Babylonian 605-539 B.C.

Assyria - 722 B.C.

• Defeated the Northern Country

Babylon - 612 B.C.

• Nebuchadnezzar
• defeated Egypt 605 B.C., solidify its power
• deport people from their homeland to Babylon, to destabilize national identify
  • 3 phases and 3 deportation
• Nebuchadnezar II died 562 B.C.
• Fall of Babylon happened under Belshazzar (Daniel 5)

1st Siege 605 B.C. (Daniel)

3rd Siege 586 B.C. (temple and ark destroyed, Jeremiah stayed behind)

Jeremiah 25:4-11

2nd Siege 597 B.C. (Ezekiel, 70-year captivity 586–516 B.C.)

Jeremiah Fled to Egypt

Key Development

• deportation to end national identity
• the Jews were able to preserve their identity in Babylon
• Daniel and Ezekiel to encourage and call them back to loyalty to Yahweh
• Jews in Egypt

Concern

• foreign influence
• desire to preserve racial and religious identity

Eras of rule.

1. Babylonian 605–539 B.C.
2. Persian 539–331 B.C.
3. Hellenistic 331–143 B.C.
4. Hasmonean 143–63 B.C.
5. Roman 63 B.C – A.D. 192 Controlled by Rome to the fall of Jerusalem 63B.C.– A.D. 70 Emperor Vespasian to the end of the end of the Roman golden age A.D. 70–A.D. 192

Persian 539–331 B.C.

Conquere of Babylon empire was Cyrus II, the Great (B.C. 539)

The decline of Persia (423-331 B.C.)

• number of rulers struggle to manage such a big territory
• Darius III, the last king of Persia, suffered three defeats by Alexander the Great which marked the end of the Persian era

Cabyses (530-522 B.C.)

• Conquered Egypt
• The work on the temple was halted for several years

Darius I (522-486 B.C.)

• brought Persian empire to the heigh of it power
  • but could not conquer Greece
• Established a strong central government
• Temple was completed and dedicated in 516 B.C.

Haggai and Zachariah

Xerxes I (486-465 B.C.)

• Read about him in Esther
• tried to control Egypt and conquer Greeze multiple times bud didn't succeed
• major crisis for the Jews with Haman's plot in about 475 B.C.
  • the feast of Purim was established after the intervention of God on behalf of his people to preserve them

Artaxerxes I (465 B.C.)

• Allowed a second return in 457 B.C
• Ezra, priest and scribe, led the return and put in charge of Jewish affairs in Palestine
• Law of Moses was established as the civil law of the land
• the Torah and law of Moses became prominent and key features of the life of the people
• in 444 B.C. Nehemiah (3rd return) returned as the governor of the land, rebuilds the wall, established the great assembly (forerunner to the Sanhedrin; judicial court)
  • rise in religious and political power, the priesthood became very important
• in 425 B.C, Malachi, the prophet

Return to Jerusalem (537 B.C.)

• Zerubbabel (civil governor), and Joshua (high priest, descendant of Aaron and Zadok)
• began rebuilding the temple

New Foreign Policy

• Freedom to return to their home land
• Provincial system: allow provinces certain autonomy

Key Development

• Foreign Policy: vassal states and religious freedom
• Aramaic became the official languag in addition to Hebrew and Greek
• Jewish settlements in Babylon and Palestine formed the Jewish diaspora, which was important in Paul's mission
• Second Jewish commonwealth, the temple became the center of power, and the high priest became the highest religious leader. The cities were fortified.
• Samaritan schism: The Samaritans were not accepted by the Jews because they mixed with non-Jews; this grew a political and religious separation, which went on to the first century.
• Rise of Judaism: Summarized in 4 words—temple, Torah, tradition, and hope.
• Scribes were experts in the law and had great influence.

Hellenistic 331–143 B.C

Back Ground of Alexander the Great

• liberation of greek cities. Athen led a movement to create a military and political alliance to band together and make them stronger
• Athen in the 5th century B.C. is known as the classic era of civilization

Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 B.C.)

• Athens was defeated by Sparta in Corinth

Philip II, 338 B.C. Assassinated 336 B.C. His son Alexander the Great, took on the challenge of unifying the Greek cities

Hellenism

• major competing force against Judaism and Jew
• Way of life of the Greek
  • Greek custom, language, values
  • humanistic
• Intellectual Revolution
  • education
  • less cultural and societal influence and more individual influence

Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)

• Educated under Aristotle where he learned about Greek thinking and philosophy.
• Gained political leadership in Greece and thought he had been commissioned by Zeus to propagate Hellenism.
• From the Greek empire’s perspective, they wanted to civilize the world.
• The empire went as far east as the Indus River in India and established in power in Babylon and South to Egypt.
• He had major health problems that caused his death. When he died at age 33 in 323 B.C., he left no heir or successor.
• You can read about Alexander in the Maccabees and Josephus.

1. Jerusalem and Judea submitted peacefully to Alexander in about 333 B.C. 
2. The high priest at the time, Juddua, said Alexander was the prophecy of the prophet Daniel. 
3. Judah came under the control of Alexander the Great.
4. The temple status was retained, and the cultural and religious freedoms were continued.
5. Alexander colonized some cities in the region along the eastern Mediterranean coast, including the Decapolis.
6. Influence of Hellenism: Even in Palestine you see the influence of Hellenism in the Jews.

Pyric victory: victory at great cost

Sicily and Southern Italy

• roman power taking place and moving east ward
• Agathocles: Syracuse in Sicily. He attempted to unite the Greek people against invading Italic tribes but didn’t succeed.
• Pyrrhus: Epirus in Western Greece. He invaded Italy in about 280 B.C. but wasn’t able to maintain his power and failed to keep control of this area. Eventually the region was conquered by Romans and became a Roman region in 227B.C.

The Era of the Diadochoi (323-301 B.C.)

• diadochoi means successor
  • initially were military generals but struggled to unify because of many rivalries
  • after 22 years of instability, a coalition of four generals defeated Antigonus in 301 B.C.
  • Four Kingdoms emerged from this period
    • Kingdom of Cassanmder in Greece
    • Kingdom of Lysimachus in Asia Minor
    • Kingdom of Ptolemy in Egypt
    • Kingdom of Seleucus in Syria and vast Persian area
  • Palestine is caught in the middle for a period of time
    • how adept the Jews become with adopting to the ruling power to preserve themselves

Achaia and Macedonia (301–149B.C.)

• Greece
• The Antigonid dynasty ruled this region
• Even though it was the Greek homeland it was relatively weak politically and militarily; they didn’t keep power long.
• Rome took control of Greece in 167 B.C., of Macedonia in 148 B.C., and of Achaia in 146 B.C.

Four Hellenistic Kingdoms (301-30 B.C.)

Asia Minor (301–63 B.C.)

• Lysimachus & Local Dynasties
• Succeeding local monarchies ruled this region; they successfully ruled different regions for a period of time but gradually came under Roman control.
• Pergamum came under Roman control in 133 B.C., Bithynia in 74 B.C., Cappadocia in 72 B.C., Pontus in 63 B.C.

Client Kingdom

Hellenistic Age

• Hellenikos greek word for Greek person, Greek Age
• Brought their Greek influences to the nation they conquered. Syncretism took place with native cultures and religions
• Demographics
  • Greek colonies and cities, dekapolis - agroup of ten Greek cities in Palestine
  • Koine Greek became the trade language of the empire
  • Impacted economics, religions, and education
• After Alexander the Great died, there was a period fo instability for about 22 years called the era of the diadochoi

Egypt (301–30 B.C.)

1. The Ptolemy dynasties ruled this country. They were strong politically and economically but vulnerable militarily.
2. In competition with Athens, Alexandria became the greatest city of the Mediterranean world by the end of the second century.
   • Major library in Alexandria
3. Palestine came under Ptolemaic control in 301–198B.C. The Jews were allowed to live according to their ancestral laws so it was relatively peaceful. 
4. There was rivalry with Syria, and eventually, Egypt became a client kingdom of Rome and ultimately a Roman province in 30 B.C.

Ptolemaic - toe-may-ick

Syria became Roman Province 64 B.C.

Palestine under Ptolemaic rule (301–198B.C.)

1. Jerusalem and Judea remained a temple state under the high priest, the leading elders, and leaders of the people in the Sanhedrin.
2. Peaceful Hellenization took place, and it was mostly tolerated. 
3. The beginning of the [[Septuagint]] beginning with the Torah and then the other books. It finished about 125 B.C.
4. Antiochus III defeated Ptolemy V in 198 B.C. at the Jordan River and took control of Palestine. 
5. In the wars between Egypt and Syria, Syria prevails and takes control of Palestine.

Hasidim Resistance

Palestine under Seleucid rule

1. Antiochus III was the main ruler—no major changes.
2. Antiochus IV/Epiphanes (167–164 B.C.): There was a power struggle for the priesthood between the Oniadas and the Tobiads. The Oniadas preserved the Zadokite priesthood and opposed the Hellenization of the people. The Tobiads weren’t of the Zadokite lineage and supported most features of Hellenization. High priesthood became political. Both factions were willing to offer money to be established as high priest; Menelaus, from the Tobiad line, offered more money and got the priesthood.
   1. development of rivalry between Jews in issue of Hellenization and the priesthood
3. The Hasidim (very conservative, pious Jewish movement) resisted and put Menelaus in prison.
4. Antiochus IV took revenge as he saw this as an act of rebellion. He looted the Jerusalem temple, reconstituted Jerusalem as a pagan Greek city, abolished the practice of Jewish religion, and openly enforced Hellenization.

Syria and Mesopotamia (301–64 B.C.)

1. The Seleucid-Antiochian dynasty ruled this territory. 
2. Difficult to defend but their strategic need was to control the trade centers of the eastern Mediterranean coastline. This created a rivalry with Egypt and Palestine was in the middle.
   1. led to 6 egyptian, syrian wars
3. The golden era of Syria was the second century B.C. The golden era of Greece was in the 5th century, and the golden era of Egypt was in the 3rd century.
4. Antiochus III defeated Ptolemy V at the Jordan River in 198 B.C. He was forced out of Asia Minor. Palestine came under Seleucid control in 198 B.C. for 55 years. They allowed local autonomy and religious freedom.
5. Antiochus Epiphanes IV (175 B.C) was an ambitious leader and strong promoter of Hellenism; he conquered all of Egypt except for Alexandria. He was forced to withdraw by Roman intervention, and he plundered the Jerusalem temple on his way back. Later, he went back to conquer Alexandria, and on his way, he issued royal decrees to abolish religious freedom and desecrated the temple. This led to the Maccabean revolt.

Maccabean revolt (168-165 B.C.) First jewish resistance to the occupying powers

1. Led by Mattathias, a Hasmanean who had 5 sons and their nickname was Maccabees (hammer like ones).
   1. a gorilla holy war
2. In the first stage of the revolt, Judas Maccabaeus recaptured Jerusalem, and religious freedom was restored. The feast of dedication, now known as [[Hanukah]], was established in December of 164 B.C. to celebrate the reestablishment of religious freedom in Jerusalem and Judea. They rededicated the temple and reinstituted the feasts.
3. The second stage of the revolt, led by Judas and Jonathan Maccabeus, became a drive for political independence. The Seleucid rulers were distracted by other endeavors, so the guerilla warriors gained control of their country. They made a defense treaty with Rome; the brothers were the national leaders, so the people supported them, especially Jonathan, as their leaders. 
4. This set the stage for the Hasmonean dynasty and the independent Jewish state.

Palestine under the rule of the Hellenistic kingdoms

1. Alexander’s conquest and colonization brought Hellenism.
2. The office of the high priest changed; it was no longer based on heredity or lasted for the life. The high priest became people appointed by the leaders.
3. Factions and tensions formed to preserve the Jewish culture and to avoid foreign domination so they could keep their identity and religious freedom.

Hasmonean 143–63 B.C.

1. The Jews did experience national independence for about 80 years. 
2. Palestinian Judaism was influenced by Hellenism.
3. Judaism wasn’t a monolithic religion, there was sectarian Judaism like the Essenes, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees.

Simon Maccabee (143–134 B.C.)  Achieved political independence, Gentile rule over Jews remed

1. He was the last surviving son of Mattathias. He was confirmed as a military commander, governor, and high priest until a faithful prophet shall arise among the people.
2. Non-Zadokite and non-Davidic, they were waiting for someone to come as Messiah who would be a descendent of David.
3. Essenes were conservative Hasidim, and they disapproved of the religious establishment in Jerusalem.

Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II

1. Aristobulus II tried to usurp the high priest, Hyrcanus II, which created a power struggle between them.

2. This led to an intervention from the Roman general Pompey. In 63 B.C. the Jews came under Roman control. They lost all their territory except for Edomea, Judea, Pyrria and Galilee.

3. Hyrcanus II was reinstated as high priest and was appointed as governor of Judea with the help of Antipater.

Alexander Janneus

1. Internal conflicts led to a civil war and he took harsh revenge on people who opposed him. He killed many Pharisees and leaders.
2. He died, and his wife Alexandra Salome became queen. She appointed new Pharisees to the Sanhedrin and appointed her son as the high priest. 
3. A rivalry between Pharisees and Sadducees developed.
   • Politically and religiously

Aristobulus I:

1. He took the title of king and died suddenly. His wife Alexandra Salome married Alexander Janneus; this is seen as the golden era of post-exilic Judaism (103-76 B.C.) but a low point religiously.

John Hyrcanus I (134–104 B.C.)

1. Seen as the most outstanding Hasmonean ruler. He brought stability and security to Palestine. 
2. Territorial expansions by military conquest and imposed Judaism on the people they conquered. This led to syncretistic religion in the area, and people who didn’t accept Judaism fully became nominal Jews. 
3. Renewed an alliance with Rome, which had a mixed reaction.
   1. Antipater; Herod
4. Pharisees: Torah-observant Jews who had a lot of influence on the common people. They disapproved of what took place under John Hyrcanus I. 
5. Sadducees: a sect made up of priests and local leaders of the Sanhedrin who were sympathetic to John Hyrcanus.

Essense

• Qumran
• copying the scripture, dead sea scroll

Roman 63 B.C – A.D. 192

Demise of Roman Republic through Civil Wars

1. First stage: took place for leadership and control of the empire because of socio-economic reasons—the problem of Hellenization and the governing system. There was a need for a fundamental reorganization of things. The Gracchi brothers, Marius and Sulla, attempted to address the situation and promoted a reform to improve the empire but weren’t successful.
2. Second stage: centered around the alliance of three key generals: Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Crassus. Crassus was eliminated, and a rivalry was created between Pompey and Caesar. A civil war originated from this, and Julius Caesar won in 48B.C. He became the ruler of the Roman empire. On the Ides of March in 44B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated. 
3. Third stage: Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus created a third alliance. Lepidus was eliminated, and a rivalry was created between the other two. Octavian defeated Mark Antony and became the figurehead of the Roman empire. He established a monarchical form of government in Rome, and with the senate’s approval, he became emperor Augustus Caesar 27B.C.–A.D.14. This brought a new era of peace and prosperity known as Pax Romana.

Palestine under Roman Rule

Stage One :Struggle for Control (63-37 B.C.)

1. The rulers of Judea and the surrounding territories: Hyrcanus II, the high priest, and Antipater II, ruler in the South.
2. Rome took control of Jerusalem and surrounding territories in 63 B.C.
3. Antipater had four sons: Phasael, Herod (the Great), Joseph, and Pheroras.
4. Julius Caesar’s victory (48 B.C.). The rulers in Palestine aligned themselves with the leaders who conquered their territory, so they aligned with Julius Caesar.
5. Antipater II was appointed procurator, meaning he was the region’s chief tax collector and administrator.
6. Hyrcanus II was given the title of Ethnarch, which means he was reconfirmed as the high priest; he was the native ruler of the people.
7. Antipater II appointed Phasael as governor of Judea and Perea and Herod as governor of Galilee.
8. After Julius Caesar was killed, Antipater II was poisoned.
9. Mark Antony made Phasael and Herod joint tetrarchs of Palestine in 41B.C., which means they were rulers of a part of a larger region or territory. 
10. Antigonus opposed Hyrcanus and escaped to Rome. He put together an army and renewed Hasmonean rule in Palestine as a priest-king. He conquered Palestine in 40 B.C. which changed the political landscape of Palestine for a few years. He disqualified Hyrcanus by cutting his ear, he threatened Phasael who was killed or committed suicide. Herod fled to Rome, which left Antigonus to rule Palestine. He was the last Hasmonean ruler to hold the title of priest/king.
11. Senate appointed Herod as king of Judea in 40 B.C., but he couldn’t take control of it until 37 B.C.

Emperor Vespasian to the end of the end of the Roman golden age A.D. 70–A.D. 192

Controlled by Rome to the Fall of Jerusalem 63B.C. - A.D. 70

Rise of Roman Republic (8th century – 270 B.C.) - Conquest of Italy

1. Rome was founded in 753 B.C., according to Varro. (Roman Historian)
   • in Tiber river in centural Italy
2. It became an aristocratic republic in 510 B.C.
3. Control of central and South Italy in 270 B.C. 
4. The power and control grew beyond Italy in 270–133 B.C. 
5. Punic wars. Rome gained control of Carthage and North Africa; three Punic wars occurred.
6. Seleucid and Macedonian wars. Rome moved eastward and established provinces there.
   • Greece

4. Period of instability
   1. Domestic turmoil for having 10 wives and 7 sons.
      • most for marriage for political alliances purposes
   2. Matthew 2:1–6 is in line with what we see about Herod in his life.
   3. Heavy taxation and he had poor health.
   4. Died in April 4 B.C.
   5. He established the Herodian dynasty: Archelaus, Herod Antipas and Philip.

3. Period of prosperity
   1. Balanced Roman and Jewish demands.
   2. Acquired additional territory.
   3. Built fortresses and cities.
   4. Rebuilt (expanded and decorated) the (2nd) Jewish temple.
      1. as a way of gaining support form the people
      2. want to rival the temple of Solomon
   5. Improved education and social welfare

Stage Two Herod the Great (37-4B.C.)

With the help of Rome, he recaptured Jerusalem and Palestine and became the king of Judea in 37B.C.

1. He maintained law and order.
2. He brought relative peace and prosperity in the beginning.
3. He fortified Palestine.
4. He rebuilt the Jewish temple.
5. He alienated people (Pharisees and common people)
6. Birth of Jesus took place in 4–5 B.C.

2. Period of consolidation: 
   1. Herod’s relationship to Rome as a client king
      1. close friend of Mark Antony, when he died, switched allegiance to who's in control next
   2. Herod’s relationship to Hasmonean aristocracy
      • viewed the Hasmonean aristocracy as rivals
      • imported diaspora priests as high priests
   3. Herod’s relationship to the common people
      • needed and wanted popular support
      • adopted Judaism (nominally) and supported Jewish institution

There were competing calendars Chronology wasn't standardized

• Dionysus calendar
• founding of Rome as 1 AUC (from the foundation of the city)
• projected from there to the birth of Christ (753 AUC became 1BC)
  • 754 AUC became AD 1

Roman emperors—Julio-Claudian dynasty

1. Augustus Caesar: 1st emperor (27 B.C.–A.D. 14)
2. Tiberias Caesar: adopted son of Augustus (A.D. 14–37). Pontius Pilate governed Judea (A.D. 26–36). Birth of the church in A.D. 33
3. Gaius Caesar “Caligula”
4. Claudius Caesar: famine in Palestine (Acts 11:28), expansion of the church, New Testament writings, Jews expelled from Rome in A.D. 49 (Acts 18:2).
5. Nero Caesar: missionary expansion continued, writing of more NT literature. Paul is arrested; Nero blamed Christians for the fire in Rome in A.D.64 and started persecuting them. Peter and Paul were martyred, and the Jewish revolt was in A.D. 66–70. 
6. Civil war and power struggle: year of the three emperors (A.D. 68–69)
7. Vespasian emerged as the victor and began the Flavian dynasty of emperors.

Herodian Dynasty (4 B.C. - A.D. 94)

1. Unified empire
2. Stable system of government
3. Roman citizenship and law
4. Pax Romana brought stability and prosperity.

2. Stage two: Herod the Great (37–4 B.C.)
3. Stage three: Herodian dynasty (4 B.C.–A.D. 94)
4. Stage four: Golden age of emperors (A.D. 96–192)

1. Herod Philip
   1. Tetrarch of North and East of the Sea of Galilee
   2. He built Caesarea Philippi(in the far North) and Bethsaida Julias (across the Jordan river, the 5000)
      1. Jesus visited to these cities

1. Herod Antipas
   1. Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea
   2. He built the city of Tiberias, which became the center of rabbinic Judaism after the destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70).
   3. He married Herodias, the former wife of his half-brother and mother of Salome. 
   4. He beheaded John the Baptist and had three recorded contacts with Jesus (Luke 6, 13, and 23).
   5. He was banished to France and died in A.D.39

1. Herod Agrippa I
   1. Grandson of Herod the Great
   2. He ruled over Palestine for three years, persecuted Christians, and had a good relationship with the Jews.
   3. He beheaded James and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12)
   4. He was struck down by an angel of God (Acts 12:20–23)
   5. After his death, the territories were under procurators.

1. Herod Agrippa II
   1. He was too young to rule when his father died and eventually acquired the northern territories.
   2. He was an expert in Jewish affairs.
   3. The missionary expansion of the church took place during this time.
   4. He was consulted by Festus during Paul’s trial.

1. First Jewish revolt (A.D.66)
   1. It lasted about four years:
   2. Phase one took place under Vespasian, who transferred the command to his son Titus (A.D.69–79)
   3. Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70; Masada was conquered in A.D. 73. (last group of resistors and resistance)
   4. Jewish life and religion were altered, and Judea became an imperial province govern by a legot?.
   5. The death of Herod Agrippa II in A.D.94 marked the end of the Herodian dynasty.

1. Herod Archelaus (4 B.C.–A.D. 6)
   1. Roman prefects were in charge of Idumea, Judea and Samaria.
   2. He was appointed the Ethnarch of this area, the native ruler of the people.
   3. This is the Herod Joseph and Mary feared when they came back from Egypt with Jesus.
   4. He was removed from leadership in A.D. 6 because of cruelty.
   5. Prefect and Procurators
      1. These territories become a Roman province with a prefect, which is a governor (A.D. 6–41). Then they’re under procurators, a Roman governor (A.D.44).
      2. They used publicans (tax collectors) to collect taxes, and these were despised by the Jews.
      3. Procurators used military forces to preserve order; they served as judges or magistrates in important cases.
      4. They appointed the high priest.
   6. Tribute census (A.D. 6), Zealots (first jewish revolt)
   7. Annas I was the high priest in A.D.6–15 (Luke and John)
   8. Caiaphas was the high priest at the time of Jesus’s trial.
   9. Pontius Pilate was the prefect for 10 years (John 8)

Married Salome

Against corrupt rule Anti-rome nationalism Zealots likely leaders