Israelite History Thousands of Years of Development Part

Israelite History Thousands of Years of Development Part I by Jack Mahoney Part 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 (2 nd 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 South • 922 -721 - "Kingdom of Israel"; ruled by several series of corrupt kings; • 922 -587 - "Kingdom of Judah"; ruled by David’s descendants: some bad, some good; • 721 - fall of Northern Kingdom & capital Samaria to ASSYRIANS; deportation of most Israelites; importation of foreigners into areas of former Israel • 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. • 4 BCE – Herod dies; • Kingdom divided between three sons and one sister

During & After King Herod • Herod (40 -4 BCE) • 6 -4 BC Jesus born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth • Pharisees - (2 nd cent. BCE – 1 st 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 -36 CE) • 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 2 nd 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 2 nd Temple of Jerusalem