Nehemiah ben Hushiel

Nehemiah ben Hushiel (Hebrew: נחמיה בן חושיאל), was a leader of the Jewish revolt against Heraclius and the last Jewish leader to control Jerusalem until the modern state of Israel. Nehemiah ben Hushiel appears in the 7th century Jewish book Sefer Zerubbabel where he represents the Messiah ben Joseph.

Political background

In 590-591 CE, according to Karaite sources, the Exilarch Haninai was put to death by Khosrow II, for supporting Bahram VI. The next Exilarch (Haninais' son Bostanai) would not reign until around 640 CE. Bostanai would be the first Babylonian Exilarch under Arab rule. This would leave a fifty-year gap, where no Exilarch reigned. It is thought that after Haninai was put to death, Khosrow II suspended all forms of Jewish self-governance and created many difficulties for the rabbinical academies.

Account

Nehemiah ben Hushiel was the leader of the Jewish revolt against Heraclius.

The Persian Sassanians, commanded by Shahrbaraz, were joined by Nehemiah and the wealthy Jewish leader Benjamin of Tiberias, who had mustered a force of Tiberian Jews. The combined force captured Jerusalem in 614 CE without resistance. Nehemiah was then appointed the ruler of Jerusalem. He began the work of making arrangements for the building of the Third Temple, and sorting out genealogies to establish a new High Priesthood.

After only a few months, a Christian revolt occurred. The Jews fled to Shahrbaraz's encampment at Caesarea. The Christians were able to briefly retake the city for 19 days before the walls were breached by Shahrbaraz's forces.

In 617 CE, the Persians reversed their policy and sided with the Christians, probably because of pressure from Mesopotamian Christians. It has been suggested that Nehemiah ben Hushiel was killed then.

Historical sources

Sebeos' account The Armenian bishop and historian Sebeos wrote an account of the fall of Jerusalem. He writes that at first the inhabitants of Jerusalem voluntarily submitted to the Jews and Persians, however after a few months, the ostikan appointed by Khosrau II to rule Jerusalem was killed in a Christian revolt.

In the Sefer Zerubbabel Aaron's rod, Elijah and Nehemiah ben Hushiel will be hidden in the city of Tiberias. After Nehemiah ben Hushiel takes possession of Jerusalem, he proceeds to sorts out Israel's genealogical lists according to their families. He is killed in the fifth year which would be 619 during the month of Av (July - August). The Sefer Zerubbabel states that Shiroi King of Persia will stab Nehemiah ben Hushiel and Israel. His thoroughly crushed corpse will be thrown down before the gates of Jerusalem. And sixteen of the righteous shall be killed with him. Armilus enters Jerusalem on the 14th day of the new year during the month of Nisan. Presumably, this would coincide with March 28, 628.

The Sefer Zerubbabel does not claim that Nehemiah ben Hushiel will be the Messiah ben David. Rather it asserts that he is the Messiah ben Joseph and a descendant of Joseph. The exilarchs traced their line back to David.

Poems by Eleazar ben Killir Three piyyutim attributed to Eleazar ben Kalir are thought to be based on an early version of the Sefer Zerubbabel.

The first is believed to be dated between 629 and 634. In the text the Jews set up an altar and offer sacrifices, however they are not allowed to erect a sanctuary. The Jewish leader who is called the Messiah ben Joseph arises among them and within three months reaches the top. However, he is killed by the Persian chief commander in a small sanctuary shortly after.

In a second piyyut, which is undatable, the Messiah ben Joseph is named as Nehemiah ben Hushiel. It gives a less detailed account but is also thought to be dated to this period. 'Otot of R. Shimon b. Yohai and Ten Signs

Pirqe Mašiah The medieval Hebrew apocalypse Pirqe Mašiah also mentions Nehemiah without his surname. It was clearly written later, as it mentions Arabs controlling the Temple Mount. The Arabs say this is our sanctuary it has nothing to do with you. The Arabs agree that both will present offerings and whoever's offering is accepted, the other will follow his ways, stating that “we will become one people ummah.” Satan then denounces the Jews before God, causing the Arabs' offering to be accepted and the Jews' offering to be rejected. The Jews, however, refuse to commit apostasy. A battle erupts between the two and Nehemiah is slain, later to be resurrected