Where some Jews, distressed by the political crises of Roman occupation and excessive taxation, either turned to charismatic teachers like John the Baptist or engaged in other forms of nonviolent protest, others believed that these disasters were God’s punishment for their failure to observe the Torah. They concluded that instead of defying the Roman authorities and endangering the Jewish community, it was better to devote themselves to observing the commandments stringently, trusting that God would ultimately reward their fidelity. Only thus could they hasten the Messianic Age in which God
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