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Ancient Jewish History from the 6th Century BCE to the Destruction of the Jewish Temple, 70 CE
*Note: The dates noted here correspond to class notes from the lectures of Dr. Seth Schwartz's class at the
Jewish Theological Seminary of America9-7-97
When Does Jewish History Begin? Only after the Babylonian Exile does the Word "Jew" begin to appear in Jewish books. Jew = Judean. Three major Issues:
Were Israelites Monotheists?
Accordng to Nevi'im, the answer is no. The Israelites, like everyone else, seemed to worshp the Pantheon, with Hashem as the "Father of the Gods". In other words, they were henotheist - considering one god to be first, but accepting the existence of one major deity. In this, the concept of a national deity is spawned.Still, there were indivual monotheists, also considered purists.
So...What about public worship?
Well, there was no public worship of of the Pantheon, or even public worship of minor gods..there was just the practice of worshipping the Israelite god, as to keep the purity of worship in check. In other words, public worship = monotheistic.
Notes on Jewish Practice and Ideals: What made the Jews different
Jewish practice as embodied in the Chumash came along with the empowering of Jewish leaders, after the endof the Babylonian Exile. Such practices were widespread male circumcision, avoidance of pork and pictoral depictions of pagan gods.
Only Jews had the Torah, or anything like it. The Jews were the only nation to have a set legal code in order to govern themselves.The Torah is a contract, and from ~550 BCE, it was the civil law of the Jews.
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Substantial differences between Jews and Israelites:
586 BCE: Babylonians Conquer Jerusalem
Beginning of the Babylonian Exile
539 BCE:Cyrus, King of Persia, Conquered Babylonian Empire
Jews allowed to return to Israel. Sheshbadar appointed ruler of the Jews.
522-486 BCE: Daruis I, Persian Ruler after Cyrus
Judah became an autonomous province of the Persian Empire. Called Yehud. Aramaic still official language.
Note on the Persians: They never actually bothered anyone personally - the empire was so large that there was barely a point in imposing the language on the people. Still, the Persian language died shortly after the fall of the Empire. So much for the vernacular...
515 BCE: Temple Rebuilt
There was controversey about who had access to Temple worship - i.e. there was an issue of whether the Temple should be allowed access by all Jews or simply the Priests.
-During this time there were two distinct groups in the Jewish population:
Ezra and Nechemia
458 BCE: Ezra appointed governor of Judah
444 BCE: Nechemia appointed governor of Judah
At this point, the king of Persia was Artaxerxes. Ezra assumed his position in the 7th year of Artaxerxes' reign, but there is confusion here. There were two Persian kings by this name, so the confusion is:
Who was the governor of Judah first?
Our tradition is that Ezra was the first, followed by Nechemia. [Some sources report that they both lived and governed at the same time].
Ezra
Ezra was not officially named a "governor," rather he was named the high priest, and given gubernatorial resposibility over civil as well as over religious law.He was also granted the position of Sofer Mahir (some beaurocratic rank in the Persian royal court).
Ezra was given permission to lead the Jews from exile back to Judah, and was permitted to teach them Torah. Thus, Ezra initiated the Torah as the legal code for the Jews, reinstating what had already been established as the law of the land of Judah under Cyrus.
Note on the Persians:
The Persians supported Native Temples and cultures, as well as all temples. They did not impose their language on others. They supported existing law codes (written ones) for they created a sense of order which did not have to be created - a way of maintaining civility in a huge empire.
(521 BCE: Egyptian law codes compiled and translated)
Note on Ezra:
Ezra's Torah may have been slightly different than the Torah we know. Evidence of this is exemplified in Ezra's concern with intermarriage, a topic which is not present in the Torah as we know it. Ezra's reasoning for his attitude against intermarriage was the argument of Zarah Kodesh, strangers, be them holy, cannot be mixed with us - because of elite groups, there is incompatibility. Marriage is both a social contract as well as the initiation of a business relationship. So, in response to this...well, people ignored it. They intermrried anyway. Go fig...
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More on Ezra and Nechemia
Ways Ezra attempted to prevent intermarriage:
444 BCE: Nechemia Appointed.
Appointed royal official, probably of some higher ranking than Ezra. Was named governor of Judah. People in high places liked him. Given funds and soldiers for Judah (Yay!).
Things Nechemia Did:
Note on Nechemia:
Nechemia was a tyrant, a protodemocrat. Tried to empower the poor. Democracy is one step after Tyranny. Attempted to break the power of the Cohanim, or the higher class, by empowering the Levi'im in the Temple. Succeeded in imposing the laws of the Torah on the land (much like Ezra) and the Torah again officially becomes the law of the Jews.
In the historical record, there is a 250 year gap...(430-170 BCE)
Still, we can trace some stuff...
Stuff that was traced from the period directly after Nechemia:
Hellenistic Period: 332-31 BCE
332 BCE: Persian Empire Fell to Alexander the Great.
Alex. the Great died 9 years later, in 323 BCE, of alcoholism. His empire fell shortly thereafter, though before it fell apart, it reached form Greece to India.
~300 BCE Alex. The Great's Empire divided into 3 smaller empires:
Until 200 BCE:Palestine and Phonecia were contested territory by the Ptolemeic and Seleucid kingdoms.
301-200 BCEAll south of Latone river ruled by Ptolemy.
200 BCEAll south of Latone river ruled by Seleucids.
Note: There were many wars int his time, but in fact, none of these wars actually took place in Judah. Revenue came from the larger nations. For Judah itself, this (300-200 BCE) was a century of peace.
This period, for the Jews, was also a oeriod of stability. Institution and establishment continued to operate. Jews lived and continued to be ruled by the priests.
Note: Under the surface, however, significant change was occurring. Macedonian dynasties were low grade cultural imperialists. Did not impose their culture on conquered nations (hmm...sounds like the persians, eh...). All the kings founded Greek cities in their territories. These cities included: public marketplace, theatre, athletic education. But Greek cities did not enjoy any legal advantages over anyone else. It was the Greek Image, which was prestigious in its time, that was the incentive for Helenizing the cities.
-Aramaic was still the vernacular.
Many cities became Greek b/c of the prestige attached to it - modern culture and all. At first, this was only a phenomenoin of local cities, but soon, it was widespread throughout the inland as well. It soon spread to Jerusalem.
Greek rule brought about the spread of a language and a culture, but not because the Greeks imposed it. Natives of the land simply felt it was a better way to live. Still, for the Jews, the Torah remained the code of law, though Greek culture set in. There was an interesting intermingling of religious and culural life. The lifestyle became completely secular. This adoption of a secular, Greek lifestyle was also present in the countryside as well as the cities.
Josephus, in his history, tells of the Tobiads. The stories seem, like much of his recounts, to be folk tales and fiction. Examples:
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Maccabean/Hasmonean Period - Beginning 170 BCE
Maccabean Revolt:
Events leading to the revolt - the period in ancient history about which we have the most information. It is from this period when Jewish written sources are able to be collected intact. It is also from this period that we derive Chanukah and the legends that are involved with the individuals that are mentioned.
In this period, the Jews expanded demographically & territorially. At this point, the entire land of Palestine, both east & west of the Jordan, was mostly Jewish. There were also many other Jewish territories and areas outside of Israel. Alexandria itself may have housed between 100,000 - 200,000 Jews. The percentage of Jews then is the same as the percentage of Jews in New York today.
150BCE-70CEPeople all over the region were aware of the existence of the Jewish autonomous state.
Jerusalem became a famous city. It was even a tourist attraction "The site of the temple built by Herod." From the year 2 BCE, the Jews were written about in other people's histories. Polybus, a Greek historian, living around 2 BCE, wrote about the Jews.
6 BCE Year sited for the writing of the Book of Kings (Sefer Melachim), Ezra&Nechemia, and D'vrei HaYamim.
Two Books Referencing and Preceeding the Maccabean Revolts:
All ancient Jewish books, with the exceptiohn of the Torah, were preserved by the Christians.
Josephus (37-100 CE), in his History, wrote the massive quantity about the Jews. Simultaneously defended the Jews and the Romans. Argues the revolts were the fault of both sides. Began the History of the Jews with the Creation, completed at the outbreak of the Great Revolt (all of antquity is defined by the writing of Josephus - he created the period in terms of measuring its time). Josephus also wrote in Greek.
The process of Hellenization (spreading of Greek culture) spread inland by the 2nd century BCE. Cities in Palestine underwent the same transformation. Specific cities (urban centers):
170's BCE in Jerusalem, 2 Maccabees became more accessible. The Cohen Gadol (Joshua = Jason) petitioned Antiochus, the Seleucid emperor to give him permission to establish some Greek establishments in Jerusalem: a gymnasium, an ephebate (a core of young men - the clientele for the gymnasium). Jews sent their children to the Olympic Games.
Borders between Jews and their neighbors are bginning to come down. Joshua (Jason) is petitioning for Judea to become a Greek city-state. (This is where the problems begin, folks! There was controversy as to whether or not Jerusalem SHOULD be a Greek city.) Sends a group of men to a Festival: Olympics in Tyre, without having any problem with the fact the the Olympics/Festival is in dedication to Heracles. In fact, he sends them with money to give as a donation in honor of the Greek god. Of course, the Jews didn't have to spend the money on it, for it was a non-Jewish cause, as well as being theologically wrong, so the group didn't end up dedicating the cash - rather they spent it on material possessions (which we have deemed in this class as "boats.")
Well, nothing lasts forever in families - Jason was forced out of office by Menelaus (another Hellenizing type). Menelaus came from some upper class family in Jerusalem.
170-169 BCE: Antiochus marched into Egypt At this time Jason initiated a small civil war with Menelaus (small civil war). Antiochus heard of the civil war and, on his way back, plundered and pillaged the city on his way home - In order to punish Jerusalem for the revolts? Some scholars concede that this was the case.
plunder plunder plunder
168 BCE: Antiochus went on another campaign through Egypt. A Roman senator cornered him. Requested he return home immediately (ok...so he forced him...) Antiochius was humiliated. We don't exactly know why, but for some reason, Antiochus decided to take hs anger out on the Jews. So he took the same detour home, and Attacked Jerusalem on the way. There was much pillaging, plundering and murdering, and he set up a Roman garrison troop in the vicinity of the Temple, at the Akra (a high place like the acropolis, but Jewish).Abolished Judaism and imposed the Pagan religion.
The Temple in Jerusalem was transformed into the Zeus Olympics (such humiliation!). Jews were forced to worship Baal Shemim (A pun - meaning abomination of desolation).
There are differing opinions as to what may have caused the persecution. Two historians:
vs
We do know that many Jews did go along with the reforms - after all, it was better to convert than to die. Still there was resistance (without it we wouldn't have Chanukah!!!!) - Some did make themselves martyrs. by 166 BCE (one year later) the resistance began to coalesce by a particular (peculiar?) family. Part of the reason why this family was considered peculiar was that they were both Cohanim and warriors...very srtange.
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166 BCE: Armed resistance against Seleucids begins to coalesce. The organizers of the armed resistance were a family known as the Hasmoneans a group of country priests, in a town called Modayan. It wasn't clear if Modayan was in Judah, or in Shomron, in the North. All we know is that it was near a major town called Lod. It is unclear as to whether the Hasmoneans were true Cohanim. They only fought when royal resistance turned up in their path.
Matisyahu - Leader of the 1st Revolt
Pattern of the revolts:
guerilla/terrrorist tactics. Possibly circumcising (illegally) babies to make them Jewish - no choice on behalf of the parents. By this they forced people into a state of being outlaws. They either have to run for their lives or join the other Greeks. These forces were smalll and cancelled fast.
164 BCE:Jewish persecution cancelled. Judah gained control of the city, but not in an autonomous fashion. Still had control over the Temple. The Torah had not yet been restored as the Jews' constitution. Purification of Temple!! but Judah went on fighting - maybe it was an ego thiung. I guess he felt he had something to prove. Jews began to lose interest in him after the restoration and rededication.
163-162 BCE: Judah and his army almost crushed by Lysias (Regional general). Lysias restored the Torah as the Jewish constitution (Have you ever noticed that post Nechemia, the pronouncement fo the Torah as the law of the Jews was made by non-Jews? eerie...). Cohanim controlled the Temple. The Cohen Gadol was Alkimos.
160 BCE: Judah wins unexpected victory against Seleucid general, Nicanor, on the day we now regard as Ta'anit Esther. This day was originally a day of celebration, but other events somehow took precedence as more important. So instead of feaseting, we're fasting. Because of course Jews like to suffer...
Shortly after, Judah was beaten by Demetrius I. The leadership of the Maccabees is taken over by Jonathan
The next 8 years are a blur in history. Jonathan fled to the forest with 5 supporters. There are rumors that they were simply a pack of bandits, but somehow, they gained support and shortly thereafter, national appeal (Lord knows how...)
152 BCE: Jonathan considered the strongest leader in all of Palestine. How's that for national appeal! But seriously, how this happened is a mystery. While this was happening, the Seleucid family begins to fall apart. there are 2 claimants to the Seleucid throne, and the kingdom divides. both leaders were vying for Jonathan's support, for even though he was the leader of a relatively weak people, he himself had influence. Jonathan decided to support Alexander Balas and NOT Demetrius I. Way to go, Jonathan, for not supporting the guy that is capable of beating you. Talk about holding a grudge... Still, in return, Alexander Balas recognized Jonathan as High proest and Simon as chief tax collector. Jonathan also appointed governor of Judea and Palestine.
Note: 1 Maccabees doesn't tell us much about what the Jews theought of Jonathan. The Hasmoneans often behaved in a peculiarfashion, very warlike, tyrannical.
142 BCE: Jonathan assassinated by claimant to Seleucid throne (probably Demetrius).
Hasmoneans are understood to clearly be after Jewish independence. And that's all . There is still a royal Akra in Jerusalem.
After Jonathan's death, Simon had an assembly of high Jewish notables to name him high priest and Jewish ruler. Wanted the people's support, allied self with Rome. Assassinated by his son-in-law. Shortly thereafter, his son, John Hyracanus I chased away the son-in-law (dirty bastard...). JH became the Jewish leader. Immediately taxed by Antiochus VII, in the guise of a fine and in rent.
The Hasmoneans, at their strongest, were considered a weak people who depended upon a power vaccuum in order to rise.
Augustus's Reign, Herod as High Priest, the Building of Jerusalem's Walls. Herod was the Judean and Sumarian ruler that, among the Diaspora Jews, gained a tremendous amount of popularity. Though as a local leader he proved to be ineffective, he was perhaps the most memorable Jewish leader in Israel's history,in his accomplishments as well in his historical appeal (excluding the opinion of Josephus, of course :) )
How Herod aided Israeli Tourism:
Herod's appointment to the High Priesthood came from the Disapora.
Problems the Jews experienced w/ the Romans (cultural differences):
There was no such thing as a "week" in the Greco-Roman world. The Jews, on the other hand, had a Sabbath system. Many Pagans found the Jews' Sabbath offensive. This disagreement created conflict. Many Roman writers called Jews lazy for wasting 1/7 of their time. The conflict here was obligation of the state vs. religious obligation, as well as remembering the the Jews' constitution legally was the Torah. In situations like this, when Jews' rights and laws were threatened,Herod interceded.
Jewish population in the Diaspora was roughly 500,000 by the end of the Hasmonean period (compared to the 100,000 population of the century before). Herod was the one who took Judean society and made it the Jewish society, much like that of the Diaspora. He turned the Temple into a national Jewish institution, rather than simply a Judean one. He broadened the high priesthood, and thereby cemented the relationship between Herod and the Diaspora Jews, as well as forcing a connection between the Judeans and Diaspora Jews. In this, Herod unifies the Jews into a single structure. This is perhaps his greatest accomplishment.
What were Herod's motives?
It wasn't that Herod was simply a great man - in fact there was much dislike of him among all the people. Still, he tried to acquire honor despite his despotic actions. Therefore, he built. But the building did him little good, for even in writing, people simply did not like him, for he managed to kill a LOT of people. This is a flaw in leadership!!! But there were other reasons why people disliked him. Josephus for example, didn't like him for family reasons. His hostility toward Herod came from the fact that Herod didn't put his family into the class of the high priesthood, thereby keeping them in aristocracy and in a state of frustration. Rabbinic literature was also hostile toward Herod, but b/c of his despotic nature. They felt he was tyrranical. Christians felt he was responsible for later mistreatment of Christians (??). It seems that no one really liked him, for he did go around slaughtering people and he was a paranoid psycho.
4 BCEHerod dies.By this time, all of his major heirs were dead (Herod killed them, of course...). Augustus wasn't that interested in keeping up the Jewish nation, after all, it was a gift of Mark Antony. Augustus splits up the Jewish Kingdom into three parts:
Even after the divide, the Jews maintained a state of autonomy.
In the North, Antipas founded two cities, both Greek in nature, but heavily Jewish populated:
There was still the question, even long after his death:
Was Herod responsible for the destruction of the Jewish People, as well as the Temple, though he, himself never completed it?
30's-40's CE: There is a rise of messiahs (people claiming themselves to be the Messiah is a sign of discontent and an escapist attitude. The messiahs of this time included John ther Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. Teachers of Torah also claimed they had Messianic power. Perhaps this was an attempt to make the people feel they are going to be "healed.".
41-44 CE:Agrippa I rules in Judea.Comes to power under Caligula. Dies under Claudius. He is the only Hasmonean ruler of the time, the only legitimate heir of Herod, a grandson by his 1st wife.
50's-60's CE: Things were beginning to spin out of control. Jewish tensions were leading to civil war.
52 BCE: Minor war: Judeans, Galileans, Sumaritans
-In Jerusalem, members of high-priestly family fighting with each-other. Tried to steal taxes of the Temple.
-In the greek cities there was growing tension and rioting. In most places outside of Jerusalem, Jews were fighting non-Jews. And the Jews were losing everywhere outside of Tiberias.
62 CEHerod's Temple founded (long after his death...)
The Temple didn't last long, due to massive Jewish civil war in the 60's. Still, the Jerusalem of Jewish memory, including the Temple, is Herod's Jerusalem. 66-70 CE: Massive Jewish Revolts. Civil War. The Galileand and the Jerusalemites were fighting over the Temple and Jerusalem as their capital. Lots of Galileans and Idomeans died. 66 CE: Florus, last of the Procurators took 17 lbs of silver from the Temple treasury. Full scale war breaks out
Note:Nicholas of Damascus wrote 150 books about the origin of the history of the world, 50 of which were about Herod. Josephus takes much of his accounts from this.
67 CE: Nero sends a Roman army into Palestine, led by Vespasian and Titus. Attempt to stop the fighting inthere by killing everyone. 15,000 troops. The Roman legions also had some help and Jewish influence, mainly by Agrippa in Galilee. The revolts in the North collapse in a matter of weeks. The Jewish Revolts in the South one year later.
Once the revolt collapses in the north, John of Gischala and Simon Bachiola, revolt leaders in the North, head for Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, they overthrow the people leading the Southern revolt. They also end up fighting against each other.
Meanwhile...
Vespasian sends a coup de etas to take over the throne of Rome.
Titus is left to squelch the revolution. Burns Jerusalem.
Temple destroyed on the 10th of Av, 70 CE.
