SECOND TEMPLE JUDAISM  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maps of Israel, Photographs of Jerusalem and the Temple © Manna, Manna Bible Maps www.biiblemaps.com.  Used by permission of Manna Bible Maps.


INTRODUCTION:

1.      In this brief introduction to Second Temple Judaism we will be examining the growth and development of Judaism after the close of the Old Testament writings or period, ca 400 BC.

2.      Many of the scholarly references will use the description BCE (Before the Christian Era) rather than BC (Before Christ).  We will use the traditional reference BC.

3.      The period we will be examining in greater detail will be from the Hellenistic movement under Alexander the Great (323 BC), through the Maccabean era (BC 166), the Roman era of occupation (BC 65 -), the growth of new forms of Jewish expression and faith (Hassidism, The Pharisees, The Sadducees, The Zealots, The Dead Sea Covenanters and Jewish Mysticism), and finally the development of the two Jewish Talmuds, The Palestinian Talmud and The Babylonian Talmud, (BC 141-AD 550).

4.      We will focus on those events and developments that impact the spread and growth of Christianity, and factors that enrich understanding of contemporary Judaism.

5.      All that can be attempted in this brief introductory study is an overview of the above developments.

 

FUNDAMENTALS OF JUDAISM:

  1. Judaism has its roots in a monotheistic view of divinity which believes that there is one Eternal and All Powerful (Almighty) God who created heaven and earth in the Beginning.
  2. God identified himself to Israel as Yahweh (Jehovah, the God who was, is, and is for ever more).  He is identified in the Jewish writings as The Lord of Hosts, and other descriptive terms.
  3. In addition to creating man, God also created angels to be his heavenly servants.
  4. Judaism holds that one of the angels rebelled against god and was banished from heaven.  He is called Satan, the Devil, the Tempter of man who seeks to alienate man from God through sin.
  5. Judaism, contrary to Hinduism and Buddhism, does no hold to a cyclical cosmology which has no beginning and end, but views history as having a beginning and end.  Before the beginning there was eternity with God and after the end (theologically called the eschaton) there will be eternity with (or without, in the absence of) God.
     

 

  1. God created man in his own image with the free will to choose between good and evil, man (Adam and Eve) chose to exercise their free will contrary to God’s will and so sin entered into human experience.
  2. The Sacred Writings (Scriptures) of Israel are contained in what is known as The Old Testament.
  3. The Old Testament tells the story of God’s Plan of Redeeming fallen mankind.
  4. In order to redeem man, as a God who loves mankind forever, God established a Plan or Scheme of Redemption by calling  a man called Abraham from the Ur of the Caldeans (later called Babylon), promising to give him a home in Canaan, to raise from his seed a great nation (Israel), and through one of Abraham’s seed (a Messiah figure) to provide atonement for fallen man.
  5. God gave to Israel a Law called the Torah and Prophets to remind Israel to keep that Law until the Messiah would come to redeem them.  The Law included an elaborate sacrificial system through which atonement for sins could be achieved on a yearly basis.  The atoning sacrifice had to be repeated every year.
  6. A system of feasts (which included the Feast of the Passover and the Day of Atonement) was established to remind Israel that God was their God and Redeemer.
  7. The Law (most often called The Law of Moses since it was given by God to Israel through Moses, a charismatic leader chosen by God to lead his people out of Egyptian captivity into the land promised to Abraham by God) taught that God was a God of Steadfast Love who would redeem mankind, also required faith and obedience from Israel.
  8. Israel was intended by God to lead the Gentile nations to God.
  9. Because of rebellion, The Kingdom of Israel became divided and finally led into Assyrian and Babylonian captivity.  God through his Prophets promised to Restore Israel to its Promised Land if it would return to faith in God and repent.  Under Ezra and Nehemiah, faithful prophets and leaders of Israel, a Remnant of Israel who had faith was returned to the Promised Land.
  10. It is at this point that the story of the Old Testament closes, and we enter the Period of the Second Temple.

A Scroll of Hebrew Scripture

         

The Bible Which Contains both Old and New Testaments

 

 

BRIEF OUTLINE OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY (Dr. Peter Pett)
This material is from The Internet Bible College and gives a summary of Old Testament History by looking at it through the books of the Old Testament.  (Adapted from The Internet Bible College)

Genesis 1 - 11 Creation - Flood - Abram.
Creation - man in the fruitful plain of Eden - man disobeys God and is forced to leave his haven - the struggle to survive - jealousy between Cain and Abel - Cain murders Abel - he is expelled to ‘the land of wandering’ under God’s protection - civilization begins to develop - the list of patriarchs representing the time from Adam to Noah - Man incurs God’s wrath - God’s judgment in the Flood - the growth of nations - man establishes empires and languages become diversified - the list of patriarchs leading to Abram.

Genesis 12 - 50
Abram called by God - receives God’s promise of being a blessing to the world - has vivid experiences of God - adventures in the promised Land - Isaac - Jacob - Jacob produces 12 sons, the ‘children of Israel’- Joseph becomes premier of Egypt - the 12 and their households saved from famine by entering Egypt under Joseph’s protection.

Exodus 1 - 19
Israel enslaved in Egypt - Moses raised up a deliverer - plagues on Egypt - Israel escape - miraculous crossing of the Sea of Reeds - Egyptian pursuit thwarted by God - journey through the wilderness - provision of food and water by God - reach Mount Sinai

Exodus 20 - Leviticus 27
God makes a covenant with Israel at Sinai - the ten commandments - the Tabernacle (tent of meeting) made to act as the central sanctuary, to house the Ark, the throne of God, but no image to be made of God, - various instructions - rites of sacrifice established - instruction for living

Numbers
The tribes numbered - various ordinances - God’s presence by fire and cloud - they reach the borders of the Promised Land - spies sent out - discouraging reports - the people rebel - God forbids entry - attempt to enter Canaan from the South - repelled - 38 years at the Oasis of Kadesh Barnea - new attempt to be made from the West - refused passage - battles and treaties - attractiveness of Transjordan - preparation for entering the Promised Land from the West

Deuteronomy
Repeat account of the journeys of |Israel and the giving of the Law - various ordinances - Moses dies

Joshua
A partially successful assault on the Promised Land - Israel established in the Hill Country - the tribal centre established at Shechem, the central sanctuary for the tribes. The idea was that the tribes would govern themselves but maintain unity by attending three times a year at the central sanctuary to renew their covenant with God and each other, responding when necessary to the call to arms to defend each other. The fruitful plains which God had intended for them in Canaan are now being taken over by a sinister new enemy, the Philistines, who arrive in the land, conquer the Canaanites, and form a five-city league, possessing chariots and weapons of iron

Judges
Various struggles for sections of the tribes to maintain their holdings against outside attack - God raises up war-leaders to deliver them - the menace of the Philistines grows - parts of Israel in subjection- failures in the tribal unity

Ruth
An interlude describing the adventures of Ruth, a Moabite woman, her marriage to Boaz, and the descent there from of the forefathers of David.

1 Samuel
The sanctuary has been moved to Shiloh, probably because Shechem was too vulnerable to attack - the birth of Samuel - defeat by the Philistines and loss of the ark of God - Samuel established as war leader and prophet - repulsion of the Philistines - Saul established by Samuel as war leader - victories and defeats - God raises up David, who is exiled by Saul and raises up a loyal band of fighting men (‘his men’), outwardly acting as a mercenary for the Philistines, but secretly winning favour among the people of Judah - Samuel dies - Saul is finally utterly defeated, and killed.

2 Samuel
David becomes war leader of Judah, and then Israel as a whole, captures Jerusalem with ‘his men’ (so that it is the City of David, separate from Judah and Israel) defeats the Philistines, is made ‘king’, establishes Israel and builds an empire. Israel at last safe, and established in the Promised Land, with more besides. The Tabernacle and central sanctuary established in Jerusalem, David’s city. All is now seemingly set for the establishment of God’s Rule to the ends of the earth.

1 & 2 Kings & Chronicles
Solomon succeeds David - builds the Temple - establishes his magnificence - causes disaffection - his empire begins to crumble - and collapses on his death - Judah and Israel split up - Judah retain the central sanctuary.

(1). Israel - Jereboam of Israel establish sanctuaries at Bethel and Dan and sets up golden calves (probably intended to replace the Ark as the throne of |God) - the people worship the calves - the history of the failures of the kings of Israel who establish their capital at Samaria, - battles between Israel and Judah - occasional treaties - worship of foreign gods - wars with Syria - God sends Elijah and Elisha - they are rejected - Hosea, Amos and Micah are sent and also rejected - the appearance on the horizon of Assyria - a period of temporising, followed by revolt, resulting finally in the leading families of Israel being carried away captive into Assyria, and the collapse of the nation with foreign rulers over them - new people put in the land - they are taught by a priest of Israel and worship both God and graven images, and eventually the Samaritans are descended from them (with their own Pentateuch - Genesis to Deuteronomy - and worship centred at Mount Gerizim)

(2). Judah - Judah still had the central sanctuary at Jerusalem. Their kings at first therefore remained more true to the worship of God, but allowed lax religious practices - baal worship later introduced in association with Israel- and removed by the man of God Jehoiada - Jehoash (Joash) and Azariah (Uzziah) reign well - Hosea and Amos prophesy - Uzziah dies - Isaiah prophesies - Ahaz turns to idolatry - pays tribute to Assyria to save him from Israel and Syria - introduces a foreign altar - pays tribute to the gods of Assyria (part of his bargain) - Israel is carried away captive - Ahaz dies - Hezekiah listens to Isaiah, restores purity of religion (breaking the treaty with Assyria) - Assyria attacks - is amazingly defeated by God so that Jerusalem is preserved - Hezekiah dies - Manasseh neglects the Temple, introduces baal worship, idolatry, and worship of the ‘host of heaven’ (probably a sign of increasing Assyrian pressure) - Josiah becomes king - restores the Temple - finds the book of the covenant - renews the covenant with God - purifies religion - is slain by Pharaoh Nechoh - Judah pays tribute to Egypt - religion again corrupted - false worship - the rise of Babylon - Judah becomes tributary - the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel - rebellion against Babylon- Jerusalem besieged and submits - the king and the leading men taken into exile - Jerusalem again rebels, believing that God will not allow Jerusalem to be destroyed (rejecting Jeremiah and Ezekiel) - Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed - the people carried into exile, where Ezekiel ministers to them. The land is left desolate.

Daniel - prophesying in Babylon

Cyrus becomes King of Persia.

Ezra
Cyrus proclaims freedom of religion in all his empire - decrees the establishment of a new Temple in Jerusalem - Zerubbabel, with a fairly large group of people, returns to Jerusalem with the Temple treasures restored by Cyrus - the Temple and a small part of the city are partly rebuilt - opposition from dwellers in the land who appeal to Artaxerxes and have the work stopped - Haggai and Zechariah prophesy - Zerubbabel starts up the work again - the Temple finished - Ezra arrives in Jerusalem with another group as a teacher of the Law of Moses - they face opposition on the way but arrive safely - the covenant renewed - the religion is purified. There is, however, continual opposition and the work is restricted. There are powerful people in opposition round about, including the governor of Samaria.

Nehemiah.
Messengers report to Nehemiah. The Ezra and the people in Jersualem are hard pressed, and the partly built city subject to continued harassment from the surrounding peoples.

Nehemiah was Artaxerxes cup bearer. This was a high position of trust. It was he who would finally hand the king his cup after it had been tested for poison. He was one of the highest in the empire and the king’s trusted minister, (and needed to be from what followed).

Using his personal influence he obtains permission from the king for the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the walls, and the re-establishing of the city as capital of |Judah. There is powerful opposition from two governors of provinces and a powerful war-lord - but the people unite to refurbish the city and build its walls, sword in hand . The walls are finished and Ezra, the priest, brings the Book of the Law of Moses and reads it aloud to the people. There is general renewal and the city is once again established.

Malachi
Proclaims the coming of a messenger of the Lord, and the coming of the day of God.


HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF SECOND TEMPLE JUDAISM:

Some of the periods mentioned below overlap historically and all that is intended is an overview of these developments.

  1. The Exile to Alexander The Great (722 BC to 323 BC)
  2. The Hellenization of the Mediterranean World (323 BC – ca 200 BC)
  3. The Division of Alexander’s Empire (323 BC – 316 BC)
  4. The Ptolemaic Dynasty (323BC – 198 BC)
  5. The Seleucid Dynasty (198 BC – 167 BC)
  6. The Maccabean and Hasmonean Dynasty (167 BC – 37 BC)
  7. The Roman Period (65 BC - )
  8. The Herodian Dynasty (37 BC – 66 AD)
  9. The Jewish War (66 AD – 74 AD)
  10. The Roman Imperial World (74 AD – The Fall of Rome and Constantinople)
  11. The Religious Development of the Talmuds (141 BC – 55 AD)

 The Exile To Alexander The Great (722 BC to 323 BC)

  1. 722 BC Israel is taken captive by Assyria and many deported to Assyria (2 Kings 17:6; 23).
  2. Non-Israelites settled in Samaria (2 Kings 17:24).
  3. Judah becomes a vassal state to Assyria (2 Kings 18:13-16).
  4. 701 BC Sennacherib of Assyria lays siege to Jerusalem in the time of Hezekiah, but the city is spared (2 Kings 18:17-19:37).
  5. 621 BC Josiah’s reform begins in the 13 the year of his reign (21 Kings 23:1-25).
  6. 612 BC Nineveh, the capital of Assyria is destroyed by Babylon.
  7. 606 BC Josiah is killed at the battle of Megiddo, Judah becomes a vassal state of Egypt (2 Kings 23:33).
  8. 605 Nebuchadnezzar defeats Pharaoh Necho of Egypt.
  9. 597 Babylon attacks Jerusalem, Jehoiachin surrenders,  the Temple and Palace are moved (2 Kings 24:10-14).
  10. First deportation of Jews to Babylon.  Ezekiel included (2 kings 24:14).
  11. Ezekiel prophesies from 593 BC – 573 BC. 
  12. 587/586 BC Nebuchadnezzar attacks and destroys Jerusalem, the Temple, and the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10, Jeremiah 39).
  13. Second deportation of Jews to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11, 21; 2 Chron 36:20; Jeremiah 52:27).
  14. 539/538 BC Cyrus of Persia conquers Babylon.
  15. Cyrus permits Jews to return to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest (2 Chron 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1ff; 2:1ff).
  16. The Temple foundation is laid (Ezra 3:8-10).
  17. 520-515 BC Haggai and Zechariah prophesy.
  18. 516 BC Second Temple dedicated (Ezra 6:14-15).
  19. 444 BC Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and the walls of the city are completed.
  20. Ca 400 BC Ezra visits Jerusalem with the blessing of Artaxerxes II and leads the people in a reformation.
  21. Ca 400 BC Malachi prophesies the coming of a Messiah.
  22. 334-323 BC Philip II of Macedon consolidates the Greek city states.
  23. 356 BC Alexander is born.
  24. 336 BC Philip II is assassinated, Alexander, a student of Aristotle , becomes king of Macedonia.
  25. 334-323 Alexander the Great conquers the Mediterranean world, Persia, Babylon, and India and begins the process of Hellenization.

Images of Alexander The Great

         

 Alexander The Greats Conquering Campaign

 

 The Hellenization of the Mediterranean World (323 BC – ca 200 BC)

  1. The process of Hellenization of the Mediterranean world began with Alexander the Great’s conquest of the region.
  2. The process begun under Alexander was continued by his successors, the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Syria.
  3. Hellenization included the following:
    1. The creation of Greek city states which were given autonomy and self government.  About  30 Greek city states were created in Palestine the Transjordan.  Alexandria was one of these Greek city states.
    2. Hellenization involved the introduction of the Greek language and the official language of the Mediterranean world.  Because of this the New Testament and the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) were written in Greek, the universal language of the Mediterranean world.
    3. Greek religion (gods), Greek worship, Greek athletics (naked), Greek art, images, etc became standard, often depicting the naked body.  These Hellenistic trends were abhorrent to the Jews.
    4. Democracy was introduced with the city gathering (ekklesia) in which all citizens could vote.
    5. Cultural and religious syncretism became the norm in which pagan, Greek and Egyptian religious ideas were assimilated into Judaism.
    6. This assimilation of religion became the foundation for the Maccabean and other Jewish revolts in the period of 167-37 BC.  These factors set the foundation for the Jewish sects, the Hassidim, Pharisees, and Sadducees.

 The Division of Alexander’s Empire (323 BC – 316 BC)

  1. Alexander The Great died in Babylon in BC 323 at age of 32.
  2. He left no heir or successor to his reign.
  3. This led to a 7 year struggle for dominance among his four generals
    1. Antigonus in North Syria.
    2. Cassander in Macedonia.
    3. Ptolemy in South Syria and Egypt.
    4. Lysimachus in Thrace and West Africa.
  4. Ultimately this led to two family dynasties becoming dominant over Alexander’s Empire.
    1. The Ptolemaic Dynasty from 323 – 198 BC.
    2. The Seleucid Dynasty from 198 – 167 BC.
  5. The Ptolemies governed Palestine, Egypt, and Phoenicia.
  6. The Seleucids governed Asia Minor, Syria, and Macedonia.

 The Ptolemaic Dynasty (323BC – 198 BC)

  1. A succession of Ptolemies from Ptolemy I Soter 323-285 BC, through Ptolemy II Philadelphus 285-247, Ptolemy III Euergetes I 247-221 BC, Ptolemy IV Philopater 221-203, Ptolemy V Epiphanes 203-181 BC reigned over the Ptolemaic regions of Palestine, Phoenicia, and Egypt.
  2. Ptolemy V Epiphanes was defeated by the Seleucid king Antiochus III the Great in 198 BC and lost control of Palestine to the Seleucids

 The Seleucid Dynasty (198 BC – 167 BC)

  1. A succession of Seleucids reigned over the region of Asia Minor, Syria, and Macedonia from Seleucus I Nicator 305-281 BC, Antiochus I Soter 281-261 BC, Antiochus II Theos 261-247 BC,  Seleucus II Callinicus 247-226 BC, Seleucus III Soter 226-223 BC, Antiochus III The Great 223-187 BC.
  2. Antiochus III The great was defeated by the Romans at the battle of Magnesia in 190 BC.
    1. The Romans take Antiochus The Great’s son Antiochus IV to Rome as a hostage 190 BC.
  3. Seleucus IV governs under Rome.
    1. He sends his son Demetrius to Rome in exchange for his brother Antiochus IV.
    2. Antiochus IV seizes reign from his brother Seleucid IV 175 BC.
  4. Antiochus IV reigns 175-163 BC as Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
    1. Antiochus IV Epiphanes reigns under Rome over Palestine.
    2. He began a systematic persecution of the Jews.
    3. He offered a pig as a sacrifice.
    4. He plundered the Temple in Jerusalem of its treasures.
    5. He defiles the Temple by offering a sacrifice to Zeus on the altar of the Temple.
    6. He abolished and banned Judaism in 167 BC and outlawed circumcision, Jewish sacrifices, the Sabbath, and the Jewish religious festivals.
    7. These acts led to the Macedonian Revolt beginning in 167 BC.

 The Maccabean and Hasmonean Dynasty (167 BC – 37 BC)

1.      Much pf the Jewish Apocryphal literature relates to this era, notably 1 and 2 Maccabees.

2.      The Maccabean Era was characterized by continued Jewish revolts against pagan (Ptolemaic, Seleucid, and Roman) incursion and suzerainty.  The Pagan rulers repeatedly desecrated the Jewish Legal System, the Temple, and the Zadokite High Priesthood.  The Maccabean Revolt was not simply a political revolt, but both political and religious.  It was during this time that the Pharisees and Sadducees rose to influence, and the Dead Sea Covenanters reacted to Second Temple Judaism.

3.      The Jewish Revolt commonly known as the Maccabean Revolt began as a reaction to the extreme persecution of the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

a.      He defiled the Temple and the Jewish system of pure sacrifice (1 Macc. 1:54-59; 2 Macc. 6:2-5; Dan. 11:31).

b.      He persecuted those who refused his edicts.

c.      When Antiochus wanted to offer a pagan sacrifice, Mattathias, a Priest in Modein near Jerusalem,  killed a Jew who assisted Antiochus.  Because of this Mattathias, fled with his five sons: John, Eleazar, Judas, Jonathan, Simon.

d.      Mattathias and his sons began the Maccabean Revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes, 1 Macc 2:15-28.

e.      Their leadership became known as the Hasmonean Dynasty.

f.        Judas  Maccabeus (the hammer) became the Maccabean and Hasmonean leader over 3000 rebel troops in a successful guerilla war against Antiochus and the Seleucid army.

g.      The “captured” Jerusalem and purified the Temple, restored the altar of sacrifice on 25 Chislev (December) and celebrated the first Feast of Hanukah (Chanukah), otherwise known as the Feast of Lights (1 Macc 4:36-58).

h.      In 162 BC Demetrius, son of Seleucus IV, returned from Rome, seized power from Antiochus V the son of Antiochus Epiphanes IV, and appointed Alcimus as high priest in Jerusalem (1 Macc.7:5-9). Judas Maccabeus opposed Alcimus as High Priest.

i.        In 162 BC Judas concluded a treaty with Rome, against Demetrius and the Syrians (1 Macc.8:17-32).

j.         In 161 BC Judas died in battle against the Seleucids (1 Macc.9:17-22).

k.      Jonathan, Judas' brother, ruled in Judas' place from 161-142.

l.         Many Jews, content with restored religious freedoms, did not support Jonathan’s quest for independence from the Seleucids.

m.    In 159 BC Alcimus died while attempting to remodel the Temple (1 Macc.9:54-56).

n.      In 152 Alexander Balas, a reputed son of Antiochus Epiphanes and ruler of Syria, recruited Jonathan in an attempt to overturn the Seleucid Dynasty.

o. .Alexander Balas rewarded Jonathan by making him High Priest over Judaism in Jerusalem even though he was not of the Zadokite High Priesthood lineage.

p.  The (non-Zadokite) Hasmonean priesthood lasted from 152 to 37 BC when Herod the Great  in BC 36 appointed his 17 year old brother-in-law Aristobulus III (an Idumean) of Judea High priest.

q.  Jonathan was killed in 142 BC.  He was succeeded by his brother Simon who became leader and high priest.

r.  Antiochus VII invaded Judea and Jerusalem in 134 BC.

s.  Simon was killed in a clash with Antiochus VII in 134 BC.

t.  John Hyrcanus, the son of Simon became the leader of Israel.  He was the first of the Hasmonean Dynasty to rule Israel.

u.  In104-103 BC Aristobulus I, John Hyrcanus’ son, ruled Judea.  He conquered Syrian Galilee, forcibly converting Syrian Galileans to Judaism.

v.  From 103 – 76 BC Alexander Janaeus, Aristobulus’ brother ruled Judea.

w.  Many Jews, including the Pharisees supported the Syrian king Demetrius II against Alexander Janaeus.  Alexander crucified 800 Jews in response to this rebellion.

x.  From 76-67 Judea was ruled by Alexander Janaeus’ wife Salome Alexandra.  Salome supported the Pharisee’s viewpoint.  Hyrcanus II became High Priest during Salome’s reign.

y.  In 66-63 BC a civil war broke out between the pro-Pharisee Hyrcanus II and pro-Sadducee Aristobulus II.

z.  In 65 BC the pro-Sadducee Aristobulus II won the support of the Romans, gained power over Judea, and became ruler and High Priest.

aa. In 64 BC Roman general Pompey easily defeated Antiochus XIII, the last Seleucid Dynasty , and made Syria (including Judea) a Roman province. In 63 Pompey enters Jerusalem, with support of the pro-Pharisee Hyrcanus II.

bb. Pompey moved against Aristobulus II and his followers, gained the Temple and entered the Holy of Holies which was barred to all but the High Priest and then only on Yom Kippur.  To his surprise, he found no treasure or loot.  He did not loot the temple.  During the siege of the Temple many of the priests keep working in the Temple were slaughtered

cc. It is thought that it was at this time that the Dead Sea Covenanters rejecting the Temple Cult and the civil war supported by the Pharisees and Sadducees fled into the Judean Wilderness and established their own Jewish System.  The looked for a Teacher of righteousness who would interpret the Law correctly.  The Dead Sea Scrolls reflect the turmoil over the Law and Temple of this time.

dd. In 63 BC with the support of Pompey Hyrcanus II is appointed ad High Priest in opposition to Aristobulus II.

ee. Aristobulus II and many Jews were deported to Rome in 61 BC.

ff. In 47 BC Julius Caesar rewards Antipater, an Idumean, for his support of Rome in his war in Alexandria.  The High Priesthood of Hyrcanus II is confirmed.

gg.  In 43 BC Antipater was made ruler of Judea and Jerusalem.  He made his sons Phasael ruler over Judea and Herod ruler over Galilee, and was promptly assassinated by Jews.

hh. In 41 BC Mark Anthony made Herod and Phasael joint tetrarchs over Judea.

ii. In 40 BC Antigonus , the son of Aristobulus II captured Jerusalem, ousted Hyrcanus II from the High Priesthood and became both King and High Priest.

jj. Phasael was captured and committed suicide in prison.  Herod escaped  and fled to Rome, appealed to Anthony, and was made King of the Jews by the Roman Senate.

kk. In ca 38 BC Herod returned to Judea with Roman support, made war against the Jews (cf Josephus, War), began a 3 month siege of Jerusalem, captured Jerusalem, and captured Antigonus who is then taken to Antioch where he was beheaded by the Romans.

ll. In 37 BC Herod, the Idumean, was made king of Judea, and began the Herodian Dynasty which lasted from 37 BC – 66 AD and the destruction of Jerusalem.

The Jewish War (66 AD – 74 AD)
For an excellent link to The Jewish War go to http://www.westmont.edu/~fisk/Articles/jewhistd.htm
The History of this War is covered by Josephus, War 2-7.

  1. Jewish opposition to Rome and Rome's intrusion into Jewish religious life continued to fester.  Part of the problem was Rome's support of Herod and Herod's not being of the Jewish lineage or dynasty.

  2. Rebel factions began to group in opposition to Rome and Herod.

  3. In AD 66 Herod attempted to persuade the Jews not to rebel.

  4. Jewish rebels seized Masada, the Herodian fortress and citadel near the Dead Sea.

  5. The Jewish priests persuaded the Jews not to offer sacrifices in support of Rome.

  6. Jewish rebels captured the fortress of Antonio adjacent tot he Temple in Jerusalem.  In doing so they killed the entire Roman Guard.

  7. The 12th Legion of Rome attacked the rebels in Jerusalem but were forced to retreat from the city.

  8. In AD 67 Nero sent Vespasian and 3 Roman Legions to gain control of Galilee.  Vespasian gains control of Judea, but not Jerusalem.

  9. Nero committed suicide in Rome. Vespasian becomes the Roman Emperor.

  10. In AD 69 Vespasian sends his son Titus to control the Legions in Judea.  Titus lays siege to Jerusalem.

  11. AD 70, Jerusalem is destroyed after a vicious and terrible siege.

  12. Jewish Zealots under the leadership of Eleazar ben Yair retreated into the Judean desert and into the citadel of Masada.

  13. 900 plus zealots, including wives and children took refuge in the fortress of Masada.

  14. In AD 72 Flavius Silva, Roman governor of Judea, with the 10th Legion laid siege to Masada.

  15. In order to take the fortress he had to build a siege ramp from the base of the hill of Masada to gain entry into the fortress.  Using thousands of slaves, mostly Jews, after 9 months Silva's forces were able to enter the fortress and take the citadel.

  16. CA 73 AD, the night before the Legions entered the fortress the Zealots decided to commit suicide rather than be take into Roman slavery.  The divided into 10 groups.  The men of each group were to kill their family.  Finally the ten leaders had to kill all of the men and then one last man was to kill the other nine.  When the Romans entered the citadel and took Masada, with the exception of two women and five children, they found only dead bodies.  Every last Zealot was dead!

  17. In the archaeological remains of Masada, which are extremely impressive, over 700 ostraca (pieces of clay pottery with writing on them) were found.  Eleven of the ostraca are significant for they contain the names of the ten men, mostly likely those chosen to kill the remaining men, and the name of Ben Yair.

    An Ariel view of Masada showing the siege ramp and the military base at the foot of Masada.  The fortress is at the lower left of the hill of Masada.
                             
    Photo courtesy of BiblePlaces.com, http://www.bibleplaces.com.   Used by permission.

                                                             Ostracon from Masada
                                                                  

The Religious Development of the Talmuds (141 BC – 55 AD)
The Talmud is the accumulation of centuries of Rabbinic teaching reaching back as far as 167 BC and culminating in either 440 AD (The Palestinian Talmud) or 550 AD (The Babylonian Talmud).  Through the 5 centuries following the Maccabean Revolt scribes commented on the Torah and an Oral tradition of interpretation developed which later was codified in what is known as the Haggadah.  At the same time Rabbis were commenting on community Jewish laws which were codified in what is known as the Hallakah.  As Judaism encountered various pagan oppression and new living conditions the Oral Law expanded.  In a succession of scribal and rabbinical work Jewish Scribes (Sopherim) and Teachers (Tannaim) produced the Mishna which contains 6 Orders (Sedarim) and 63 Tractates.  Further development of the Mishna by Teachers (Amoraim) resulted in the tow Talmuds.
Click on the following URL to go to a chart depicting this development. http://www.centerce.org/Judaism/Talmud.j\htm.
 

 The Importance of this Period to Understanding Second Temple Judaism, Jesus, and the beginnings of Christianity .

1.   In Second Temple Judaism Judaism was impacted by several factors that shaped the faith and practice of Israel.

2.   Whereas Judaism as reflected in the Old Testament went through several periods of growth (The Pentateuch and Mosaic Period, Joshua and the entrance to the Promised Land, The Judges of Israel, the Kings, The Divided Kingdom, Assyrian and Babylonian Captivity, and the Restoration and Return of Israel to the Promised Land and the Rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem and the Temple) the Judaism of the Second Temple Period, reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jewish Rabbinical writings, and  the New Testament was significantly different in practice from that reflected in the Old Testament.

3.    In Second Temple Judaism we encounter, for instance, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, Rabbis, Scribes, Imperial Roman rule, the use of the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), and the development and significance of the Synagogue.

4.   Each of the above developments was the result of the impact and assimilation of the Hellenization of the Mediterranean World and the life of Judaism under Seleucid and Roman occupation.

5.   Several new forms of literature (or “scripture”) developed that had a significant impact on Judaism and Christianity (The Apocryphal Books, Pseudepigraphical literature, Apocalyptic literature, and the Dead Sea Scrolls).  The expression and mindset of this Second Temple Period literature was far reaching.

Resources and Links used in this Study:

 Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia: Wikipedia is a free-content encyclopedia, written collaboratively by people from around the world. The site is a wiki, which means that anyone can edit articles simply by clicking on the edit this page link. It aims to become a true Encyclopedia of Everything.  Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.  http://www.en.wikipedia.org.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Dinur Center For Research In Jewish History, Jewish History Resource Center. http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/dinur/Internetresources/historyresources/second_temple_and_talmudic_era.htm
Jewish Virtual Library, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org
Dr. Donald Driver (PhD Southern Methodist University).  http://www.pohick.org/sts/author.html
Dr. Bruce N. Fisk (PhD, Duke University), Professor of New Testament, Westmont College. http://www.westmont.edu/~fisk/Articles/jewhista.htm
Dr. Donald D. Binder, Second Temple Synagogue from ca 75-50 BC, http://www.pohick.org/sts/
Dr. Donald D. Binder, Palestinian Image Gallery
Dr. Donald D. Binder, Judaism Resource Library,
The Encyclopedia Britannica
The Anchor Bible Dictionary
Bible Maps, © Manna, http://www.biblemaps.com
Dr Peter Pett (BA BD (Hons. London) DD),  Internet Bible College, Old Testament History http://www.members.tripod.com/~pp2000ad/othistory.html

Click here to go to the Development of the Talmud page.