James N. Rhodes reassesses the theology of the Epistle of Barnabas, seeking to reopen the question of the author's view of Israel. He claims that recent scholarship has focused too narrowly on Barnabas's treatment of the golden-calf incident, overlooking the author's equally strong interest in the death of Jesus and the destruction of Jerusalem.The author suggests that the apostasy at Sinai serves Barnabas as a dramatic illustration of Israel's failures. It does not, however, mark the end of Israel's story. He identifies several indications that Barnabas believed Israel's covenant remained intact long after the golden-calf incident. He further shows how Barnabas subtly but repeatedly links the rejection of Jesus to the destruction of Jerusalem, concluding that this connection is of the highest importance for understanding the author's view of Israel's legacy.