the intertestamental period: from babylon to the birth of christ review

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The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ Review

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The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To

The Birth Of Christ

Review

Intertestamental PeriodIntertestamental PeriodWeek Date Topic

1 05 Mar 14 Overview

2 12 Mar 14 Babylonian Period (605-539 BC)

3 19 Mar 14 Persian Period (539-332 BC)

4 26 Mar 14 Greek Period (332-323 BC)

5 02 Apr 14 Ptolemaic (323-198 BC)

6 09 Apr 14 Syrian (198-168 BC)

7 16 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 1 (168-153 BC)

8 23 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 2 (153-139 BC)

9 30 Apr 14 Independence (139-63 BC)

10 07 May 14 Rome Intervenes (63 – 37 BC)

11 14 May 14 Herod (37 BC – 4 BC)

12 21 May 14 The IT Period and Christianity (4 BC – 70 AD)

13 28 May 14 Review

Today’s ObjectivesReview overall study objectivesReview the Intertestamental TimelineReview key nations that impact upon

the history of early ChristianityReview key figures in the

Intertestamental Period and their impact upon early Christianity

Review Jewish religious and political alliances and their impact upon early Christianity

Reference Material

KJV (w/ Apocrypha)– 1st and 2nd Maccabbees

Josephus – The Complete Works Herodotus – The History Intertestamental History – Mark Moore Ancient Rome – Simon Baker Harding University – BNEW 112

Course Notes – Dr. Thompson

We end where we started

Masada

Rulers of Judea

Babylonian Persian Greek Ptolemaic Syrian Maccabean Independence Rome

Babylonian 612 BC – Babylon captures the Assyrian

capital of Nineveh 605 BC – Nebuchadnezzar reigns over the

Babylonian empire and begins Jewish deportation to Babylon

604 BC – Nebuchadnezzar’s dream – Daniel 2– Inferior kingdom will replace Babylon– A third kingdom will rise, of bronze– A fourth kingdom will rise, of iron

Prophets are Habakkuk, Ezekiel, Daniel 539 BC - Persia, under Cyrus, captures

Babylon

Persian 538-537 BC – Cyrus decrees return of the

Jews from captivity (Ezra 1:1-4) 536 BC – 70 year captivity ends (Ezra 1:5-

11), temple construction begins 516 BC – 2nd temple completed in

Jerusalem Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah,

Malachi, Esther 480 BC - Greek victories over Persia (Dan

11:2) 331 BC – Alexander gains complete control

of the Persian empire

Greek 331-324 BC – Extension of Greek territory Extends into Asia including the land of israel 323 BC – Alexander dies 316 BC – Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties

(Dan 11:4) 300 BC – Greek empire divided between

four Generals (Dan 8:5-8, 11:3-4)– Ptolomy took Egypt– Cassander took Greece– Seleucus took Babylon/Persia– Antigonus took Asia Minor

He was killed in battle in 301 BC and succeded by Lysimachus

Ptolemaic and Seleucid 280 BC (prophecy in Dan 11) Seleucids

– Babylonia– Asia Minor– Northern Syria

Ptolemaic– Southern Syria– Egypt

260 BC – Rome controls all of Italy 250 BC – Greek translation of OT

begins

Maccabean/Independence 198 BC – Ptolemies lose control of Palestine

to the Seleucids 175 BC - Antiochus IV Epiphanies seizes the

Seleucid throne Antiochus IV punishes Jerusalem for their

rebellion 167-143 BC - Maccabean revolt 164 BC – Temple retaken and cleansed 150 BC – Rome destroys Carthage 142 BC – Judea gains political independence 130 BC – Dead Sea Scrolls 66 BC – Rome occupies Jerusalem

Historical Background

It was during the time of the Maccabees that it is believed that the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes developed their ideology.

The Pharisees were fighting against the Hellenization of the Jews

The Sadducees had accepted some of the Greek influence. They had also been closely connected to the Hasmonians

Pharisees Chief rival sect was the Sadducees Tended to be middle class and open to religious

innovation Use of oral legal tradition to supplement the

Torah Their interpretations, once given, were

scrupulously adhered to Emphasis on divine providence (like the

Essene) Eventually adopted a belief in existence of

spirits and angels, the resurrection, and the coming of a Messiah

However, Pharisees appear as Jesus' most vocal critics

Sadducees Originated mainly from the conservative

and aristocratic priestly class Main rival to the Pharisee Acceptance only of the Law and rejection

of oral tradition Denial of bodily resurrection; immortality

of the soul; existence of a spirit world (Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27; Acts 23:8)

They opposed the early church (Acts 4:1-4)

Cease to exist after the temple is destroyed in 70 AD

Essenes Strict discipline, isolation from others Bible never mentions the Essenes Credited with writing the Dead Sea Scrolls Characteristics

– Did not own any private property; shared possessions – They avoided any show of luxury, very simple meals– They wore simple clothes until they hung in shreds– Careful observance of the laws of Moses – Established membership rituals – lasted several years

Believed that the souls of men were immortal Avoided taking part in the services of the Temple

Similar to early Christians

Zealots Fanatical Jewish sect militantly opposed the Roman

occupation Most fervent Jewish nationalists called themselves

"Zealots" Devoted supporters of the Lord and His laws and

who were ready to fight for them Like the Pharisees, devoted to the Jewish law and

religion Unlike most Pharisees, they thought it was treason

against God to pay tribute to the Roman emperor, since God alone was Israel's king

Zealots eventually degenerated into a group of assassins known as Sicarii (Latin, daggermen)

Their increasing fanaticism was one factor that provoked the Roman-Jewish war

The Zealots took control of Jerusalem in 66 AD, led to the siege of Jerusalem and its fall in 70 AD. The last stronghold of the Zealots, the fortress of Masada, fell to the Romans in 73 AD

Maccabean Period

Mattathias was the patriarch of the Maccabean period

He had five sons– John– Simon– Judas– Eleazar– Jonathan

These are the Hasmonians, or Maccabees All five were killed in violent

confrontations

Maccabean Period

They waged a guerilla style war on Syria

Mattathias died in 166 BC and Judas took over

Judas led the men to defeat several large enemies of the Syrians and eventually freed Jerusalem in 165 BC

They rededicated the temple on December 25, 165 BC

Maccabean Period

160 BC-Some of the Hellenized Jews convince the Seleucids to attack Judas—Judas and his 800 men were killed

Jonathan then takes up the leadership Jonathan watched as a civil war

erupted in Syria, by aligning himself with the winner he was appointed High Priest of Israel and Governor of Judea

Maccabean Period

143 BC-Jonathan is captured by the Seleucids

When the Seleucids were moving in to attack Jerusalem, a storm made their movement impossible

They killed Jonathan and went back to Syria

Maccabean Period

142 BC-Simon takes over With another civil war in Syria, Simon

negotiates Jewish support for freedom When the war was over, Israel was

granted their freedom for the first time in over 400 years

135 BC-Simon’s son-in-law, governor over Jericho, made a move to overthrow Simon and have him killed

Maccabean Period

The Jews made Simon both King and High Priest and made it a hereditary position—this became the Hasmonian Dynasty

Hasidim gave Simon the title “Leader and High Priest Forever”– “Until there should arise a faithful prophet”

They then asked Rome to mediate the dispute

He is murdered in 135 BC by a son-in-law

John Hyrcanus Simon and two of his sons are killed in 135

BC, his third son John Hyrcanus, escapes Hyrcanus rules from 135-104 BC Antiochus VII is the last strong king of the

Seleucid empire, dies in 129 BC Hyrcanus is free to expand Judah Takes territory in Perea, then Idumea and

Edom Conquers the Samaritans and defeats

several strong Greek cities in the region Opens up for future expansion into Galilee

Developments under Hyrcanus Seleucid/Syrian interference eroded Jewish Hellenizers

– Lose support of Seleucid/Greek power– Become supporters of the king– Became known as Sadducees

Hasidim– Had been more popular, equate to the Roman

plebes– Associated with the common people– Began opposing the Hasmonean power– Oppose those holding secular ruler and high priest– Called Pharisees

Hyrcanus finally allies with the Sadducees

Civil War Civil war between Sadducees and

Pharisees– Jannaeus pours water libation at his feet

rather than on the alter– Enrages Pharisee, throw citrons at Jannaeus– Many Pharisees killed in retaliation

Pharisee appeal to Syria (ironically)– Syrian troops intervene and then depart

Alexandra dies in 67 BC, war breaks out again

Hyrcanus seizes most of Judea

Roman Intervention Civil war continues News of fighting reaches the Roman

general Pompey, who is campaigning in the East

Pompey had become a very popular field commander – Very successful campaign against pirates in the

Mediterranean Sea in 67 BC– Julius Caesar supports Pompey’s actions

Pompey moves south to “arbitrate” in Judah

Starts the Roman control of Judah

Roman 63-40 BC – High Priest is under Roman

Control 44 BC – Caesar assassinated 37-4 BC – Herod the Great is king over Judea

(Roman control) 19 BC – Construction of Herod’s temple 4 BC – Birth of Christ and death of Herod 6 AD – Judea becomes a Roman province 28 AD – Pontius Pilate appointed procurator

of Judea 30 AD – Christ is crucified, birth of the church 66-73 AD – Jewish revolt against Rome,

destruction of Jerusalem, end of Judaism

Antipater II, Phasael and Herod In gratitude, Caesar appointed Antipater

II as the administrator of Judea (47 BC)– Under Cassius

Adds territories to Judea taken from Pompey

Antipater II appoints his two sons to posts– Phasael is made governor of Jerusalem– Herod is made governor of Galilee

After Caesar is murdered (44 BC), Cassius seizes control of Judea

Antipater II is murdered (43 BC) Phasael and Harod become joint rulers of

Judea (42 BC)

Marc Antony and Octavian Octavian was Caesar’s nephew Antony and Octavian defeat Cassius and

Brutus in the battle of Philippi (42 BC) Philippi becomes a Roman colony, making

them Roman citizens (Acts 16:12) Phasael and Herod switch allegiance to

Antony, who confirms their position Parthians invade Palestine

– 40 BC– Capture and imprison Hyrcanus II and Phasael– Herod escapes, eventually to Rome

Octavian fights Antony Source of contention

– Antony’s neglect for his wives including Octavian’s sister

– Antony gave Cleopatra rule of conquered land

– Octavian had taken power and territory of Lepidus (part of the Triumvirate)

Herod the Great aligned with Antony Battle of Actium occurs

– 31 BC– Octavian defeat Antony (who later kills

himself)– Octavian awarded the title of Augustus– Recognized as the transition of the Roman

Republic into the Roman Empire

Caesar Augustus (Octavian) Herod promises his allegiance to

Augustus Augustus adds to Herod’s domain

– Nearly doubles in size Augustus reigns from 31 BC to 14 AD

– Grand nephew of Julius Caesar– Dies at the age of 76

Outlives Herod the Great by 10 years Under Augustus’ rule

– Orders a census of the Roman empire (Mic 5:2)

– Census caused the birth of Jesus Christ to be recorded in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7)

– John the Baptist’s ministry

King Herod The Sadducees were generally the wealthier,

more politically connected Jews while the Pharisees were more in line with the common people

Herod, in order to maintain his power, appointed a Sadducee as High Priest, but lowered his importance

He then appointed a Pharisee as his deputy that had control over all the temple’s functions

The Pharisees also controlled the Synagogues, which occurred after the return from Babylon

Historical Background All of this was leading up to the birth of

Jesus. The political maneuverings had created

the way for the Jews to have semi-autonomous control while opening up the whole world for communication

The religious world was ripe for “change” and reform, and His message would be accepted by many who saw the need to return to following God—the way God wanted to be followed

Procurators Roman citizens of wealth who were not

magistrates or members of the senate Roscian Law set the minimum wealth at

400K Sesterces (about $380K today) Highest class were called prefectures There were 14 procurators in Judaea from

6 AD to 66 AD – the time of the Great Revolt

Pontius Pilate is perhaps the most famous– Served from 26-35 AD– Fifth Procurator of Judea– The judge at Jesus' trial and the man who

authorized his crucifixion

Pontius Pilate Referred to as the "Prefect of Judea“ Described as inflexible, merciless, and

obstinate Responsible for imperial tax

collections in Judea John 18:28-40 describes the

interaction between Jesus and Pilate Rule was brought to an end through

trouble which arose in Samaria– Revolving around a sacred vessel thought

to belong to Moses and his attempts to secure

Rise of Christianity Jesus taught that inner transformation

was most important, humility, charity, and love for others

Judeans turned Jesus over to the Romans because they thought he might cause people to revolt against Romans

Pontius Pilate ordered his crucifixion Followers of Jesus believed that he

overcame death and was the Messiah Simon Peter and the disciples taught that

Jesus was the Savior and Son of God

The Great Revolt 66-73 AD, time of Nero, then

Vespasian First of three revolts by the Jews

against the Romans Initially started over religious tensions

between Jews and Greeks Grew with anti-taxation protests and

attacks upon Roman citizens Ended when Legions under Titus

destroyed rebel resistance in Jerusalem, and defeated the remaining Jewish strongholds (Masada)

Thanks for a Great Study!