
450 AD to 470 AD, Psalm 70: The sack of Rome.
This generation is that of the 450s and 460s.
In Byzantium [1], the reign of Theodosius II stops abruptly, he dies accidentally, leaving room for Marcion’s (451-457).
With respect to the threat of the Huns, the empire [2] of the West is less fortunate: Attila crosses the Rhine in 451. He suffered the defeat of the Catalaunian Fields after which he retired to his kingdom to die in 453.
Rome was also captured by the Vandals on June 2, 455, and thus looted a third time for three weeks.
(extract of the psalm 70 associated to this generation, verses 1 to 4 )
- For the conductor; of David, to make mention.
- O God, [hasten] to save me; O Lord, hasten to my assistance.
- May those who seek my life be shamed and humiliated; may those who desire my harm turn back and be disgraced.
- Let them return in the path of their shame, those who say, « Aha, aha. »
- But [3] there was also a very interesting permanent change: the incorporation of the Shema (« Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God; the Lord is one ».) into the Qedushah which is still recited three times daily by contemporary Orthodox Jews. Appearing for the first time in Babylonia around 450 AD, this change was undoubtedly the result of some Persian prohibition that aimed at the recitation of this monotheistic profession of faith, capital and so shocking for the dualist parties. Such forced modifications were so numerous that the rabbis, especially those of the post-Talmudic period, had to constantly explain the liturgical deviations with a stereotypical phrase: « They modified this at the time of religious persecution » even when they had no historical data to confirm this report.
(extract of the psalm 70 associated to this generation, verse 5 )
- May all those who seek You exult and rejoice, and may those who love Your salvation say constantly, « May God be magnified. »
- In [4] the second half of the fifth century, in Babylonia, most of the Jews of Isfahan, a city that leads to Tehran from the Persian Gulf, were slaughtered because they had been accused of killing two magi. The representative of the exiles was assassinated by a Sassanid king. In 468, many synagogues were destroyed in the country, children were abducted to become priests of Mazda, the study of the Torah was forbidden.
- (Admittedly), [5] the gaonic chroniclers such as Iggeret by Rav Scherira Gaon describe a series of anti-Jewish persecutions in the fifth century that began under the reign of Yasdegerd II and continued under that of his son Perôz. Sabbath observance was forbidden, synagogues closed, and Jewish children captured to serve in fire temples.
(extract of the psalm 70 associated to this generation, verse 6 )
- But I am poor and needy, O God, hasten to me; You are my aid and my rescuer, O Lord, do not delay.
[1] According to John Julius Norwich / History of Byzantium / Chapter: « The First Centuries » (p.65 / 66) and Peter Schäfer / History of the Jews in Antiquity / Chapter « Justinian I » (French: « Histoire de Byzance »/Chapitre : « Les premiers siècles » (p. 65/66) et « Histoire des Juifs dans l’antiquité »/Chapitre « Justinien 1er » (p217) ).
[2] According to: Marcel Le Glay / Rome II – The Greatness and Fall of the Empire / Chapter: « The Barbarians and the Fall of Rome » (French: « Grandeur et chute de l’Empire/Chapitre » : « Les barbares et la chute de Rome » (p. 869 à 878) ).
[3] SW Baron / History of Israel – II, the first centuries of the Christian era / Chapter: « Beginning of the medieval system » (French: Histoire d’Israël – II, les premiers siècles de l’ère chrétienne/Chapitre : « Début du système médiéval » (p. 836) ).
[4] Chaim Potok / A History of the Jewish People (French: « Une histoire du Peuple Juif » (p.378) ).
[5] David Biale / The Cultures of the Jews / Chapter: « Rabbinic Culture in Babylon » by Isaiah Gafni (French: Les Cultures des Juifs/Chapitre : « Culture rabbinique à Babylone » d’Isaïah Gafni (p.238) ).