First, some background from Wikipedia:
"Attempt to rebuild the Jewish Temple
In 363, not long before Julian left Antioch to launch his campaign against Persia, in keeping with his effort to foster religions other than Christianity, he ordered the Temple rebuilt.[93] A personal friend of his, Ammianus Marcellinus, wrote this about the effort:
“Julian thought to rebuild at an extravagant expense the proud Temple once at Jerusalem, and committed this task to Alypius of Antioch. Alypius set vigorously to work, and was seconded by the governor of the province; when fearful balls of fire, breaking out near the foundations, continued their attacks, till the workmen, after repeated scorchings, could approach no more: and he gave up the attempt.”
The failure to rebuild the Temple has been ascribed to the Galilee earthquake of 363, and to the Jews' ambivalence about the project. Sabotage is a possibility, as is an accidental fire. Divine intervention was the common view among Christian historians of the time.[94] Julian's support of Jews, coming after the hostility of many earlier Emperors, meant that Jews called him Julian the Hellene.[95]"
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In 360, a tremendous earthquake ravages the Galilee and destroys the town of Sepphori. A Jewish citizen, Elias Hosius, loses everything in the earthquake and decides to join the army to make a living. When he hears that Julian is going to be personally leading the Roman army into Persia to take on the Persians, he joins the forces. He serves with distinction and eventually is promoted to be part of the emperor's personal guard. The emperor hears him talk about God and is concerned that he's Christian. However, Elias takes off his robe and points down. Julian is satisfied he's not Christian and accepts him. He eventually informs Elias that he's thinking of rebuilding the Jewish temple.
Fast forward to June 363. Julian and his forces are fighting the Persians. Elias sees a Persian hiding in the bushes, in the process of throwing his spear at Julian. Julian doesn't. Elias screams and pushes Julian out of the way. Elias takes the spear in the leg and is fatally wounded. Julian thinks this is the work of the gods -- had Elias not intervened, the emperor would have been killed!
Julian asks Elias if he has any last requests or suggestions. Elias says that many people in Galilee lost everything in an earthquake. Elias thinks that it is God's will that Julian rebuild the Jewish temple -- if there's ever been a time for support in the community it's now, and an act of God -- the earthquake -- brought Elias to Julian's service. Julian thinks it's a good idea and says he'll try to do it if he's got the money. In the meantime, he badgers Satilius or whatever his name was (whoever the alternative was to Jovian -- the guy who refused the crown and was a pagan) as his successor.
Fast forward three years. It's 366. Julian has held his own with the Persians and come back with a lot of booty. He remembers Elias's request and announces that he's going to rebuild the temple. Julian also mentions that he's had an idea and thinks Christianity may be problematic -- what a better way to start to undo Christianity than by reinstating the temple which was the basis for the original Judaism?
What do you think happens next? Note that he has named a respected pagan has his successor.
"Attempt to rebuild the Jewish Temple
In 363, not long before Julian left Antioch to launch his campaign against Persia, in keeping with his effort to foster religions other than Christianity, he ordered the Temple rebuilt.[93] A personal friend of his, Ammianus Marcellinus, wrote this about the effort:
“Julian thought to rebuild at an extravagant expense the proud Temple once at Jerusalem, and committed this task to Alypius of Antioch. Alypius set vigorously to work, and was seconded by the governor of the province; when fearful balls of fire, breaking out near the foundations, continued their attacks, till the workmen, after repeated scorchings, could approach no more: and he gave up the attempt.”
The failure to rebuild the Temple has been ascribed to the Galilee earthquake of 363, and to the Jews' ambivalence about the project. Sabotage is a possibility, as is an accidental fire. Divine intervention was the common view among Christian historians of the time.[94] Julian's support of Jews, coming after the hostility of many earlier Emperors, meant that Jews called him Julian the Hellene.[95]"
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In 360, a tremendous earthquake ravages the Galilee and destroys the town of Sepphori. A Jewish citizen, Elias Hosius, loses everything in the earthquake and decides to join the army to make a living. When he hears that Julian is going to be personally leading the Roman army into Persia to take on the Persians, he joins the forces. He serves with distinction and eventually is promoted to be part of the emperor's personal guard. The emperor hears him talk about God and is concerned that he's Christian. However, Elias takes off his robe and points down. Julian is satisfied he's not Christian and accepts him. He eventually informs Elias that he's thinking of rebuilding the Jewish temple.
Fast forward to June 363. Julian and his forces are fighting the Persians. Elias sees a Persian hiding in the bushes, in the process of throwing his spear at Julian. Julian doesn't. Elias screams and pushes Julian out of the way. Elias takes the spear in the leg and is fatally wounded. Julian thinks this is the work of the gods -- had Elias not intervened, the emperor would have been killed!
Julian asks Elias if he has any last requests or suggestions. Elias says that many people in Galilee lost everything in an earthquake. Elias thinks that it is God's will that Julian rebuild the Jewish temple -- if there's ever been a time for support in the community it's now, and an act of God -- the earthquake -- brought Elias to Julian's service. Julian thinks it's a good idea and says he'll try to do it if he's got the money. In the meantime, he badgers Satilius or whatever his name was (whoever the alternative was to Jovian -- the guy who refused the crown and was a pagan) as his successor.
Fast forward three years. It's 366. Julian has held his own with the Persians and come back with a lot of booty. He remembers Elias's request and announces that he's going to rebuild the temple. Julian also mentions that he's had an idea and thinks Christianity may be problematic -- what a better way to start to undo Christianity than by reinstating the temple which was the basis for the original Judaism?
What do you think happens next? Note that he has named a respected pagan has his successor.
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