The Intertestamental Period: From Babylon To The Birth Of Christ

Jewish Independence

Announcements

Intertestamental PeriodWeek 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

Today’s Objectives• Review last week’s lesson• Learn about Simon’s leadership and the

alliances he renews with Sparta and Rome• Learn about John Hyrcanus’ conquests• Review what further divides the Pharisees

and Sadducees• Learn about Aristobulus and Jannaeus• Learn about Jannaeus’ cruelty which leads to

further civil war• Learn how the civil war ultimately leads to

Roman intervention in 63 BC

Last Week…• Reviewed the story of Mattathias and his five

sons, three die during the early revolt• The Seleucid empire splits between to

factions, one from Demetrius and one from Epiphanes

• Learned about Jonathan's role in enlarging Judah’s political power

• Learned how Jonathan dies at the hands of Demetrius and how Simon becomes leader

• Learned about Rome’s transition into the super power of the known world

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

Simon• Makes an alliance with Demetrius II

• Demetrius II takes the throne of Syria– Grants independence to Judea in 142 BC– Grants immunity from taxation

• Jews were able to drive the Syrian garrison out of the Akra

• Built a Hasmonean palace on its foundation

• Hasidim gave Simon the title “Leader and High Priest Forever” (I Macc 14:41)– “Until there should arise a faithful prophet”

• He is murdered in 135 BC by a son-in-law

Simon courts Rome and Sparta• After Jonathan is killed, Rome and Sparta

– Sends Simon a message to renew the alliance– Previously made with Judas and Jonathan

• Simon– Reads before the assembly in Jerusalem– Spartans also sent a message– Expressive and complimentary decree– Names Simon the priest and ruler whom the

people could not remove (I Macc 14:44)– Decree to be posted in a conspicuous place

John Hyrcanus• Simon and two of his sons are killed in 135

BC, his third son John Hyrcanus, escapes

• Hyrcanus rules from 135-104 BC

• Antiochus VII is the last strong king of the Seleucid empire, dies in 129 BC

• Hyrcanus is free to expand Judah

• Takes territory in Perea, then Idumea and Edom

• Conquers the Samaritans and defeats several strong Greek cities in the region

• Opens up for future expansion into Galilee

Coin of Hyrcanus I

Start of reign

Conquered

Hyrcanus I Conquests

Religious and Political Developments

• Seleucid/Syrian interference eroded• Jewish Hellenizers

– Lose support of Seleucid/Greek power– Become supporters of the king– Became known as Sadducees

• Hasidim– Had been more popular, equate to the Roman plebes– Associated with the common people– Began opposing the Hasmonean power– Oppose those holding secular ruler and high priest– Called Pharisees

• Hyrcanus finally allies with the Sadducees

Aristobulus I• Rules from 104-103 BC

• Son of Hyrcanus, assuming the rule by murdering one brother and imprisoned two other brothers and mother

• First Hasmonean to assume the title of king

• Incorporates the territory of Galilee– Becomes key supporters of Judaism

• Reigns only one year

• Dies as a result of drinking and disease

• Wife was Salome Alexandra

Alexander Jannaeus• Ruled from 103-76 BC

• Surviving brother of Aristobulus

• Astrobulus’ wife frees Jannaeus from prison and marries him

• Jannaeus killed one surviving brother, one is left living

• Seeks to add to Israel’s possessions– Reached its greatest extent– Land all around the Dead Sea, the Philistine

coast, and several nearby Greek cities

Start of reign

Conquered

Jannaeus I Conquests

Civil War• Civil war between Sadducees and Pharisees

– Jannaeus pours water libation at his feet rather than on the alter

• Enrages Pharisee, throw citrons at Jannaeus– Many Pharisees killed in retaliation

• Pharisee appeal to Syria (ironically)– Jannaeus/Sadducees flee– Pharisee later recant– Rejoin Jannaeus– Syrian troops depart

Cruelty of Jannaeus• Jannaeus’ great banquet for the Sadducees

– Crucifies 800 Pharisees during the banquet

• Causes further split among the Pharisees– Move to the desert– Some become Essenes– Believed to have written the Dead Sea Scrolls– Describe a wicked priest who kills a teacher of

righteousness

• Jannaeus dies, leaving his wife Salome in power

Salome Alexandra• Wife of Jannaeus• Rules 76-67 BC, 70 years old• Makes peace with the Pharisee• Appoints her eldest son Hyrcanus II as high

priest– Favored the Pharisee

• Younger son Aristobulus II leads the army– Favored the Sadducee

• Israel was in peace during her reign• Instituted universal elementary education in

the synagogues, teaching Hebrew scripture

Hasmonean Kingdom in 63

BC

Civil War – Rome Intervenes• Alexandra died in 67 BC, war breaks out

• Hyrcanus II is the rightful heir, but retires from office when Aristobulus II arrives with the army

• Hyrcanus II flees to Nabateans, Idumeans

• Idumeans, Nabateans support Hyrcanus II

• Aristobulus II’s son marries Hyrcanus’ daughter, Alexandra

• Hyrcanus seizes most of Judea with the help of the Idumeans and Nabateans

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 Pompey’s actions

• Pompey moves south to “arbitrate” in Judah– Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

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

Review• Reviewed last week’s lesson• Learned about Simon’s leadership and the

alliances he renews with Sparta and Rome• Learn how John Hyrcanus’ increased the

Israel’s 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