Israelite History

1
Israelite History

• Thousands of Years of Development
• Part I by Jack MahoneyPart II by Gina Belmonte

2
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 Bobs, Pasadenas Greatest
  Restaurant

3
Pre-Historic Period

• 3760 BCE - traditional date of creation of world
• Year 1 in Jewish calendar
• Is Gen 1-11 factual history (Orthodox/Fundamentali
  st view)?
• or foundational myths about basic theological
  truths (Liberal/Progressive view)?

4
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
  todays Israel.
• ca. 1800-1700 - Foundations of Israelite People
  under Patriarchs/ Ancestors God promises to give
  Holy Land to Abrahams descendants

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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.)

6
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?

7
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

8
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 DAVIDs
  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
  Davids son, King Solomon worship centralized
• ca. 930 - Death of Solomon throne succession
  struggles kingdom divides into two parts North
  vs. South

9
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 Davids
  descendants some bad, some good
• 720's - religious reforms under King Hezekiah
  resistance against Assyrian takeover
• 620's - religious reforms of King Josiah
  Deuteronomy

10
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

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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?

12
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.

13
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 Solomons 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

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Hellenistic/Greek Era

• 334 Alexander the Great begins conquest of
  Persian Empire (cf. Daniel 111-4)
• Hellenization establishment of Greek language,
  religion, culture, government throughout East (2
  Macc 413-15)
• 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

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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 Revolts first main
  successrededication 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

18
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

19
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

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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 811, Luke
  121)
• High Priests
• Members of Tribe of Levi
• Leaders of Jewish people control Temple
• Caiaphas arrest conviction of Jesus (Matt
  263, John 1149-53)
• 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

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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 Vespasians son) city
  burned Second Temple destroyed

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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