1 - Not so. According to Josephus, in the beginning of the year 4 BCE, there was a revolt of the Pharisees against Herod and, by command of Caesar a legion of two, from Syria was sent to turn down the revolt and that legion remained in Israel for two years when the wave of rapes was alarming. That's when Jesus was born. I don't mean by saying this that Jesus was born out of fornication according to John 8:41. Just quoting where the case is mentioned.
Interesting. I did a search prior to posting and all I turned up were that the legions were in Syria.
3 - And the Jews didn't at the time of Jesus?
Indeed not. They were at that point the establishment, and were not "called out" of anywhere.
The first commandment identifies God very well... "I AM the LORD your God,
which brought you out."
There is no Judaism, no Christianity, and no conversion without being called out, and responding to the call by going. Abram left Ur and Haran. Moses brought the multitude out of Egypt. But those Jews of the 1st century... they had no exodus experience; no day in the wilderness living with naught but faith to sustain them.
Perhaps that is why Jesus was trying to call them out, in the first place.
4 - And the Jews had nothing to do with "ekklesia" but Kahal.
Why did you remove the space? Ek Klesia. Read it with the (lack of) proficiency of a 1st century Jew. Those words mean "called out."
Besides, Kahal and Ekklesia are two different things. The latter was not meant to replace the former. Well, at least not originally.
6 - More than several times. A few times through the snake track.
Yikes - a glutton for punishment! I've been the once, and unfortunately it was in July. I now know what hell feels like. Heaven as well... at the bottom of the cistern.
Jarrod