The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ

Roman Intervention

Announcements

Intertestamental 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 Objectives• Review last week’s lesson

• Review the various Jewish politico-religious groups of the time

• Learn about Pompey’s role in the Jewish civil war

• Learn about the rise and fall of Julius Caesar– Victory over Pompey– Political decrees which impact Judea– Caesar’s murder

• Learn how Herod rises from governor of Galilee to a defeated leader living in Rome

• Learn about Antony and Octavius

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• Intertestamental Period – John Battle

Where we left off….• Discussed the sons of Mattathias• Learned about Simon’s leadership and the

alliances he renews with Sparta and Rome• Learn how John Hyrcanus’ increased the

Israel’s lands• The Pharisees and Sadducees become

further divided• Learn about Aristobulus and Jannaeus take

over, in succession• Jannaeus’ cruelty leads to further civil war• Roman intervenes in 63 BC

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 (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

Roman Rule• 63 BC – through NT times• Fourth kingdom predicted by Daniel (Ch 7)

– Different from all the other kingdoms – Will devour the whole earth– Ten horns are ten kings who will come from this

kingdom– After them another king will arise – He will subdue three kings– He will speak against the Most High and

oppress his saints – Try to change the set times and the laws– The saints will be handed over to him for a

time, times and half a time

Roman Intervention• Civil war continues for several months• 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– Caesar supports Pompey’s actions

• Pompey moves south to “arbitrate” in Judah– Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus• 106-48 BC, called Pompey the Great• Fought with the Optimates, a conservative and

aristocratic faction of the Roman Senate• Initially a friend, he is later defeated by Caesar• Sought refuge in Egypt, where he was

assassinated in 48 BC• Defeated Spartacus in 71 BC• Took command of the Third Mithridatic War in

modern day Turkey• Travels to Judea in 63 BC and seizes the

opportunity to control the region

Pompey –The Conquest• News of the civil war between Hyrcanus II

and Aristobulus II reaches Pompey– Dispatches an ambassador, orders fight to stop– It does not, Pompey marches south

• Pompey determines Hyrcanus is a more politically profitable candidate– Forces Aristobulus II to surrender– Ultimately besieges Aristobulus II for three

months in Jerusalum – 12,000 Jews killed

• Pompey does not disrupt the Jewish worship or religious practices

Results• Pompey incorporates Palestine into the

Roman province of Syria– Read Matt 4:24

• Hyrcanus II becomes political leader and high priest from 63-40 BC

• Samaria gains semi-autonomy, Galilee remains under Jewish control

• Antipater II becomes district administrator– A native of Idumaea– Founder of the Herodian Dynasty– Father of Herod the Great

Julius Caesar• Born in 100 BC

• Family caught up in a complex political war in Rome

• Obtained a Senate seat in 68 BC (at 32)

• Elected Chief Priest in 63 BC

• Nine year Proconsul of Gaul and conquered much of central Europe – becomes a hero

• Ruled Rome from 60-50 BC with Crassus (rich Roman), Pompey (war hero) – called a Triumvirate

• Crassus dies, Pompey becomes rival

Caesar versus Pompey• Senators are concerned about Caesar’s

popularity• Orders him to disband army and return• Refuses, but returns with his Army (49 BC)• Civil war ensures – Caesar against Pompey• Defeats Pompey in Greece (48-47 BC)• Returns to Rome (46 BC)• Senate appoints him dictator for 10 years

(44 BC) – he has absolute power• Anitpater II and Hyrcanus II gave valuable

aid to Caesar by sending relief

Caesar’s Political Decrees• Grants citizenship to people in provinces

outside Rome

• Expands the Senate to 900, making it more representative of the empire

• Landowners must use 1/3 free men for workers

• Expands the Roman provinces through conquest

• Sets up a public works program for jobs

• However, he is killed in 44 BC the same year begins his rule

Second Triumvirate• Formed to avenge Caesar’s death (43 BC)

• Ruled for 10 years– Octavian, grand nephew of Caesar– Marc Antony, military general– Lepidus, powerful politician

• Later disbanded, creating another civil war

• Octavian became the sole ruler (emperor) of Rome

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

Herod’s Rise• In Rome, Herod makes a favorable

impression on Octavian and Antony

• Senate appoints him “king of the Jews” – 40 BC– Added parts of Samaria and Idumea to his

kingdom– Only “theoretical” at this time because it was

controlled by the Parthians

• Herod then sets out to retake his kingdom– Jerusalem falls in 37 BC– More on that story next week

Review• Reviewed last week’s lesson

• Reviewed the various Jewish politico-religious groups of the time

• Learned about Pompey’s role in the Jewish civil war

• Learned about the rise and fall of Julius Caesar– Victory over Pompey– Political decrees which impact Judea– Caesar’s murder

• Learned how Herod rises from governor of Galilee to a defeated leader living in Rome

• Learned about Antony and Octavius