Jesus said (Matthew 23:34-36 NET):
For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things!
I’ve understood this without much thought just as the NET translators translated it: as Jesus’ justification for what He planned to do to Israel in 70 A.D. The realization however that the description of events during the siege of Jerusalem has more to do with sin than Christ’s righteousness functions like a ratchet, making it difficult to go back. I have to admit I have no alternative understanding ready at hand. But I also have to admit that it takes very little thought to call the most persuasive portion of this translation—this generation will be held responsible for all these things—into serious question.
First, I want to consider one of Zechariah’s more controversial prophecies (Zechariah 12:10 Tanakh):
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced (dâqar, דקרו), and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
There is a companion prophecy in Revelation (1:7 NET):
Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced (ἐξεκέντησαν, a form of ἐκκεντέω) him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.
The translators of the Septuagint couldn’t imagine a scenario in which yehôvâh (יהוה) could be pierced. Their translation reads: ἐπιβλέψονται πρός με ἀνθ᾽ ὧν κατωρχήσαντο (“and they shall look to me because they have danced triumphantly” – NETS). The Complete Jewish Bible reads: “And they shall look to me because of those who have been thrust through [with swords]…”[1]
In his “Analysis of Zechariah 12:10 A closer look at what the text of Zechariah 12:10 really says” published on Jews for Judaism online, Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz explained:
Starting with the beginning of Zechariah chapter 12 the prophet speaks of a time when the nations of the world will be gathered against Jerusalem to destroy it (Zec 12:3). On that day, G-d Himself will defend Jerusalem and destroy all of its enemies (Zec 12:4-9). G-d will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication toward the Jews…This new spirit will motivate the Jewish nation to look towards G-d concerning those Jews (collective Jewish Martyrs) (see Hosea 11:1 for the Jewish people described as him. See Ex.1 etc. verbs of oppression in singular. Cf. Deut 32, Hos 8:3 and Ex. 19:2) who have been killed in battle prior to G-d’s divine intervention in fighting our adversaries.
“For I tell you, Jesus prophesied over Jerusalem, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[2]
An exhibition—The Great Revolt in the Galilee—in The Reuben and Edith Hecht Museum at the University of Haifa in Israel was reviewed in the June 2013 issue of the Jewish Magazine online by Norman A. Rubin. He quoted extensively from the preface of the exhibition catalog by Ofra Rimon, the museum curator and director: “The Great Revolt against the Romans…constitutes one of the historic events that are permanently etched in the historical memory of the Jewish people…” Two writers whose divergent opinions offer an interesting contrast were also quoted in that preface.
“Certainly, small Judea could have resigned itself to its fate and surrendered to Rome – and remained occupied with Torah,” Joseph Klausner wrote in his book, When a Nation Fights for Freedom:[3]
But then the Romans would have laid even a heavier hand on it and oppressed it more and more. An aggressive and abusive nation – in particular, its low-level officials – can sense a weak and submissive nation – and immediately tramples it like clay. Keeping quiet, turning the heart away from the affairs of the State and studying Torah and wisdom – woe is Torah that comes from dejection, alas the wisdom that comes not from expanding knowledge but from the imprisoned spirit in the cage of cruel servitude. Torah – that is the genius and that is the glory of the nation; and where they cease – Torah also ceases. And wisdom that has no vision, no exaltedness, no freedom, it too, is not worth very much.
Meir Shalev was quoted as counterpoint from a newspaper article titled, “Accepted Lies”:[4]
.…Judea was not destroyed because of factionalism and Judaism did not survive because of unity. Judea was destroyed because of the military superiority of the Romans, because of the stupidity and extremism of the Zealots and because of the surrender of the leadership to their Messianic violence. Judaism survived thanks to the wisdom, vision, and moderation of personalities like Rabbi Yochanan ben-Zakkai, who succeeded in escaping these murderous patriots, handing himself over to the Romans, exchanging the Temple for the synagogue and the slaughtered lamb for prayer, and equipping us with the means of cultural and spiritual existence for the time in exile.
Two thousand years after the destruction, two thousand years in which Judaism decried the Zealots and tried to put them out of heart and mind, we returned to Jerusalem. The Temple, fortunately, we have not yet built, but we have already acted like fools and called streets in our cities after those contemptible figures, Shimon bar-Giora, Yochanan of Gush Halav, and Elazar ben-Yair. And now we have added even honey-lipped gatherings of mourning and destruction, where they preach unity between those who do not quite understand the nature of these Zealots and those who see them as exemplars.
Before taking offense at the words “Messianic violence” remember that most in Israel don’t associate Messiah with a loving and gracious Savior who brought forgiveness to those who were dead in [their] transgressions and sins,[5] resurrection[6] and new birth[7] into an eternal life[8] of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control[9] by his own indwelling Holy Spirit.[10] But consider the story of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai:[11]
The greatest Jewish sage of the time was Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. He wisely foresaw that Jerusalem was doomed and understood the need to transplant the center of Torah scholarship to another location, to ensure the survival of Torah study after Jerusalem’s destruction. He devised a plan that would allow him to leave Jerusalem, despite the Zealots’ blockade. He feigned death so that he could be carried out of the city. His disciples carried the coffin out of the city’s walls, and Rabbi Yochanan proceeded directly to Vespasian’s tent. He entered the tent and addressed Vespasian as “Your Majesty.”
“You are deserving of death on two accounts,” said Vespasian. “First of all, I am not the emperor, only his general. Secondly, if I am indeed emperor, why did you not come to me until now?”
Rabbi Yochanan answered: “You are an emperor, because otherwise the Holy Temple would not be delivered in your hands.… And as for your second question, the reckless Zealots would not allow me to leave the city.”
While they were speaking, a messenger came and told Vespasian that Nero was dead and he had been appointed the new Roman emperor. Vespasian was so impressed with Rabbi Yochanan’s wisdom that he offered to grant Rabbi Yochanan anything he wanted as a reward. Rabbi Yochanan made three requests. The primary request was that Vespasian spare Yavne – which would become the new home of the Sanhedrin – and its Torah sages.
Rabbi Yochanan thus ensured the continuation of Jewish scholarship after the fall of Jerusalem. Even though they would no longer have a Temple or a homeland, the Jews would always have a spiritual center in the Torah.
Rabbi Yochanan’s “death” was faked, his “resurrection” merely a relocation to another city but his love for the Scriptures was more Christlike than any of the warlords Mr. Shalev excoriated or Mr. Klausner justified. I tell you the truth, Jesus said, this generation will be held responsible for all these things![12] The Greek word translated will be held responsible was ἥξει (a form of ἥκω). A table of all the occurrences of forms of ἥκω in the New Testament follows:
| Form of ἥκω | Reference | KJV | NET |
| ἥκασιν | Mark 8:3 | …divers of them came from far. | …some of them have come from a great distance. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| καὶ ἐὰν ἀπολύσω αὐτοὺς νήστεις εἰς οἶκον αὐτῶν, ἐκλυθήσονται ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ· καί τινες αὐτῶν ἀπὸ μακρόθεν |ἥκασιν| | και εαν απολυσω αυτους νηστεις εις οικον αυτων εκλυθησονται εν τη οδω τινες γαρ αυτων μακροθεν ηκασιν | και εαν απολυσω αυτους νηστεις εις οικον αυτων εκλυθησονται εν τη οδω τινες γαρ αυτων μακροθεν ηκουσιν |
| ἥκει | Luke 15:27 | Thy brother is come… | Your brother has returned… |
| John 2:4 | …mine hour is not yet come. | My time has not yet come. | |
| John 4:47 | …he heard that Jesus was come… | …he heard that Jesus had come back… | |
| 1 John 5:20 | …we know that the Son of God is come… | …we know that the Son of God has come… |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἥκει καὶ δέδωκεν ἡμῖν διάνοιαν ἵνα |γινώσκωμεν| τὸν ἀληθινόν, καὶ ἐσμὲν ἐν τῷ ἀληθινῷ, ἐν τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ. οὗτος ἐστιν ὁ ἀληθινὸς θεὸς καὶ ζωὴ αἰώνιος | οιδαμεν δε οτι ο υιος του θεου ηκει και δεδωκεν ημιν διανοιαν ινα γινωσκωμεν τον αληθινον και εσμεν εν τω αληθινω εν τω υιω αυτου ιησου χριστω ουτος εστιν ο αληθινος θεος και η ζωη αιωνιος | οιδαμεν δε οτι ο υιος του θεου ηκει και δεδωκεν ημιν διανοιαν ινα γινωσκωμεν τον αληθινον και εσμεν εν τω αληθινω εν τω υιω αυτου ιησου χριστω ουτος εστιν ο αληθινος θεος και η ζωη η αιωνιος |
| ἥκω | John 8:42 | …I proceeded forth and came from God… | …I have come from God and am now here. |
| Hebrews 10:7 | Then said I, Lo, I come… | Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come… | |
| Hebrews 10:9 | Lo, I come to do thy will… | Here I am: I have come to do your will. | |
| ἥξει | Matthew 23:36 | All these things shall come upon this generation. | …this generation will be held responsible for all these things! |
| Matthew 24:14 | …and then shall the end come. | …and then the end will come. | |
| Matthew 24:50 | The lord of that servant shall come in a day… | …the master of that slave will come on a day… | |
| Luke 12:46 | The lord of that servant will come in a day… | …the master of that slave will come on a day… | |
| Luke 13:35 | Ye shall not see me, until the time come… | Not translated |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| ἰδοὺ ἀφίεται ὑμῖν ὁ οἶκος ὑμῶν. λέγω [δὲ] ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ ἴδητε με ἕως [ἥξει ὅτε] εἴπητε· εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου | ιδου αφιεται υμιν ο οικος υμων ερημος αμην δε λεγω υμιν οτι ου μη με ιδητε εως αν ηξη οτε ειπητε ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου | ιδου αφιεται υμιν ο οικος υμων ερημος λεγω δε υμιν οτι ου μη με ιδητε εως αν ηξει οτε ειπητε ευλογημενος ο ερχομενος εν ονοματι κυριου |
| ἥξει | John 6:37 | All that the Father giveth me shall come to me… | Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me… |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| πᾶν ὃ δίδωσιν μοι ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς ἐμὲ ἥξει, καὶ τὸν ἐρχόμενον πρὸς |ἐμὲ| οὐ μὴ ἐκβάλω ἔξω | παν ο διδωσιν μοι ο πατηρ προς εμε ηξει και τον ερχομενον προς με ου μη εκβαλω εξω | παν ο διδωσιν μοι ο πατηρ προς εμε ηξει και τον ερχομενον προς με ου μη εκβαλω εξω |
| ἥξει | Romans 11:26 | There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer… | The Deliverer will come out of Zion… |
| Hebrews 10:37 | …he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. | …he who is coming will arrive and not delay. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| ἔτι γὰρ μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον, ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἥξει καὶ οὐ χρονίσει | ετι γαρ μικρον οσον οσον ο ερχομενος ηξει και ου χρονιει | ετι γαρ μικρον οσον οσον ο ερχομενος ηξει και ου χρονιει |
| ἥξει | 2 Peter 3:10 | …the day of the Lord will come as a thief… | …the day of the Lord will come like a thief… |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| ῞Ηξει δὲ ἡμέρα κυρίου ὡς κλέπτης, ἐν ᾗ οἱ οὐρανοὶ ροιζηδὸν παρελεύσονται στοιχεῖα δὲ καυσούμενα λυθήσεται καὶ γῆ καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ ἔργα εὑρεθήσεται | ηξει δε η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι εν η οι ουρανοι ροιζηδον παρελευσονται στοιχεια δε καυσουμενα λυθησονται και γη και τα εν αυτη εργα κατακαησεται | ηξει δε η ημερα κυριου ως κλεπτης εν νυκτι εν η οι ουρανοι ροιζηδον παρελευσονται στοιχεια δε καυσουμενα λυθησονται και γη και τα εν αυτη εργα κατακαησεται |
| ἥξω | Revelation 2:25 | …that which ye have already hold fast till I come. | …hold on to what you have until I come. |
| Revelation 3:3 | If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief… | If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief… | |
| Revelation 3:3 | …thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. | …you will never know at what hour I will come against you. |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| μνημόνευε οὖν πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας καὶ τήρει καὶ μετανόησον. ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς, ἥξω ὡς κλέπτης, καὶ οὐ μὴ γνῷς ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ | μνημονευε ουν πως ειληφας και ηκουσας και τηρει και μετανοησον εαν ουν μη γρηγορησης ηξω επι σε ως κλεπτης και ου μη γνως ποιαν ωραν ηξω επι σε | μνημονευε ουν πως ειληφας και ηκουσας και τηρει και μετανοησον εαν ουν μη γρηγορησης ηξω επι σε ως κλεπτης και ου μη γνως ποιαν ωραν ηξω επι σε |
| ἥξουσιν | Matthew 8:11 | …many shall come from the east and west… | …many will come from the east and west… |
| Luke 13:29 | …they shall come from the east, and from the west… | …people will come from east and west… | |
| Luke 19:43 | For the days shall come upon thee… | For the days will come upon you… |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| ὅτι ἥξουσιν ἡμέραι ἐπὶ σὲ καὶ παρεμβαλοῦσιν οἱ ἐχθροί σου χάρακα σοι καὶ περικυκλώσουσιν σε καὶ συνέξουσιν σε πάντοθεν | οτι ηξουσιν ημεραι επι σε και περιβαλουσιν οι εχθροι σου χαρακα σοι και περικυκλωσουσιν σε και συνεξουσιν σε παντοθεν | οτι ηξουσιν ημεραι επι σε και περιβαλουσιν οι εχθροι σου χαρακα σοι και περικυκλωσουσιν σε και συνεξουσιν σε παντοθεν |
| ἥξουσιν | Revelation 3:9 | …I will make them to come and worship… | …I will make them come and bow down… |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| ἰδοὺ διδῶ ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τοῦ σατανᾶ τῶν λεγόντων ἑαυτοὺς Ἰουδαίους εἶναι, καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀλλὰ ψεύδονται. ἰδοὺ ποιήσω αὐτοὺς ἵνα ἥξουσιν καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν σου καὶ γνῶσιν ὅτι ἐγὼ ἠγάπησα σε | ιδου διδωμι εκ της συναγωγης του σατανα των λεγοντων εαυτους ιουδαιους ειναι και ουκ εισιν αλλα ψευδονται ιδου ποιησω αυτους ινα ηξωσιν και προσκυνησωσιν ενωπιον των ποδων σου και γνωσιν οτι εγω ηγαπησα σε | ιδου διδωμι εκ της συναγωγης του σατανα των λεγοντων εαυτους ιουδαιους ειναι και ουκ εισιν αλλα ψευδονται ιδου ποιησω αυτους ινα ηξωσιν και προσκυνησωσιν ενωπιον των ποδων σου και γνωσιν οτι ηγαπησα σε |
| ἥξουσιν | Revelation 15:4 | …all nations shall come and worship before thee… | All nations will come and worship before you… |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| τίς οὐ μὴ φοβηθῇ, κύριε, καὶ δοξάσει τὸ ὄνομα σου; ὅτι μόνος ὅσιος, ὅτι πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἥξουσιν καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιον σου, ὅτι τὰ δικαιώματα σου ἐφανερώθησαν | τις ου μη φοβηθη σε κυριε και δοξαση το ονομα σου οτι μονος οσιος οτι παντα τα εθνη ηξουσιν και προσκυνησουσιν ενωπιον σου οτι τα δικαιωματα σου εφανερωθησαν | τις ου μη φοβηθη σε κυριε και δοξαση το ονομα σου οτι μονος αγιος οτι παντα τα εθνη ηξουσιν και προσκυνησουσιν ενωπιον σου οτι τα δικαιωματα σου εφανερωθησαν |
| ἥξουσιν | Revelation 18:8 | Therefore shall her plagues come in one day… | …she will experience her plagues in a single day… |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| διὰ τοῦτο ἐν μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ ἥξουσιν αἱ πληγαὶ αὐτῆς, θάνατος καὶ πένθος καὶ λιμός, καὶ ἐν πυρὶ κατακαυθήσεται, ὅτι ἰσχυρὸς |κύριος| ὁ θεὸς ὁ κρίνας αὐτήν | δια τουτο εν μια ημερα ηξουσιν αι πληγαι αυτης θανατος και πενθος και λιμος και εν πυρι κατακαυθησεται οτι ισχυρος κυριος ο θεος ο κρινων αυτην | δια τουτο εν μια ημερα ηξουσιν αι πληγαι αυτης θανατος και πενθος και λιμος και εν πυρι κατακαυθησεται οτι ισχυρος κυριος ο θεος ο κρινας αυτην |
Clearly, the translation of ἥξει as will be held responsible owed more to an interpretation of—For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar[13]—than to the meaning of any form of ἥκω.
That in itself opens my mind to the possibility that this was Jesus’ lament, predicated on his foreknowledge of what would happen to people who rejected Him, his death for the forgiveness of sins, his resurrection, his new birth into an eternal life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control by his own indwelling Holy Spirit, people who endeavored instead to establish their own righteousness in their own strength against a superior military force who knew nothing of these things. Consider what Rabbi Irving Greenberg wrote:
The second Destruction…was the end result of a major national religious revival. The “crime” of the Jews was excessive enthusiasm and determination that only God would rule over them. The crushing defeat was all the more devastating. How could it be rationalized?
With my mind open I notice now that everything Jesus said in Matthew 23:34-36 was offered in relation to his question in Matthew 23:33 (NET):
You snakes, you offspring of vipers [e.g., experts in the law and you Pharisees[14]]! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
I’ll pick this up in another essay. A table of the Old Testament occurrences of dâqar and its translation in the KJV, NET and the Septuagint follows.
| Form of dâqar | Reference | KJV | NET | Septuagint |
| וידקר | Numbers 25:8 | …and thrust both of them through… | …and thrust through the Israelite man and into the woman’s abdomen. | ἀπεκέντησεν, a form of ἀποκεντέω[15] |
| וידקרהו | Judges 9:54 | …his young man thrust him through… | …the young man stabbed him… | ἐξεκέντησεν,[16] a form of ἐκκεντέω |
| ודקרני | 1 Samuel 31:4 | Draw thy sword, and thrust me through… | Draw your sword and stab me… | ἀποκέντησόν, another form of ἀποκεντέω |
| …these uncircumcised come and thrust me through… | …these uncircumcised people will come, stab me… | ἀποκεντήσωσίν, another form of ἀποκεντέω | ||
| 1 Chronicles 10:4 | Draw thy sword, and thrust me through… | Draw your sword and stab me… | ἐκκέντησόν, another form of ἐκκεντέω | |
| ידקר | Isaiah 13:15 | Every one that is found shall be thrust through… | Everyone who is caught will be stabbed… | ἡττηθήσεται, a form of ἡττάω |
| מדקרים | Jeremiah 37:10 | …and there remained but wounded men among them… | …that only wounded men were left lying… | ἐκκεκεντημένοι, another form of ἐκκεντέω |
| Lamentations 4:9 | …stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. | …struck down from lack of food. | ἐκκεκεντημένοι, another form of ἐκκεντέω | |
| ומדקרים | Jeremiah 51:4 | …they that are thrust through in her streets. | …mortally wounded in the streets… | κατακεκεντημένοι, a form of κατακεντέω[17] |
| דקרו | Zechariah 12:10 | …whom they have pierced… | …the one they have pierced. | κατωρχήσαντο, a form of κατορχέομαι[18] |
| ודקרהו | Zechariah 13:3 | …shall thrust him through… | …will run him through with a sword… | συμποδιοῦσιν, a form of συμποδίζω[19] |
[1] Zechariah 12:10 The Complete Jewish Bible
[3] Joseph Klausner, When a Nation Fights for Freedom, Historical Essays, Tel Aviv, 1945, pp. 153-189. [Hebrew] See: https://jnjr.div.ed.ac.uk/primary-sources/modern/joseph-klausners-jesus-of-nazareth-1922-a-modern-jewish-study-of-the-founding-figure-of-christianity/ for Mr. Klausner’s view of Jesus.
[4] Excerpt translated from Yediot Ahronot, Saturday Supplement, July 27, 2007, p. 5.
[8] John 17:3; Philippians 3:1-11
[11] http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/953564/jewish/Rabbi-Yochanans-Request.htm
[15] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/apoke.html#apokentew
[16] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/ekk.html#ekkentew
[17] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/katak.html#katakentew
[18] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/kato.html#katorceomai
[19] https://greekdoc.github.io/lexicon/sumpo.html#sumpodizw