Temple of Onias as researched by W. M. Flinders Petrie in 1906. I propose that the suggestion that Quraish were descendants of High Priest Onias IV. This is supported by alternative rendering of the Prophets (pbuh) ancestor Adnan as Anan (=Hanan, =Onias). It is also supported by DNA evidence that a significant number of the Quraish are paternally related to the Jewish priesthood. The locations chosen by Onias IV were places already known for their religious significance. The Elephantine Papyri speak of the tremendous antiquity of their altar in Egypt, and by implication one could suggest that Onias IV chose to rebuild the Arabia in a location that already had a previous ancient tradition of an Abrahamic altar. Al Tabari says in pre-Islamic times sacrifices were also made in the name of God. The blood of the sacrificed animals was poured onto the walls of the Kaaba and the flesh was hung from pillars around the Kaaba, in the belief that God commanded the flesh and blood of these animals as sacrifices. Tabari specifically says that Hasan Tubba spent is last years in the mitbachim (place of sacrifices) at the Kaaba. The Talmud Menuchot, after discussing the Temple of Onias, goes on to discuss another Temple which had fallen into idolatry over the Jordan. This would mean that from 150BCE to 270BCE, idolatry had been practiced in the area of the Kaaba. However according to Islamic sources it returned to partially monotheistic worship around 275CE, when Shamir Yuharesh II Tubba, became king of Himyar. Upon an expedition to the north of Arabia, he passed by Yatrib (Medina). As part of a plot, he was told that a great treasure was buried under the Kaaba, so that he would destroy it. Jews from Yatrib warned him not to carry through with this plan, because the Kaaba was a holy place. Shamir Yuharesh II Tubba inquired what were the religious practices that are practiced there. They replied, When you get there, do as its devotees do: circumambulate it, venerate and honor it, shave your head in its presence and behave with humility until you leave its precincts. He asked them, What is preventing you [Jews] yourselves from doing that? They retorted, By God, it is indeed the temple of our forefather Abraham, and it is just as we have informed you; but the local people have interposed as obstacles, between us and the temple, various idols they have set up around it, and blood they shed there.” Referring to levitical purity, they replied that “They are unclean polytheists, or words to that effect. Tubba recognized the soundness of their advice and the veraciousness of their words. It was revealed to him in a dream that he should cover over the temple, so he covered it with sheets of woven palm leaves. I just came across a confirmation in the Talmud Megilah 10a of this date (275CE). R. Isaac said: I have heard that sacrifices may be offered in the Temple of Onias at the present day. He was of opinion that the Temple of Onias is no [longer] an idolatrous shrine. Most commentaries assume this means the Temple of Onias in Egypt, however the words at the present day mean when R. Isaac lived (280CE-330CE). At that time, the Temple in Egypt no longer existed, so this would indicate that as early as 280CE, some Jews were worshiping and offering sacrifices at the Kaaba.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 07:01:56 +0000
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