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