
The Bible For Normal People [Bible] Episode 314: Shayna Sheinfeld - The Complicated World of Second Temple Judaism
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Nov 10, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Shayna Sheinfeld, a religion professor specializing in Second Temple Judaism, dives deep into the roles of women in the Herodian courts. She critiques the misleading notions of the '400 years of silence' and enriches our understanding of the Maccabean Revolt. Highlighting figures like Queen Berenike, she explores the dynamic power women held during this era. Moreover, Shayna dissects how scriptural narratives often blame women, urging listeners to appreciate the complex diversity of Jewish identities in the first century.
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Why The Second Temple Period Matters
- The Second Temple period spans from the rebuilding after 586 BCE exile to the temple's destruction in 70 CE.
- Shayna Sheinfeld argues this era produced many texts and developments crucial to both Hebrew Bible and New Testament contexts.
Reject The 'Intertestamental' Myth
- The term "intertestamental" misleads because the two-testament canon formed centuries later.
- Shayna rejects the label and urges studying the period on its own terms rather than as a gap.
There Was No 400-Year Silence
- The so-called 400 years of silence is false because many texts and developments occurred then.
- Texts like Daniel and 1–2 Maccabees explain origins of synagogues, demons, and ideas found in the New Testament.








