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2560 BC- Pyramids at Giza completed1185 BC- Trojan War1000 BC- Chinese develop gunpowder750-700 BC- Homer writes the Iliad and the Odyssey776 BC- Olympic games begin in Greece559 BC- Cyrus the Great becomes king and leads Persian Empire from Egypt to China532- Pythagoras starts his school in Greece490 BC- Battle of Marathon between 11,000 Athenians to 100,000 Persians (Athens prevails). 480 BC- Battle of Thermopylae433 BC- The Parthenon in Athens is completed after 40 yrs.

• 404 BC- Sparta defeats Athens in Peloponnesian war. • 399 BC- Socrates put on trial and sentenced to death by hemlock.• 386 BC- Plato starts the Academy in Athens. • 338 BC- Philip of Macedon conquers Greece• 336 BC- Aristotle starts the Lyceum in Athens.

• 333 BC- Alexander the Great defeats Persia but Darius escapes to fight again. • 332 BC- Alexander conquers Egypt• 323 BC- Alexander dies and leaves empire to his four generals which ushers in the Hellenistic period. • 264 BC- First Punic Wars- 218- Second Punic Wars (Hannibal crosses the Alps). 146- Third Punic Wars where Rome finally obliterates Cartage.

• 73 BC- Spartacus , former soldier and gladiator fights against Rome.• 44 BC- Julius Caesar is assasinated. • 31 BC- Octavian defeats Marc Antony in the battle of Actium• 27 BC- Caesar Augustus (Octavian) made Roman Emperor- Luke 2:1

CreationFloodScattering of the PeoplePatriarchsExodus from EgyptWilderness WanderingConquest of the Land

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Prophesied in:

Amos 8:11-12 (KJV) “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.”

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Lasted about 400-430 yearsNo Biblical accounts during

this periodSecular writings provide

history for this periodThese writings add

credibility to the BibleMany events are confirmed

by the New Testament

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The Roman Empire is in power

The Greek language is universally spoken

The Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint – meaning 70) is

being used

Jews were strict in following parts of the Mosaic law – sabbath day, tithing, feasts

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Various political and religious parties are prominent – Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and ZealotsThe Herods (a family of Edomites, called Idumeans) rule over the JewsThe land is called Judea - not JudahThe land is prosperous and bustling with activity

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Jews had settled in areas around Jerusalem and Galilee Samaritans occupied the area in betweenJews hated the SamaritansSamaritans – a new breed of Israelites formed when foreigners were placed in the land by Assyria and other nations after the captivity started

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1. The Persian history (an empire)• In control for about 100 years after

the O.T. closed2. The Grecian history (not a typical

empire)• Alexander the Great

3. The Roman history (an empire)• In power when N.T. began

4. The Jewish history (our main study)

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First Jews taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C.

Cyrus (559-530 B.C.), ruler of the Medo-Persian empire, defeated the Babylonians – released captives in 538 B.C.

Zerubbabel led about 50,000 Jews back to Jerusalem in 536 B.C.

Rebuilding the temple started – finished in 20 years, 516 B.C.

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Before the OT ended...Before the OT ended...Persians expanded their territory to Greece and to Egypt.

480 BC- Battle of Thermopylae- Leonidus and the 300 Spartans.

Xerxes (486-465 B.C.), also known as Ahaseurus in the book of Esther, returned from the battle – chose Esther, a Jew, as his queen after banishing Vashti for not complying to his drunken request.

The Jews who had remained became honored people in the Persian empire

The Greeks regained their land – defeated the Persians in about 479 B.C.

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Before the OT ended...Before the OT ended...The Greeks also controlled Asia Minor in about 449 B.C.

About 458 B.C., Ezra led 1,354 men and their families to Jerusalem

Thirteen years later (445 B.C.), Nehemiah returned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem

The Old Testament closed about 430 B.C.

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Persians Rulers...Persians Rulers...Xerxes II – named king by his father but murdered by a half-brother, Sogdianus, in 45 daysSogdianus murdered by a half-brother, Darius II, within 6 monthsDarius II (424-405 B.C.)• Had a very fascinating wife• Had two sons – the weaker of

the two became king, Artaxerxes Mnemon

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Persians Lose PowerPersians Lose Power

Then... The Medo-Persians slowly lost

their power but remained in control of world affairs for about 100 years after the close of the O.T. (to about 331 B.C.)

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Greek Philosophers...Greek Philosophers...

Socrates (470 to 399)Plato (428-348)Aristotle (384-322)The Greeks began to slowly gain powerTheir thinking and reasoning among the educated Greeks had a profound effect on the future of the Jews and the countries around them.

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Problems in the Persian Problems in the Persian Empire...Empire...

Artaxerxes Mnemon (405-359 BC)•Had a phenomenal memory• Appointed by his father, Darius•His mother wanted his younger brother Cyrus to rule rather than Mnemon

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Problems in the Persian Problems in the Persian Empire...Empire...

Cyrus rebelled• Commanded an army to defend the land to the west• Recruited 13,000 Greek mercenaries to help his 100,000 man force• Fought against his brother for the throne

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Problems in the Persian Problems in the Persian Empire...Empire...

Both were wounded in battle, but Cyrus diedMercenaries returned to Greece200 years has passed since the first Cyrus

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Problems in the Persian Problems in the Persian Empire...Empire...Artaxerxes Ochus (359-338 B.C.)

• Appointed king by his father•He re-invigorated the empire for a few years• Conquered Phoenicia, Tyre, Cyprus, Egypt•One of his generals, Bagoas, poisoned him and put his own son, Arses, on the throne

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Problems in the Persian Problems in the Persian Empire...Empire...

Arses (338-336)• Killed by his father who placed Darius III on the throne

Darius III• Last king of the Persian empire

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Athens, Sparta, Corinth and ThebesPhilip of Macedon was elected head of a united Greece around 340 B.C.The Greeks found the Persians to be inferior fighters.

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They become confident in overthrowing the Persian army in Asia MinorBut, Philip was assassinated in 336 B.C.Alexander the Great, his son, became king

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When the O. T. ended, Nehemiah, Ezra and Malachi prophesiedJews had settled in Judea (Jerusalem) and GalileeSome Jews had chosen not to returnConflicts between the Persians and the Greeks did not directly affect the Jews

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Jews had learned a lesson from captivityTheir bloodline was kept purerThey stayed away from idolatrySeparation of “Jew” and “Gentile” became more noticeableSynagogues were formed for sabbath assemblies

Small groups of Jews met in a similar manner during the captivity period

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The Story of Alexander the Great

•His father was Philip II of Macedon• Born in 356 B.C.• Educated under Aristotle• Strong and good-looking•Macedonia was a strategic area between the East (Asia Minor and Syria) and the West (Greece and Italy)• Located North of the Aegean Sea

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•Greek city states united in 336 B.C.• Philip II assassinated in 336 B.C.• Alexander immediately took role of king of the Hellenic League at age 20• Squashed the rebellion of Thebes – other members quickly brought under his control

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Hellenistic CultureHellenistic Culture

•Not a derivative of the word “hell”• “Hellenist” – means Greek; a non-Greek person who adopted the Greek language and culture•Greek philosophies penetrated the world• Lifestyle• Language• Education

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Hellenistic CultureHellenistic Culture•Hellenism increased even after Alexander’s death•Many Jews took Greek names, wore Greek-styled clothes, and learned the Greek language• The Septuagint, the oldest Greek version of the Old Testament, traditionally said to have been translated by 70 or 72 Egyptian Jewish scholars at the request of Ptolemy II

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• In 334 B.C., he started his march into Asia to face the Persian army• Alexander used a unique but effective battle strategy• Fought against Darius III who finally turned and ran from the battle• Took Tyre with the help of engineers• Took Gaza, again with the help of engineers

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Egypt opened its arms to Alexander as its delivererThe city of Alexandria was built in his honor bearing his nameHe went North into the area of Mesopotamia, north of the Tigris RiverFought Darius III again who fled from the battle againFinally, Darius’ own soldiers finally killed him

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Alexander made his way to India where he turned and settled in BabylonHe was a heavy drinkerHe contracted a fever and died at age 32His conquests covered about 12 yearsHe was a friend to the Jews

His enemies seemed to have been the Jews’ enemies

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Alexander’s SuccessorsAlexander’s Successors

After his death, his family was in turmoilNo successor to his throneHis generals divided up his kingdom and fought each other for powerThis was prophesied in Daniel 8Jews faired well under Ptolemy (one of the generals) who located in Egypt“High priests” ruled over local affairs in Palestine, or Judea, as it was then called

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Rome Enters The World Rome Enters The World SceneScene The Romans were gaining in power and

the Seleucian/Greek/Syrian kingdom was losing power. The Jews were under the oppression of the Seleucians. The Maccabees, a Jewish family, fought the Seleucians to win their independence. This fulfilled a prophecy of Daniel and lead up to the Roman domination of the Jews which fulfilled another prophecy that the Roman government would be in power when Christ came (Dan. 2:44; Luke 2:1). 36

Daniel 2:44 KJV And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Luke 2:1 KJV And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

The Roman EmpireThe Roman EmpireHannibal of Carthage and Philip V of Macedon had joined to fight the Romans in the 2nd Punic WarAfter Carthage was defeated in the 2nd Punic War in 201 B.C., Rome turned to the East (the Greeks) (Rome later destroyed Carthage in 146 B.C.)Greek city-states were freed from PhilipThe Romans defeated Philip in 197 B.C.

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The Seleucid (Syrian) The Seleucid (Syrian) Empire Empire

Antiochus (born 4th-century B.C.), father of Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Hellenstic Seleucid Empire Antiochus I Soter (died 261 B.C.), king of the Seleucid Empire Antiochus II Theos (286 B.C.–246 B.C.), king of the Seleucid Empire who reigned 261 B.C.–246 B.C.

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The Seleucid (SyrianSyrian) Empire • Seleucus II Callinicus (246-225 B.C.)

• Antiochus Hierax (died 226 B.C.), the rebel brother of Seleucus II Callinicus• Seleucus III Ceraunus, reigned 225 B.C.-223 B.C.

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Antiochus III the Great (241–187 B.C., king 222–187 B.C.), younger son of Seleucus II Callinicus, became the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire

Status Of The Syrian Status Of The Syrian Empire...Empire...Antiochus III of Syria won control of Judea

from the Egyptians about 198 B.C. (about the time that Philip was defeated)Some of the Greek city-states asked Antiochus to help them against the RomansAntiochus agreed (Big mistake!)•Note: The Seleucid Empire (312 – 63 BC ) was the eastern remnant of the former Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great and began with Seleucus Nicator

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The Syrian Empire Loses The Syrian Empire Loses GreeceGreece• Antiochus III was defeated in Greece

in 191 B.C.• Syrians were becoming weak• Surrendered territories west of the Taurus Mountains to Rome, his war elephants, and most of his fleet of ships•Had to pay a huge tribute to Rome amounting to 15,000 talents of gold•His people started a revolt

•He was killed in about 187 B.C.42

Trouble In The Syrian Trouble In The Syrian Empire...Empire...• A power struggle developed

•Meanwhile, Antiochus Epiphanes, a son of Antiochus III, was being held by the Romans to guarantee payment of the tribute• After his release, Epiphanes went to Athens, Greece and made friends•His brother was assassinated so he borrowed troops from the king of Pergamum and headed for Antioch

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The Seleucid (Syrian) The Seleucid (Syrian) EmpireEmpireSeleucus I Nicator (Satrap 311–305 BC, King

305 BC–281 BC) Antiochus I Soter (co-ruler from 291, ruled 281–261 BC) Antiochus II Theos (261–246 BC) Seleucus II Callinicus (246–225 BC) Seleucus III Ceraunus (or Soter) (225–223 BC) Antiochus III the Great (223–187 BC) Seleucus IV Philopator (187–175 BC)

Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 BC) Antiochus V Eupator (164–162 BC)

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The Syrian Turmoil The Syrian Turmoil Continued...Continued...• In 175 B.C., Antiochus Epiphanes, ruled

Syria• Payments still being made to Rome•He could not expand his territory• Rome had gained strength to the west• The Parthians to the east had grown in strength taking all of Persia and Mesopotamia from the Seleucid-Syrian kingdom

• Syria had a staggering debt and a crumbling empire 45

• Jason fled across Jordan and Onias was killed•Menelaus allowed Antiochus and the Syrians into the temple to take money and costly decorations to help fight the Egyptians•Many Jews were outraged

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Antiochus Fights Antiochus Fights Egypt...Egypt...

Egypt became an ally of RomeAfter winning a battle in Macedonia, the Romans sent word to Antiochus to stop the fighting and to leave EgyptWord “got out” that Antiochus was deadJason returned to the high priest position with support from the JewsNow, the Jews are in trouble again

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Antiochus Turns On The Antiochus Turns On The JewsJews• Antiochus put down the revolt

•Much bloodshed followed• Part of the wall was destroyed

• Antiochus decided to:• Suspend the temple rituals• Burn the sacred scriptures• Forbade their feasts• Stopped circumcision• Built an altar to the Greek god Zeus

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Antiochus IV Acts Like A Antiochus IV Acts Like A GodGod• Antiochus manifested himself as the

Greek god Zeus (about 167 B.C.)•He thought it would unite his supporters• Pursued a Hellenizing policy with zeal • Forbade the Jewish sacrifices• Forced people to offer incense to Zeus• Those that did not were whipped and killed

• Circumcision was outlawed•His acts forced the Jews into rebellion

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•Daniel 8:8-26 speaks of the great horn being broken with four taking it’s place (Alexander and his generals which followed him)•Out of one of them came a little horn (the Seleucid/Syrian kingdom)• This one would magnify himself, stop the sacrifices, cast down the sanctuary, and cast down the truth• This one was Antiochus of Syria!

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•Mattathias, the Hasmonean, objected:• Refused to offer incense• Killed the Syrian officer and his men•He and his five sons fled into hiding• A rebellion had started

• The Syrian army came upon a thousand Jews on a Sabbath who refused to fight• They were slaughtered anyway

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The Beginning of the The Beginning of the MaccabeesMaccabees

The members of the Hasmonean family of Jewish leaders and rulers comprised of the sons of Mattathias and their descendantsThey ruled Judea from about 167 to 37 B.C.They reasserted the Jewish religion, expanded the boundaries of Israel and reduced the influence of Hellenism.

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The Rebellion Begins...The Rebellion Begins...• Before Mattathias died, he appointed his son Judas as military commanderHe appointed his son Simon as adviser

• Judas was surnamed “Maccabaeus” – meaning “Hammer”He lead small groups of men and defeated the Syrian army using guerrilla warfare

• The Maccabean revolt was in full swing

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The Maccabean Revolt...The Maccabean Revolt...

• Antiochus IV died in 164 B.C.• The Syrian empire was crumbling• Judas and his men retook Jerusalem• The temple was restored and rededicated• The altar of Zeus was removed• Jews started a new celebration called – “Hanukkah” (meaning “lights”)

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A Jewish festival lasting eight daysCelebrated from the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the 2nd of TevetIn commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees following their victory over the Syrians under Antiochus IVCharacterized chiefly by the lighting of the menorah on each night of the festival.

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The Maccabean The Maccabean Brothers...Brothers...

• The Maccabees continued their fight for political independence• Syria was undergoing internal strife• Judas and his brother John were killed in battle in 160 B.C.• Jonathan became leader of the Maccabees and was killed by Trypho• Simon was the last leader but he was killed by his son-in-law seeking power

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The Maccabees Prevail...The Maccabees Prevail...• Simon, the last son of Mattathias, became the leader of the Maccabees•Demetrius, the new Seleucid king, had become the ruler over the Syrians• Both men entered an alliance granting Judea independence in 142 B.C.• Simon made an alliance with Rome that same year• Simon was also made “high priest”

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Rome Is Happy...Rome Is Happy...

• Syria was crumbling fast• The Romans and the Parthians were increasing in strength• The Romans had been waiting for the outcome of the strife between the Syrians and the Jews• The Romans are coming!

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Where We Left Off...The Maccabees had gained independence for Judea from a weakened SyriaSimon (143-134 B.C.), last son of Mattathias Hasmoneas, had:

Reclaimed the templeHad rid the land of the Syrians and Zeus idols

John Hyrcanus (134-105 B.C.), Simon’s son, was the “High Priest”Now, Jewish traditions and sects have begun 59

The captivity taught them a lesson – idolatry was wrong!But, they neglected the lawEzra led the people to:

secure the purity of their worshipseparate themselves from their foreign wivesseparate themselves from the people of the land

Nehemiah and Malachi stressed obedience

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The HasidimThe Hasidim

•Hasidim, or a group of “pious ones”• deeply spiritually minded• pursued keeping the law carefully

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The HasidimThe HasidimTheir objectives:

To fear God’s curse if they did not obeyTo obtain His blessings through obedienceTo develop the idea of a kingdom of priests

started rituals and ceremoniesTo reduce the law to a set of rules

the scribes became an important part of this effort

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The Hasidim CreationsThe Hasidim Creations• The “Halakhah” - a collection of traditions and rules• The “Haggadah” - comprised of parables, folklore, history, etc.• “Talmud” - documented the oral traditions (still exists today)- contains Mishna and Gemara (oral traditions).• Considered the Talmud more binding than the scriptures• Authors were scribes, rabbis, Jewish scholars

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•Means “separated ones”• A small party formed from the Hasidim• There is little information on when or how this group began

• A very influential party among the Jews• Became the opposition party to the Maccabees•Held strongly to the Jews’ traditions•Were closely united with the scribes

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• They were strict in the laws with “outward appearance”• In Acts 26:5, Paul called the Pharisees “the straitest sect of our religion” (the Jewish religion)

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• A political party of the aristocratic priests• Little popularity among the common people•Wanted Judea to compromise with the Greeks•Welcomed the Greek culture• Believed in God and the law, but not the traditions of the scribes and the Pharisees

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•Did not believe in the resurrection, nor in angels, or the hereafter (the spirit world)

• Acts 23:8 KJV For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

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•Opposed the Pharisees because they were too lenient and not strict enough in their opposition to the Greeks•Had no impact on the Jews•were withdrawn from society• lived a very austere, communal type of life

• They may have copied, collected and hidden the Dead Sea Scrolls which were found in 1947

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The ZealotsThe Zealots• Probably formed after the Romans took control of Judea• A political group with little impact on the population• Believed they were to establish God’s predicted kingdom• Then God would come to their aid• And they would enjoy a glorious political state

• Simon Zelotes (the Zealot) was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles

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• The Jewish high court• A Hebrew spelling of a Greek word that means “a senate” (a governing body)•May have been formed during the Greek-Syrian occupation of Judea• Consisted generally of seventy judges (elders)• The number probably taken from Num. 11:16-24 and Exod. 24:1, 9-11

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• The Sanhedrin, along with the High Priest, made up the local government of the Jews• By the days of the New Testament, it was the Jews’ highest authority • Their authority was controlled and limited by the Romans

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John Hyrcanus was high priest in 134 B.C.• Subdued the Idumaeans•Destroyed the temple on Mt. Gerizim

•When Hyrcanus died, internal fighting developed among the Maccabean effort•His son, Aristobulus, succeeded him•Aristobulus died after one year and his brother Alexander Jannaeus ruled

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Alexander JannaeusAlexander Jannaeus• Ruled from 103-76 B.C. as civil ruler and as high priest• Jannaeus almost ousted by the people, finally won their support• The leaders of the revolt (800 Pharisees) were crucified while he and his concubines watched and feasted• The families of the doomed men were brought in and slaughtered before their eyes

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SalomeSalome

•When Alexander Jannaeus died, he left his kingdom to his widow, Salome• She ruled 76-67 B.C.•He had advised her to make peace with the Pharisees• She did, even brought them into her council• Salome died in 67 B.C.

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AristobulusAristobulus

• Alexander Jannaeus and Salome had two sons:•Hyrcanus II– made high priest• Aristobulus – made military commander

• Aristobulus ousted his brother Hyrcanus II as high priest and took complete control of the Jews

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The Roman EmpireThe Roman Empire

• From 129 to 75 B.C., Rome took control of most of Asia Minor and Syria• The Roman senate authorized Pompey to take control of the eastern shores of the Mediterranean• Their goal: To control all shores of the sea for fifty miles inland• Refer to the map

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Antipater IIAntipater II

• An Idumaean governor, Antipater, had a son named Antipater II• Antipater II used Hyrcanus II to help him gain power from Aristobulus• Antipater II arranged for Aretas, a Nabatean king south of Judea, to help Hyrcanus II

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Pompey Goes To JerusalemPompey Goes To Jerusalem

• Aristobulus was taken captive to Rome•Hyrcanus II opened the gates of Jerusalem to Pompey and the Romans• Pompey entered the Most Holy Place of the temple and his life went downhill from there• Julius Caesar was leading the Roman effort to the west• A bitter rivalry developed

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Julius CaesarJulius CaesarIn 60 B.C., Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Crassus formed the first Triumvirate of RomeCrassus diedPompey and Caesar fought each otherPompey fled to Egypt but the Egyptians killed himCaesar with the help of Antipater II won his battle in Egypt, then went home

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Caesar Controlled JudeaCaesar Controlled Judea

• Antipater rewarded – made Procurator of Judea•Hyrcanus II - confirmed as high priest• Antipater placed his sons in positions of power in Jerusalem•Herod in Galilee• Phasael in Judea

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Caesar AssassinatedCaesar Assassinated

• In 44 B.C., Caesar was assassinated• Brutus and Cassius were in opposition to Mark Anthony and Octavian•Mark Anthony and Octavian defeated the conspirators and divided the Roman world•Mark Anthony controlled the eastern part (including Judea)•Octavian controlled the western part

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Trouble In Judea...Trouble In Judea...

In 43 B.C., Antipater was poisonedMark Anthony made Herod and Phasael joint rulers of JudeaMark Anthony was an oppressive rulerA fight developed over the high priest positionAntigonus, son of Aristobulus, joined the Parthians and invaded Judea in 40 B.C.

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Trouble In Judea...Trouble In Judea...•Hyrcanus II was removed from office and his ears were cut off• Phasael was captured but committed suicide in prison•Herod escaped and fled to Rome• The Roman senate appointed Herod as king of Judea hoping he would defeat the Parthians• Eventually, he did win all of Palestine

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He took the title of Herod the GreatHe favored the Jews by getting Rome to let them worship God according to the law of MosesHe was Hellenistic (Greek) in his outlookAn Edomite (Idumaean) now ruled JudeaPeace and stability prevailed in the landGal. 4:4 – “When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His son”

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Meanwhile...Meanwhile...•Octavian ruled Rome about 27 B.C.•Mark Anthony and Cleopatra were lovers and Mark Antony left his soldiers in the heat of battle to follow after her which allowed Octavian to prevail.• Again, internal fighting began•Octavian won•Mark Anthony and Cleopatra both died•Octavian’s name changed to Augustus

• Luke 2:1 – “In those days,... Caesar

Augustus...” 85

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