Bible Dictionary
Dispersion, The Jews Of The
The Jews of the Dispersion were Jewish communities living outside Palestine after the exile and during the Second Temple period. They were found throughout Babylon, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome, and became important hearers of apostolic preaching.
Definition
The Jews of the Dispersion were Jewish communities living in foreign countries after the return from the Babylonian exile and during the period of the Second Temple. The principal sections were associated with Babylonia, Syria, and Egypt.
Biblical Usage
Members of the Dispersion were present among the hearers at Pentecost, and James and Peter addressed Jews of the Dispersion. Their settlements provided a setting through which apostolic preaching spread.
Historical Background
Jewish settlements extended through Persia, Media, Parthia, Cyprus, the Aegean islands, Asia Minor, Alexandria, and Rome. The Roman settlement followed Pompey’s occupation of Jerusalem in 63 BC.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
or simply THE DISPERSION, was the general title applied to those Jews who remained settled in foreign countries after the return from the Babylonian exile, and during the period of the second temple. At the beginning of the Christian era the Dispersion was divided into three great sections, the Babylonian, the Syrian, the Egyptian. From Babylon the Jews spread throughout Persia, Media and Parthia. Large settlements of Jews were established in Cyprus, in the islands of the AEgean, and on the western coast of Asia Minor. Jewish settlements were also established at Alexandria by Alexander and Ptolemy I. The Jewish settlements in Rome, were consequent upon the occupation of Jerusalem by Pompey, B.C. 63. The influence of the Dispersion on the rapid promulgation of Christianity can scarcely be overrated. The course of the apostolic preaching followed in a regular progress the line of Jewish settlements. The mixed assembly from which the first converts were gathered on the day of Pentecost represented each division of the Dispersion. (Acts 2:9-11) (1) Parthians...Mesopotamia; (2) Judea (i.e. Syria)...Pamphylia; (3) Egypt...Greece; (4) Romans..., and these converts naturally prepared the way for the apostles int he interval which preceded the beginning of the separate apostolic missions. St. James and St. Peter wrote to the Jews of the Dispersion. (James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1)