Israelite History

Thousands of Years of DevelopmentPart I by Jack MahoneyPart II by Gina Belmonte

Six Major Middle Eastern Empires

• In biblical history, the land of Israel/Palestine was ruled by six major empires:• Egyptians• Assyrians• Babylonians• Persians• Greeks• Romans

• Mnemonic Aid: “Eat At Bob’s, Pasadena’s Greatest Restaurant”

Pre-Historic Period

• 3760 BCE - traditional date of creation of world

• Year 1 in Jewish calendar

• Is Gen 1-11 factual history (Orthodox/Fundamentalist view)?

• or foundational myths about basic theological truths (Liberal/Progressive view)?

HEBREW / ISRAELITE PERIOD (2nd Millennium to ca. 539 BCE)

• ca. 3000 - ca. 1000 BCE - EGYPTIAN are overlords of area that later belongs to Jewish people, or today’s Israel.

• ca. 1800-1700 - Foundations of Israelite People under Patriarchs/ Ancestors; God promises to give Holy Land to Abraham’s descendants

Patriarchs

• 1) ABRAHAM & Sarah (+ her handmaid Hagar)

• 2) Isaac & Rebekah (+ elder half-brother Ishmael, son of Hagar)

• 3) Jacob = Israel (two wives, Leah & Rachel, & two handmaids, Zilpah & Bilhah)

• 4) Twelve Sons of Jacob

= 12 Tribes of Israel (Judah = "Royal Tribe"; Levi = "Priestly Tribe"; Joseph; Benjamin; etc.)

Moses & the Exodus Generation

• ca. 1700-1300 - Israelites (a.k.a. Hebrews) in Egypt (since time of Joseph, the "dreamer"); welcome at first, but later in slavery

• ca. 1250 - MOSES and the Exodus – • Plagues; Passover; Exodus from Egypt; • Torah/Covenant on Mount Sinai; • Wandering in the Desert for 40 years • (books of Exodus - Deuteronomy)

• Have Jews learned more from troubled eras than from good eras? • What elements of Jewish faith are tied to the Exodus?

Joshua and the Judges

• ca. 1200-1030 – after Moses’ death, conquest of Promised Land led by Joshua

• Loose confederation of 12 tribes of Israel

• Charismatic military/political leaders called "Judges“:• Samson, Deborah, etc.

• Events recorded in books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth

United Kingdom of Israel: The Golden Age

• ca. 1030 - 12 tribes in one united monarchy; first ruler King Saul; continual war with Philistines

• ca. 1000 - Jerusalem conquered by King DAVID’s army; made capital of all Israel; David expands kingdom; God promises House of David will rule Israel forever (2 Sam 7)

• ca. 970 - First Temple built in Jerusalem by David’s son, King Solomon; worship centralized

• ca. 930 - Death of Solomon; throne succession struggles; kingdom divides into two parts: North vs. South

Divided Monarchies(922 BCE - 587 BCE)

North• 922-721 - "Kingdom of Israel";

ruled by several series of corrupt kings;

• 721 - fall of Northern Kingdom & capital Samaria to ASSYRIANS; deportation of most Israelites; importation of foreigners into areas of former Israel

South• 922-587 - "Kingdom of Judah";

ruled by David’s descendants: some bad, some good;

• 720's - religious reforms under King Hezekiah; resistance against Assyrian takeover

• 620's - religious reforms of King Josiah; Deuteronomy

Babylonian Conquest of Judah

• 605 - Babylon defeats Egypt; territory of Judah becomes part of Babylonian Empire

• 597 - First unsuccessful revolt of Judah vs. Babylon; ruling elite of Judah exiled to Babylon

• 587 - Another unsuccessful revolt of Judah vs. Babylon; total destruction of Jerusalem city & temple by Babylonians

Questions to Consider

• Do you think the Babylonian exile foreshadowed a dark history to come?

• To what extent is State of Israel today grounded on the biblical history and religious beliefs of the Jews?

Babylonian Exile

• 587-539 BCE - most upper-class Jews (officials, priests, artisans) deported to Babylon; others flee to Egypt, etc.;

• much of HB written, esp. major prophets; final compilation of Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy) & Deuteronomistic History (Joshua to 2 Kings) by Judean scribes living in exile in Babylon.

Persian Period

• 539 BCE – Babylonian empire conquered by Persians• King Cyrus allows all exiles to return to their homelands• Urges reconstruction of city & temple of Jerusalem• Book of Ezra & Nehemiah gives account

• Ca. 520 – rebuilding of Second Temple in Jerusalem• Not as nice or large as Solomon’s Temple

• Ca. 458-445 – more exiles return to Jerusalem• Led by priest Ezra & governor Nehemiah

• Some Jews stay in other parts of the Middle East, sometimes in conflict with other nations.• Book of Esther

Hellenistic/Greek Era

• 334 – Alexander the Great begins conquest of Persian Empire (cf. Daniel 11:1-4)

• Hellenization = establishment of Greek language, religion, culture, government throughout East (2 Macc 4:13-15)

• 323 Alexander dies; empire divided among four generals (Daniel 7)

• Hellenistic Empire Divides (cf. 1 Maccabees 1-7)

• Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt controls Palestine 323-198 BCE• Seleucid dynasty from Syria rules Palestine 198-141 BCE

• Ca. 250 BCE – Septuagint (LXX)• HB translated into Greek in Alexandria, Egypt• More books added; categories rearranged

Maccabean Era• 167 BCE – Desecration of Jerusalem Temple

by Seleucid ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes• Statues of Greek gods• Sparks revolt of Jews led by Judas “Maccabeus” (167-161)• Events recorded in First & Second Book of Maccabees

• 164 – Maccabean Revolt’s first main success:rededication of the Jerusalem Temple (2 Macc 8)• Hannukah, the Feast of Lights

• ca. 141-63 – Short independence and expansion of Israel under Maccabean/Hasmonean rulers

Hasmonean Dynasty

• 134-67 BC – Hasmoneans rule Israel several generations• Rivalries among various Jewish Groups

• Pharisees:• Popular group, mostly laymen• Strict observance of laws and traditions

• Sadducees: • Smaller elite group, mostly priests• followed Torah, rejected new traditions.

• Essenes:• Small group, lived “monastic” lifestyle near Dead Sea • Associated with Dead Sea Scrolls

Roman Era

• 63 BCE – ca. 650 CE

• 63 – Roman army under General Pompey takes over Middle East

• 40-4 BCE – King Herod the Great• Named “King” by Roman Senate• Fights to gain control over Israel• Builds cities with Roman temples,

fortresses; • expands Jerusalem Temple.

• 4BCE – Herod dies;• Kingdom divided between three

sons and one sister

During & After King Herod• Herod (40-4 BCE)

• 6-4BC Jesus born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth• Pharisees - (2nd cent. BCE – 1st cent. CE)

• Precursors of “rabbis” (founders of “rabbinic Judaism”)• Followed laws of HB; also “traditions of the elders” • NT: Opponents of Jesus (Matt 23, Mark 8:11, Luke 12:1)

• High Priests• Members of Tribe of Levi• Leaders of Jewish people; control Temple• Caiaphas: arrest & conviction of Jesus (Matt 26:3, John 11:49-53)

• Roman Procurators (esp. Pilate 26-36CE)• Governors of provinces (e.g. Judea) • Military, civil & criminal jurisdiction• Jews had much self-government, run by Sanhedrin • Death penalty had to be approved & executed

by Roman Procurator

First Jewish Revolt• 66-74 CE – Jewish war vs. Rome begins in Galilee & Jerusalem

• Recorded in Josephus’ Jewish War• 68 CE – Most of Judea recaptured by Romans (General Vespasian)

• Emperor Nero dies; Pause in war; 3 short-lived Emperors• 70 CE – Jerusalem captured by Roman Army under General Titus

(Emperor Vespasian’s son); city burned; Second Temple destroyed

Summary and Review

• 539 BCE – Persians (King Cyrus) conquer Babylon• rebuilding of 2nd Temple of Jerusalem

• 334 BCE – Alexander the Great & Hellenization of Mideast• 323 – Alex dies; Empire divides: Ptolemies & Seleucids

• 167 BCE – Desecration of Temple by Antiochus IV• leads to Maccabean Revolt; Temple rededicated 164

• 63 BCE – ca. 650 CE – Romans Control Mideast• 40-4 BCE – King Herod the Great• Ca. 30 CE – Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate• 70 CE – destruction of 2nd Temple of Jerusalem