The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ

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The Intertestamental Period From Babylon To The
Birth Of Christ

• Roman Intervention

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Announcements
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Intertestamental Period
Week Date Topic
1 05 Mar 14 Overview
2 12 Mar 14 Babylonian Period (605-539 BC)
3 19 Mar 14 Persian Period (539-332 BC)
4 26 Mar 14 Greek Period (332-323 BC)
5 02 Apr 14 Ptolemaic (323-198 BC)
6 09 Apr 14 Syrian (198-168 BC)
7 16 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 1 (168-153 BC)
8 23 Apr 14 Maccabean Part 2 (153-139 BC)
9 30 Apr 14 Independence (139-63 BC)
10 07 May 14 Rome Intervenes (63 37 BC)
11 14 May 14 Herod (37 BC 4 BC)
12 21 May 14 The IT Period and Christianity (4 BC 70 AD)
13 28 May 14 Review
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Todays Objectives

• Review last weeks lesson
• Review the various Jewish politico-religious
  groups of the time
• Learn about Pompeys role in the Jewish civil war
• Learn about the rise and fall of Julius Caesar
• Victory over Pompey
• Political decrees which impact Judea
• Caesars murder
• Learn how Herod rises from governor of Galilee to
  a defeated leader living in Rome
• Learn about Antony and Octavius

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Reference Material

• KJV (w/ Apocrypha)
• 1st and 2nd Maccabbees
• Josephus The Complete Works
• Herodotus The History
• Intertestamental History Mark Moore
• Ancient Rome Simon Baker
• Harding University BNEW 112 Course Notes Dr.
  Thompson
• Intertestamental Period John Battle

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Where we left off.

• Discussed the sons of Mattathias
• Learned about Simons leadership and the
  alliances he renews with Sparta and Rome
• Learn how John Hyrcanus increased the Israels
  lands
• The Pharisees and Sadducees become further
  divided
• Learn about Aristobulus and Jannaeus take over,
  in succession
• Jannaeus cruelty leads to further civil war
• Roman intervenes in 63 BC

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Pharisees

• Chief rival sect was the Sadducees
• Tended to be middle class and open to religious
  innovation
• Use of oral legal tradition to supplement the
  Torah
• Their interpretations, once given, were
  scrupulously adhered to
• Emphasis on divine providence (Essene)
• Eventually adopted a belief in existence of
  spirits and angels, the resurrection, and the
  coming of a Messiah
• However, Pharisees appear as Jesus' most vocal
  critics

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Sadducees

• Originated mainly from the conservative and
  aristocratic priestly class
• Main rival to the Pharisee
• Acceptance only of the Law and rejection of oral
  tradition
• Denial of bodily resurrection immortality of the
  soul existence of a spirit world (Mark 1218
  Luke 2027 Acts 238)
• They opposed the early church (Acts 41-4)
• Cease to exist after the temple is destroyed in
  70 AD

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Essenes

• Strict discipline, isolation from others
• Bible never mentions the Essenes
• Credited with writing the Dead Sea Scrolls
• Characteristics
• Did not own any private property shared
  possessions
• They avoided any show of luxury, very simple
  meals
• They wore simple clothes until they hung in
  shreds
• Careful observance of the laws of Moses
• Established membership rituals lasted several
  years
• Believed that the souls of men were immortal
• Avoided taking part in the services of the Temple
  Similar to early Christians

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Zealots

• Fanatical Jewish sect militantly opposed the
  Roman occupation
• Most fervent Jewish nationalists called
  themselves "Zealots"
• Devoted supporters of the Lord and His laws and
  who were ready to fight for them
• Like the Pharisees, devoted to the Jewish law and
  religion
• Unlike most Pharisees, they thought it was
  treason against God to pay tribute to the Roman
  emperor, since God alone was Israel's king
• Zealots eventually degenerated into a group of
  assassins known as Sicarii (Latin, daggermen)
• Their increasing fanaticism was one factor that
  provoked the Roman-Jewish war
• The Zealots took control of Jerusalem in 66 AD,
  led to the siege of Jerusalem and its fall in 70
  AD. The last stronghold of the Zealots, the
  fortress of Masada, fell to the Romans in 73 AD

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Roman Rule

• 63 BC through NT times
• Fourth kingdom predicted by Daniel (Ch 7)
• Different from all the other kingdoms
• Will devour the whole earth
• Ten horns are ten kings who will come from this
  kingdom
• After them another king will arise
• He will subdue three kings
• He will speak against the Most High and oppress
  his saints
• Try to change the set times and the laws
• The saints will be handed over to him for a time,
  times and half a time

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Roman Intervention

• Civil war continues for several months
• News of fighting reaches the Roman general
  Pompey, who is campaigning in the East
• Pompey had become a very popular field commander
• Very successful campaign against pirates in the
  Mediterranean Sea in 67 BC
• Caesar supports Pompeys actions
• Pompey moves south to arbitrate in Judah
• Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

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Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

• 106-48 BC, called Pompey the Great
• Fought with the Optimates, a conservative and
  aristocratic faction of the Roman Senate
• Initially a friend, he is later defeated by
  Caesar
• Sought refuge in Egypt, where he was assassinated
  in 48 BC
• Defeated Spartacus in 71 BC
• Took command of the Third Mithridatic War in
  modern day Turkey
• Travels to Judea in 63 BC and seizes the
  opportunity to control the region

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Pompey The Conquest

• News of the civil war between Hyrcanus II and
  Aristobulus II reaches Pompey
• Dispatches an ambassador, orders fight to stop
• It does not, Pompey marches south
• Pompey determines Hyrcanus is a more politically
  profitable candidate
• Forces Aristobulus II to surrender
• Ultimately besieges Aristobulus II for three
  months in Jerusalum 12,000 Jews killed
• Pompey does not disrupt the Jewish worship or
  religious practices

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Results

• Pompey incorporates Palestine into the Roman
  province of Syria
• Read Matt 424
• Hyrcanus II becomes political leader and high
  priest from 63-40 BC
• Samaria gains semi-autonomy, Galilee remains
  under Jewish control
• Antipater II becomes district administrator
• A native of Idumaea
• Founder of the Herodian Dynasty
• Father of Herod the Great

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Julius Caesar

• Born in 100 BC
• Family caught up in a complex political war in
  Rome
• Obtained a Senate seat in 68 BC (at 32)
• Elected Chief Priest in 63 BC
• Nine year Proconsul of Gaul and conquered much of
  central Europe becomes a hero
• Ruled Rome from 60-50 BC with Crassus (rich
  Roman), Pompey (war hero) called a Triumvirate
• Crassus dies, Pompey becomes rival

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Caesar versus Pompey

• Senators are concerned about Caesars popularity
• Orders him to disband army and return
• Refuses, but returns with his Army (49 BC)
• Civil war ensures Caesar against Pompey
• Defeats Pompey in Greece (48-47 BC)
• Returns to Rome (46 BC)
• Senate appoints him dictator for 10 years (44 BC)
  he has absolute power
• Anitpater II and Hyrcanus II gave valuable aid to
  Caesar by sending relief

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Caesars Political Decrees

• Grants citizenship to people in provinces outside
  Rome
• Expands the Senate to 900, making it more
  representative of the empire
• Landowners must use 1/3 free men for workers
• Expands the Roman provinces through conquest
• Sets up a public works program for jobs
• However, he is killed in 44 BC the same year
  begins his rule

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Second Triumvirate

• Formed to avenge Caesars death (43 BC)
• Ruled for 10 years
• Octavian, grand nephew of Caesar
• Marc Antony, military general
• Lepidus, powerful politician
• Later disbanded, creating another civil war
• Octavian became the sole ruler (emperor) of Rome

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Antipater II, Phasael and Herod

• In gratitude, Caesar appointed Antipater II as
  the administrator of Judea (47 BC)
• Under Cassius
• Adds territories to Judea taken from Pompey
• Antipater II appoints his two sons to posts
• Phasael is made governor of Jerusalem
• Herod is made governor of Galilee
• After Caesar is murdered (44 BC), Cassius seizes
  control of Judea
• Antipater II is murdered (43 BC)
• Phasael and Harod become joint rulers of Judea
  (42 BC)

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Marc Antony and Octavian

• Octavian was Caesars nephew
• Antony and Octavian defeat Cassius and Brutus in
  the battle of Philippi (42 BC)
• Philippi becomes a Roman colony, making them
  Roman citizens (Acts 1612)
• Phasael and Herod switch allegiance to Antony,
  who confirms their position
• Parthians invade Palestine
• 40 BC
• Capture and imprison Hyrcanus II and Phasael
• Herod escapes, eventually to Rome

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Herods Rise

• In Rome, Herod makes a favorable impression on
  Octavian and Antony
• Senate appoints him king of the Jews
• 40 BC
• Added parts of Samaria and Idumea to his kingdom
• Only theoretical at this time because it was
  controlled by the Parthians
• Herod then sets out to retake his kingdom
• Jerusalem falls in 37 BC
• More on that story next week

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Review

• Reviewed last weeks lesson
• Reviewed the various Jewish politico-religious
  groups of the time
• Learned about Pompeys role in the Jewish civil
  war
• Learned about the rise and fall of Julius Caesar
• Victory over Pompey
• Political decrees which impact Judea
• Caesars murder
• Learned how Herod rises from governor of Galilee
  to a defeated leader living in Rome
• Learned about Antony and Octavius