the journey leads to the time of jesus and beyond chapter ten
TRANSCRIPT
The Journey Leads to the Time of Jesus and Beyond
CHAPTER TEN
After the Babylonians, the Jews lived in Palestine under a succession of rulers:
Introduction
Persian Empire Alexander the Great
PtolmiesSeleucids
Roman Empire
- Although there were dangers with being a minority people, if the people remained faithful to God, survival was possible
1.) Nationalistic perspective: Wanted to throw off foreign rule
2.) Nonviolent resistance
Foreign Rule
Foreign RuleDaniel 1-6:
- Cooperation with civil authorities combined with faithful prayer and obedience to God’s law will protect the Jews and allow them to survive even under foreign rule
Tobit:
- Emphasizes benefits of traditional forms of Jewish piety
- Message is that God will never abandon his people as long as they remain faithful to him
Foreign Rule
Esther:
- Says it is better for the Jews to negotiate with foreign kings and function under foreign rule than oppose them with military force
Judith:
- Actively stands up for her faith on behalf of God’s people
- Proactive response
Foreign Rule
Jewish History
- Persian period lasted over 200 years
- Ezra and Nehemiah (most significant sources) tell little about the general living conditions
- Official Persian religion was Zoroastrianism
Jewish History
The Beginning of Hellenization:
- Alexander the Great introduced Greek ideals,language, learning, and customs
- Koine became the official language of the Near East
• The Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures and the entire NT were written in Greek
Jewish History
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ancientpersia/images/empire.gif
The Persian Empire
Jewish HistoryPtolemies:
- Known for retaining strong, centralized economic control of territories
- Laid heavy tax on occupied people
- Jews divided into factions over the issue of Greek influence
Seleucid Rule:
- Roman Empire became a forbidding presence in religion
- Internal turmoil among Jewish community
-Lack of observing traditional Jewish practices
Jewish History
Antiochus IV:
- Believed the Jews were the cause of many of his problems
- Forbid study of the Law, observance of the Sabbath, circumcision, and sacrifice
-Reiteration of Hellenization
Jewish History
Best Course for Jews
- Cooperation with Foreign Rule
• Adopting conqueror’s values, lifestyle, and religious views
• Choice of Modernists (Hellenists)
• No literature represents the position of total compromise
Best Course for Jews
Best Course for Jews- Political and Military Resistance
• Adopted by Maccabean revolt and Hasmonean rulers
• Militant belief in the coming of a messiah was connected to the desire to recover Jewish independence as a nation
Best Course for Jews- Spiritual Resistance
• Maintain strong religious commitment despite political challenges
• Jews preferred death over defilement in the hope God would witness their suffering and rescue them
What happened?
- Rabbis rework Temple rituals
- Jews spread to other regions
- Synagogues were constructed as: 1. House of Prayer
2. House of Study
3. House of Assembly
- State of Israel established in 1948
What happened?
- Zoroastrianism
- Koine
- Septuagint
- Ptolemies
- Dynasty
Vocabulary- Dead Sea Scrolls
- Hasidim
- Pharisees
- Essenes
-Hasmonean
-Sadduc
-Synagogue
-Rabbi
-Zealots