The Hasmonean and Roman Periods

Rabi

a. Teacher/ leader of a Synagogue

Synagogue

Judaism, a gathering of no fewer than 10 adult males assembled for worship, scriptural instruction, and administration of local Jewish affairs. b. Probably began forming during the Babylonian exile, when the Jerusalem Temple no longer existed c. Located outside of Jerusalem and because they are outside of Jerusalem, they cant sacrifice so they gather to read the Torah

Koine Greek

a. A commonly spoken form of Greek (as opposed to the formal Greek of the classical writers), introduced through Alexander's conquests; the language of both the Septuagint edition of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament b. What the New Testament is written in, because the New Testament is used to spread religious movement into the Mediteranean region c. Used for commerce trade

Sadducees

a. A conservative Jewish party of the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE composed largely of wealthy and politically influential landowners. An aristocracy controlling the priesthood (when the Temple is destroyed, the priests no longer have a role to play) and Temple, they cooperated with the Roman rulers of Palestine, a collusion that made them unpopular with the common people b. Dominated the Great Council c. A JEWISH PARTY d. Rejected the interpretation done by the Pharisees e. Supported Hellinization

Zealots

a. A fiercely nationalistic Jewish party dedicated to freeing Judah from foreign domination that coalesced (driving the Romans from Palestine) about 67-68 CE during the great rebellion against Rome (66-73 CE) b. Had passionate commitment to Jewish religious and political freedom c. A JEWISH PARTY d. A group who wanted and desired to throw out any foreign influence in Judah e. Very militaristic, wanted rebellion and had a rebellion in 70 CE, against the Romans in Masada, then later committeed mass suicide in Masada

Pompey

a. A leading Roman general and rival of Julius Caesar (there was Civil War between the two and Caesar won), with whom he established a temporary political alliance known as the First Triumvirate. b. Conquered much of the eastern Mediterranean region for Rome, including Syria and Judah c. Came to Palestine in 63 BCE with the intention of helping John Hercanus overthrow his brother Aristotle then he stayed there and the Romans took over Judah

Pharisees

a. A leading religious movement or sect in Judaism during the last 2 centuries BCE and the 2 1st centuries CE b. Jesus's leading opponents c. Probably descendants of Hasidim (Torah loyalists- completely devoted to the Torah) who opposed Antiochus IV's attempts to destroy the Mosaic tradition. Although the New testament typically presents them as Jesus' opponents, their views on resurrection and the afterlife anticipated Christian teachings d. Rivals with the Saducees e. A JEWISH PARTY f. The party of the Bible in the Synagogue g. Opposed to Hellinization h. Great at interpreting the Torah, combined to form Mishba and Milash which later formed the Talen wood

Masada

a. A stronghold that Herod the Great built on a fortified plateau 800 feet above the Dead Sea. Captured by Zealots during the revolt against Rome (66CE), it fell to a Roman military siege in 73 CE. According to Josephus, its Jewish defenders committed mass suicide rather tan become Roman slaves b. Where the Zealots seized a Roman fortress then later retreated and committed mass suicide

Essenes

a. According to Josephus, one of the three major religious parties of 1st century Judaism, an apocalyptic group that apparently formed during the Maccabean period and that most scholars believe produced the Dead Sea Scrolls b. A JEWISH PARTY c. A group of pureists d. Thought that Jerusalem was a city with too many influences and was corrupt so they went off to live separately from the rest of Judah i. Practiced many mosaic exercises; worked, ate, and lived together

63 BCE

a. At the invitation of John Hercanus, the Roman empire enters Judah and takes it over; from here on out, Judah is ruled by Roman people

73 CE

a. The Great Rebellion was brought to an end b. Jerusalem was destroyed c. The Temple was destroyed and never rebuilt- this led to a huge change in religion i. No Temple meant that no sacrifices could be made ii. This led to the readings of the Torah by Pharisees

Herod the Great

a. The Indumean Roman-appointed ruler of Palestine (37-4BCE) when Jesus was born, who lavishly rebuilt the Jerusalem Temple b. Not of Jewish decent but adopted a form of Judaism c. Was unpopular with many Jews, he had to overcome armed resistance to gain his throne; was a ruthless leader, anyone who threatened his power was executed d. He captured Jerusalem and began a long reign marked by a strange combination of administrative skill, cruelty and bloodshed e. Was politically successful f. When he died, his kingdom was divided among his 3 surviving sons i. Archelaus- was a terriable ruler, so in 6 CE, he was disposed by Roman senate and a period of procureators ruled after him ii. Herod Antipas - in Jerusalem, Ponsious Pilot sent Jesus to him because they are both from Galilee iii. Philip g. Was the king of the Jews h. Had great support of Rome i. Undertook many building projects i. One was a massive rebuilding/ modeling of the 2nd temple

Hasmoneans

a. The Jewish royal dynasty that the Maccabees founded (min-second century BCE), named for Hasmon, an ancestor of Mattathias. The Roman conquest of Palestine in 63 BCE brought Hasmonean rulership and Jewish independence to an end

Roman Period (63 b.c.e.-N.T. period)

a. The Period in which the Roman empire comes to control Judah and renames it Judea

Procurator

a. The Roman title of the governor of a region before it became an administrative province. During the reigns of Ausustus and Tiberius, Judea was governed by a prefect, the most famous of whom was Pontius Pilate (Was the Roman _________ at the time that Jesus was tried). The office was upgraded to the level of procurator under Claudius. b. A military governor c. "Puppets of the Roman empire"

142 BCE

a. The Seleucids are driven out of the citadel by Simon

Simon

a. The brother of Judas Maccabeas who drove the Seleucids out of the citadel in 142 BCE, during the Macabean Revolution

Vespasian

a. The emperor of Rome (69-79 CE) who earlier, as a general under Nero, led Roman legions into Judah during the Jewish revolt (66-73 CE); when he became emperor, he left the capture of Jerusalem to his son Titus.

Sanhedrin

a. The surpreme judicial council of the Jews (also called the "Great Counsil") from about the 3rd century BCE until the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 CE b. Jesus was tried before this council and condemned on charges of blasphemy c. Peter, John, and other diciples appeared before its court, as did Paul d. Judaism's highest court of religious law, where Jesus was brought to trial e. The city council of Jerusalem that carried out every day affairs. Was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees

Hasideans (Hasidim)

a. The term describing devout Jews who refused to forsake their ancestral faith when Antiochuc IV attempted to destroy the Mosaic religion

Titus

a. Vespasian's son who continued Vespasian's military forces in Judah; the capture of Judah b. Destroyed the Temple build by Herod the Great

70 CE

a. When Titus sacked and burned Jerusalem b. The temple was destroyed and never rebuilt

Jewish Parties

i. Pharisees - party of the Bible and Church ii. Sadducees - party of priests iii. Essenes iv. Zealots

The Great Rebellion (66-73 c.e.)

i. The desire to throw off Roman rule was prevelant in this era; the Zealots seized a Roman fortress in Masada and drove out Roman forces from Masada and Judah, the Romans then sent a massive military force under Vespasian to Judea and left his son, Titus, there to continue when Vespasian went back to Rome. Titus and his forces destroyed the Temple built by Herod the Great and is victorious over the Jews. But, Zealot forces were not totally defeated and they retreated to Masada where they committed a mass suicide because they would rather commit suicide than be captured by the Roman forces

Hasmon

the family name of Judas and his brothers, they ruled independently without any foreign nation