The World of Jesus: History and Politics. The Story Begins: 1900 BC Jewish history began between 1900 and 1750 BC Were originally part of a tribe called.

The World of Jesus: History and Politics

The Story Begins: 1900 BC

• Jewish history began between 1900 and 1750 BC

• Were originally part of a tribe called the Hebrews

• Abram to Abraham—”Father of Faith”

• Covenant with Abraham

Isaac and Jacob

• Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah

• Abraham tried to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah

• Isaac and his wife Rebekah gave birth to Jacob who fathered 12 sons or the 12 Tribes of Israel

• Story of Joseph

End of the Patriarch’s Period

• Jewish settlement in Egypt ends the Patriarchs period

• Patriarch: means father or leader of the family

• Patriarchs of the Jewish faith are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

• The Israelites will leave Egypt to return to the Promised Land

Moses (c. 1290 BC)

• Moses is called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt

• Lord translates into meaning Yahweh

• Since Yahweh is the name of God, Jews would use Lord

• Adonai: means “my great Lord

The First Passover

• Moses was sent by God to free the Israelites from bondage

• The 10th plague• “This day ‘Passover’ shall be

a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance” (Exodus 12:14)

The Covenant of Sinai

• God’s Covenant with Moses was to follow the Ten Commandments

• With the Ten Commandments God no longer preached only to a few leaders but to the entire community

Life in the Promised Land

• C. 1250 BC the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land (led by Joshua)

• This began years of warfare and were led by judges

• C. 1020 BC they appointed their first king to defeat the Philistines--Saul

The Kingdom of Israel (1000 BC)

• Saul (A Warrior-King): divided kingdom into two parts

• North Kingdom was called Israel and comprised of 10 Tribes

• South Kingdom was Judah

• Disagreed over Saul’s successor

King David

• Conquered the Philistines and expanded empire

• Jerusalem became the capital of this new kingdom

• Recognized as the greatest king of all Jewish kings

King Solomon

• Solomon was the son of King David

• Built the “great” temple in Jerusalem envisioned by his father

• Israel became corrupt and the people began to worship “false” gods

The Divided Kingdom

• Kingdom is split because Israel in the north refused to accept King Solomon’s son

• Thus begins the period of the prophets

• Prophets attempted to bring the Hebrew people back to God

• Age of pre-Exilic Prophets

The Babylonian Exile

• Babylonians conquer the Hebrew people

• They were led by Nebuchadnezzar

• During the Babylonian Exile, the Jews who were not captured went further north around the Mediterranean Sea

• Diaspora: those who have been dispersed

• Age of Exilic Prophets

Post-Exilic Prophesy

• Hebrew people were released from exile by the Persians

• We get a second wave of prophesy

• Begin to call the entire Jewish kingdom Judaism

Greek Domination of Palestine

• Alexander the Great: expanded the Greek Empire throughout the Mediterranean Sea region and the Middle East

• Was Macedonian but educated in Greek culture

• He died in 323 BC

After Alexander’s Death

• Empire was divided up—Palestine was caught in the middle of two general (one from Syria and one from Egypt)

• Greek culture influenced every aspect of Jewish life

• Greek Syrians defeat the Greek Egyptians

• Rome defeats the Greek Syrians and demands money—Jews are forced to pay high taxes

Reactions to the Greek Influence

• Jewish leaders, the wealthy landowners, and the priestly class tried to get along with the Greeks

• The Hasidim felt that compromising meant rejecting their Jewish faith

• Sporadic eruptions of violence towards their Greek oppressors (Maccabean War)

• Jews revolt against Greece and gain independence in 142 BC

Problems with New Independence

• Before giving leadership to the Jews, a prominent Jewish family accepted a gift from the Greek leaders

• The gift was the title “high priesthood”

• Family was a descendant of the 12 Tribes

• This “bribe” divided Jews based on loyalty

Factions within Judaism

• The Sadducees: the priestly class who were aligned with the new Jewish political leaders

• The Essenes: they were so upset over what took place that they withdrew from society and observed strict religious traditions

• The Pharisees: not looked favorably upon by the Jewish political leaders, but they were well respected by the “average Joe” Jew and followed Jewish law closely

Geographical Factions Following Independence

• Judea: religious/geographic center of Judaism

• Jerusalem was located in Judea• Idumea: region south of Judea

and was forced under Israel rule; thus, the people were not held in high regard

• Samaria: Samarians were very much “enemies” of the Jews from Judea

• Galilee: were considered second-class citizens and not looked at in high esteem

Appeal to Rome

• Political/geographic regions in Israel put the new country on the point of civil war

• Pharisees and Sadducees appeal to Rome for help

• Rome occupies Israel in 63 BC

Herod “the Great”

• Chosen by the Romans to control region

• He was a Idumean Jew• Rule from 37 BC to 4 AD

—his son takes over after his death

• A brutal yet effective leader of the region

Herod Antipas

• Son of King Herod• Married his half

brothers wife—reason for John the Baptist being put to death

• Jesus referred to Herod Antipas as “that fox”

• He ruled Galilee and Perea

The Roman Procurator

• A son of King Herod the Great

• Ruled Judea, Samaria and Idumea

• Was replaced by the Roman Procurator because he was not a very good leader

• Pontius Pilot was the Roman Procurator during the time of Jesus

Jerusalem Destroyed

• Jews continued to fight Roman rule and in 66 AD the Zealots openly rebelled against the Romans

• The Romans not only stopped the rebellion they destroyed it with full force

• In 70 AD the Temple in Jerusalem was completely destroyed