Inter-Testimental & Jewish Backgrounds

Persian Period (538-332 BCE)

• Lays foundations of postbiblical Judaism

– But scarce extra-biblical evidence

• Persians allow Jews to return

• Two major accomplishments:

– Rebuilding of Temple

– Collection and study of Torah

• Scribes replace priests/prophets as interpreters of law

Greek Period (332-167 BCE)

• Alexander the Great takes Palestine in 332

– Brings Hellenization with him, language and culture

• When Alexander dies, kingdom divided – Ptolemies (Egypt) control Palestine, 301-198

• Jews thrive, LXX translated

– Seleucids (Syria) control Palestine, 198-142

• Jews not treated so well, revolt

Precursors to Maccabean Revolt

175-164 BCE

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

reigns

Not good for Jews

175 BCE Jason outbids Onias III for HP

Begins making Jerusalem Greek polis

172 BCE Menelaus

outbids Jason for HP

Pro-Greek vs. Hasidim (pious

ones)

169-168 BCE

Ant. IV’s Egyptian

campaigns

Robs temple, slaughters

Jews

167 BCE Ant. IV

persecutes Jews

Sacrifices pig in temple

“Acra”

25 Chislev, 167

Hasmonean Period (167-63 BCE)

167 BCE Hasmonean family revolts

Judas “Maccabeus”

leads

164 BCE Cleanse and rededicate

temple

Antiochus IV dies in East

161 BCE Judas makes treaty with

Rome = 1 Macc 8

160 BCE Judas killed Brothers and

their sons rule

142 BCE Hasmoneans

gain full independence

Rule and priesthood

Hashmonay

Roman Period (63 BCE on)

63 BCE Pompey captures Jerusalem, ends Hasmonean rule

Gives HP to Hyrcanus II (eventually)

48 BCE Caesar defeats Pompey, Antipater rescues Caesar in Alexandria

Makes Antipater gov. of Judea, Phasael/Herod gov. of Jerusalem/Galilee

44 BCE Caesar assassinated, conspirator Cassius flees east

Antipater and Herod side with him for time being

42 BCE Cassius defeated, Marc Antony now in control

Herod + Phasael side with Marc Antony, he names them “tetrarchs”

40 BCE Antigonus, son of Aristobulus II successfully retakes control

Kills Phasael, holds title of king and HP for 3 yrs (last Hasmonean)

37-4 BCE Herod escapes to Rome, declared King of Judea by Senate (40 BCE)

Retakes Jerusalem, kills Antigonus, now sole client king of Judea

Jewish Revolts

• First Jewish Revolt, 66-70 CE, begun under Nero – Quelled by Vespasian and Titus (both later emperors)

– Temple destroyed

• Further rebellions of Jews in Cyrene, Egypt, Cyprus – 115-117 CE, under Trajan

• Bar Kochba Revolt, 132-135 CE, under Hadrian – “Son of a Star” = declared messiah

– Jerusalem and temple destroyed for good

– Reestablished as Aelia Capitolina, with temple for Zeus

Septuagint

• Greek translation of Torah, later whole OT Books

• Called LXX = 70 (or 72), for rabbis who translated it

• Likely originated in Alexandria

• Story told in Letter of Aristeas

• Not one LXX, but many

• Scriptures of early church

• Differs from Hebrew text

Apocrypha

• = “hidden”, in LXX, but not in Hebrew Bible

• Coined by Jerome, included in his Latin Vulgate

• Genres: narrative, history, liturgical, wisdom, etc.

• Books like: – 1-2 Maccabees

– Tobit

– Judith

– Sirach

– Wisdom of Solomon

Pseudepigrapha

• = “false writings,” but not all are written under false name

• Genres: Rewritten Scripture, apocalyptic, wisdom, testaments, psalms, etc.

• Books like: – 1 Enoch

– Jubilees

– Testament of Moses

– Sibylline Oracles

– Letter of Aristeas

Dead Sea Scrolls

• Discovered in caves near Qumran, 1947

• Thousand years older than next oldest OT manuscript

• Probably works of Essene sect

• Two categories: – Biblical documents

• incl. Apocrypha and

Pseudepigrapha

– Sectarian documents

Other Writings

• Philo of Alexandria, c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE – Jewish philosopher, well-educated, rich – Many exegetical and philosophical treatises – Allegorized Scripture

• Flavius Josephus, 37 – c. 100 CE – Priest, Pharisee, fought in Jewish War – Defected to Romans, favored with Vespasian – Wrote:

• Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities • Life, Against Apion

Rabbinic Literature

• Two major schools: – Shammai, stricter view of law, dominated pre-70 – Hillel, lenient view of law, dominated post-70

• Mishnah, 200 CE = codification of Halakah (= conduct under law)

• Midrash = interpretation of Scriptures, rabbinic commentary • Talmud, 5-6th c. = (“study”) commentary on Mishnah • Targum(im) = Aramaic paraphrase (+ interp) of Hebrew

Scriptures • Very hard to know what dates back to pre-Christian period

1. Pharisees

• Name perhaps comes from “separate ones” • Concerned with ritual purity

– Full observance of both written and oral tradition – Tithing, Sabbath, fasting, oaths, ritual purity even outside

temple

• Become dominant group after fall of temple – (along with Christians)

• Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai teaches that atonement comes from acts of loving kindness, re-convenes survivors at Jamnia – Codify oral tradition (Mishnah, Talmud) – Evolves into Rabbinic Judaism, defines future of Judaism

2. Sadducees

• Perhaps descended from priestly Zadokites

• Apparently wealthy but not popular; ruling elite

• Associated with Sanhedrin and priesthood – But did not have sole control

• Denied resurrection, angels, fate, Pharisaic traditions – Accepted Torah alone

• After fall of temple they disappeared with base of power

3. Essenes

• Flourished from mid-2nd cent. BCE to First Jewish Revolt • Described by Josephus, Philo, Pliny, some later Christians • Splinter group that split off in protest of corrupt temple • Qumran likely Essene settlement, but had other

communities • Special admission procedures, communal property, ritual

washings, sometimes celibacy, strict adherence to Torah, special calendar, purity focus

• Qumran destroyed by Romans in 68 CE

4. Zealots

• Part of complex of resistance movements opposing Roman rule and Hellenistic influence – Includes: bandits, sicarii, even some priests

• Major Zealot goal: political independence from Romans – “no lord but God”

• Debate whether group existed before First Jewish Revolt – So Simon the Zealot was probably just “zealous”

• Not responsible for war but become major part of it – But create internal civil war, weakens Jerusalem

• Most Zealots destroyed along with Jerusalem in 70

Two Paths at the End

Early Judaism

Rabbinic Judaism

Early Christianity

Beliefs and Practices

• Religion defined in terms of action, not belief • Three outward actions:

– Circumcision, food laws, Sabbath

• Three big festivals: big three: – Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles

• Major beliefs/practices – One God (monotheism) – Chosen people (exclusivism) – Torah (law central)

• “Godfearers” = Gentile converts

Organization

• Jerusalem temple – Jewish worship center

– Portal to cosmos

• Sanhedrin – Ruling elite

– Judicial/Political function

• Synagogue – Local worship gathering

– And community center

– Roots for Christian meetings