The time period of Hellenism had a great influence on Jerusalem and Judaism. Hellenism is the Greek influence. There are a few sources for this time period. These sources include apocrypha, which are all the books that are not in the Hebrew bible. They are considered scripture to some groups. Also there is Flavius Josephus who was a Jew, rebellion leader until he got caught and then claimed to be a prophet. He wrote Jewish history. Roman historian. Very pro roman history, exaggerates numbers. During this period Palestine was considered Israel and Judah up until this time. When they come back fro exile called Yehud and now called Palestine. Palestine was applied to the territory by the Romans.
Alexander the Great was a Greek king. He reigned from 336-323 BCE. He conquered the known world, which included Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, the Fertile Crescent, and Palestine. He defeated Darius in 333 BCE. After Alexander dies in 323 BCE, his kingdom divides. It divides between the Ptolemys and the Selucids. The Ptolemies ruled out of Egypt and captured Jerusalem in 320 BCE. The Selucids ruled out of Syria and annexed Jerusalem and Palestine in 201 BCE.
The Ptolemies minted coins and gave the people independence and freedom. The Selucids push Hellenization of the people. They wanted to make the people more Greek. They wanted the people to speak Greek because they believed that the Greek language was more civilized that the Hebrew language. They also want to turn Jerusalem into a center for Greek life.
Hellenizing Jerusalem began in 201 BCE and went on until 164 BCE. From archaeological evidence we see that Greeks were successful in Hellenizing the Jewish people. From the Kidron Valley tombs we see that Jewish people were using Greek methods and art in their burials. Also there was Greek in Jewish burial inscriptions. During the Selucids time, Antiochus IV Epiphanes sells the high priesthood to his brother Jason in 175 BCE. Jason established gymnasiums in Jerusalem. Antiochus IV reconquers Jerusalem, looted the temple treasury, and sacrificed a pig in the temple.
Some Jews did not react well to Hellenization, while others did not mind. The Jews that welcomed Hellenization said God wants it to happen, so the people should accept it. During this time Jewish infighting escalated which led to sects and factions. Later there was an open revolt against Hellenism.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Persian Jerusalem
Persian Jerusalem is also known as 2nd temple Judaism. It is called 2nd temple Judaism because during this time the 2nd temple was rebuilt and the people returned to the land, Jerusalem.
In 539 BCE Alexander the Great. The literature for this period is seen in chronicles, which rewrites the books of Samuel and Kings, the minor prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachai, Ezra and Nehemiah, 2nd Isaiah and the dead sea scrolls. Ezekial has a vision of the merkavah and the rebuilding of the temple. The merkavah means that God would emerge as a mobile entity.
King Cyrus from Persia conquered the Babylonians while the Jews were in exile. He wanted the Jews out of Persia so he helped the Jewish people return from exile and gave them money to rebuild the temple. This can be seen in the cyrus cylinder. The Cyrus cylinder a general return to the homeland. In Nehemiah and Ezra the Persian kings are portrayed as liberators. This idea leads to the Persian Messiah. The Jewish people liked King Cyrus because he helped them return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Judaism and Zoroastrianism have a resemblance to each other. During the 2nd temple period Zoroastrianism, the Persian religion, greatly influenced Judaism. The temple was rebuilt around 520-515 BCE under Darius I. The first return included Joshua, Haggai, Zechariah, and Zerrubabel. The evidence of the first return outside the bible are the Yehud coins. These were coins that showed that Judah had become a Persian province. These are coins that are minted that say Yehud.
There was a question raised of whether the Jewish people needed the temple to be rebuilt or not. After the 1st temple had been destroyed people had different methods of practice. The population of Jerusalem was mainly depopulated. There was a conflict between the returning exiles and the people that already lived there. The temple was rebuilt but it was not as grand as the original temple.
In 539 BCE Alexander the Great. The literature for this period is seen in chronicles, which rewrites the books of Samuel and Kings, the minor prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachai, Ezra and Nehemiah, 2nd Isaiah and the dead sea scrolls. Ezekial has a vision of the merkavah and the rebuilding of the temple. The merkavah means that God would emerge as a mobile entity.
King Cyrus from Persia conquered the Babylonians while the Jews were in exile. He wanted the Jews out of Persia so he helped the Jewish people return from exile and gave them money to rebuild the temple. This can be seen in the cyrus cylinder. The Cyrus cylinder a general return to the homeland. In Nehemiah and Ezra the Persian kings are portrayed as liberators. This idea leads to the Persian Messiah. The Jewish people liked King Cyrus because he helped them return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Judaism and Zoroastrianism have a resemblance to each other. During the 2nd temple period Zoroastrianism, the Persian religion, greatly influenced Judaism. The temple was rebuilt around 520-515 BCE under Darius I. The first return included Joshua, Haggai, Zechariah, and Zerrubabel. The evidence of the first return outside the bible are the Yehud coins. These were coins that showed that Judah had become a Persian province. These are coins that are minted that say Yehud.
There was a question raised of whether the Jewish people needed the temple to be rebuilt or not. After the 1st temple had been destroyed people had different methods of practice. The population of Jerusalem was mainly depopulated. There was a conflict between the returning exiles and the people that already lived there. The temple was rebuilt but it was not as grand as the original temple.
Josiah/ Exilic Jerusalem
The Lachish letter is proof that during Josiah’s reign literacy became widespread. This talks about a literate soldier. There was a negative image about people that did not know how to write. Another example of literacy growing were Torah amulets. These were amulets that had a prayer written on it. This prayer that was said over the people. These amulets show the literacy of the people.
During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in 597 BCE there were 3 exiles. King Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon as well as Ezekial. The 2nd Babylonian exile was in 586 BCE. The temple was destroyed and the elites were exiled. King Josiah was killed.
Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple in 586 BCE. This is shown in the bible in 2 Kings 24. As well as being portrayed in the bible there is also other evidence. Some of the other evidence of the exile is the tablets that were excavated near the Ishtar gate, which mention the Judean royal family.
The promise to David and the promise of the land were broken. How did people react. Some people abandoned their faith and religion altogether. Others came up with different interpretations of the promises.
During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in 597 BCE there were 3 exiles. King Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon as well as Ezekial. The 2nd Babylonian exile was in 586 BCE. The temple was destroyed and the elites were exiled. King Josiah was killed.
Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple in 586 BCE. This is shown in the bible in 2 Kings 24. As well as being portrayed in the bible there is also other evidence. Some of the other evidence of the exile is the tablets that were excavated near the Ishtar gate, which mention the Judean royal family.
The promise to David and the promise of the land were broken. How did people react. Some people abandoned their faith and religion altogether. Others came up with different interpretations of the promises.
Hezekiah's Jerusalem cont./Josiah's Jerusalem
Hezekiah fortifies the city and prepares to rebel against Assyria. During this time writing becomes more prevalent. Assyrians give up their own language and adopt Aramaic, which makes writing easier and communicating with one another easier as well. This makes religion based on the books instead of the king. Judaism, Christianity and Islam become religions of the book and the book of the law. Due to religions becoming based on the books of the law, we see kings becoming to be involved in the literature.
Literature from the royal court is written down by the state, which leads to propaganda. The question of how you read a text and who is the Messiah is raised. The Messiah is anointed with oil. Two people were anointed, the King and the high priest. There is a mention of the Messiah, and who the Messiah is in many texts during Hezekiah’s period. In Isaiah 7 we see that Messiah is called Emanuel. Christians say that the Messiah refers to Jesus.
From Sennacherib’s prism we see that Sennacherib and Assyria destroyed 46 cities of Jerusalem. The prism never mentions that Jerusalem was destroyed. The failure for them to destroy Jerusalem brought about Zion theology. This is a theology based on Jerusalem being saved and spared from Assyria. This reflects on Jerusalem being a city protected by God. The victory of Jerusalem leads the city to become the center for Judaism during Hezekiah’s reign. Hezekiah sets out on a religious reform, a faith centered in one city, Jerusalem. Hezekiah did not allow worship in other places. After Hezekiah, Manasseh comes and undoes all of the religious reforms.
Josiah comes in 640- 609 BCE. This is during the decline of Assyria. During this time they find the book of the law. Josiah has religious reforms. Josiah did not want the people to worship other gods. He burnt idols, and sent priests that were worshiping other gods away. He gave the people one way of doing religion. Wants the people to follow the book of the law. During Josiah’s time, we see this transmission of following the leader to following the law. Also, this time was a period when literacy became widespread. We see this in the Lachish letter- soldier said that he knows how to read and write. We see a stigma about people that don’t know how to read and write.
Literature from the royal court is written down by the state, which leads to propaganda. The question of how you read a text and who is the Messiah is raised. The Messiah is anointed with oil. Two people were anointed, the King and the high priest. There is a mention of the Messiah, and who the Messiah is in many texts during Hezekiah’s period. In Isaiah 7 we see that Messiah is called Emanuel. Christians say that the Messiah refers to Jesus.
From Sennacherib’s prism we see that Sennacherib and Assyria destroyed 46 cities of Jerusalem. The prism never mentions that Jerusalem was destroyed. The failure for them to destroy Jerusalem brought about Zion theology. This is a theology based on Jerusalem being saved and spared from Assyria. This reflects on Jerusalem being a city protected by God. The victory of Jerusalem leads the city to become the center for Judaism during Hezekiah’s reign. Hezekiah sets out on a religious reform, a faith centered in one city, Jerusalem. Hezekiah did not allow worship in other places. After Hezekiah, Manasseh comes and undoes all of the religious reforms.
Josiah comes in 640- 609 BCE. This is during the decline of Assyria. During this time they find the book of the law. Josiah has religious reforms. Josiah did not want the people to worship other gods. He burnt idols, and sent priests that were worshiping other gods away. He gave the people one way of doing religion. Wants the people to follow the book of the law. During Josiah’s time, we see this transmission of following the leader to following the law. Also, this time was a period when literacy became widespread. We see this in the Lachish letter- soldier said that he knows how to read and write. We see a stigma about people that don’t know how to read and write.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Divided Monarchy/ King Hezekiah 1/25/11
After the reign of king David and Solomon are over, the united monarchy splits into two separate monarchies and kingdoms. The tribes split into North and South. There were 10 tribes in the northern kingdom and 2 tribes in the southern kingdom. Solomon’s son Rehoboam becomes the king of the South and Jeroboam becomes the king of the North. Rehoboam is a hard and strict leader, which the north did not like. The north rebelled against Rehoboam and became their own kingdom. The northern kingdom is called Israel and the southern kingdom is called Judah, which includes the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. The southern kingdom has the temple and Jerusalem. Since Jerusalem is a part of the southern kingdom, the north does not want its people to go to there to worship. This causes Jeroboam to build other places of worship for his people.
The northern and southern kingdom were constantly in battle with one another. During 875 BCE, Baasha, king of Israel attacks Judah. Judah then teams with Syria to win against Israel. Judah wins and pays tribute to Syria. Jehu becomes a vassal to Asyria’s king Shalmaneser III and Israel becomes a vassal to Assyria.
Assyria becomes a powerful empire and is a threat to both Judah and Israel. Assyria helps Judah win against Israel and wipe out most of the north. Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria installed Hosea as the new king of Israel. Later the capital of Israel, Samaria falls in 721 BCE. This causes many people to move to the Judah and Jerusalem. During this time there is a building up of Jerusalem. Although there was a building up of Jerusalem, Jerusalem falls in 586 BCE.
Before Jerusalem fell, there was a major growth. This growth occurred when Assyria came in and took over Samaria. People begin to move into cities and urbanization occurs. There was a new royal administrative site developed. This probably included the royal seal impressions, LMLK. LMLK means for the king. King Hezekiah prepared to rebel against Assyria. He built a broad wall around Jerusalem, increases the water supply, royal storage jars, and 4 administrative centers.
The northern and southern kingdom were constantly in battle with one another. During 875 BCE, Baasha, king of Israel attacks Judah. Judah then teams with Syria to win against Israel. Judah wins and pays tribute to Syria. Jehu becomes a vassal to Asyria’s king Shalmaneser III and Israel becomes a vassal to Assyria.
Assyria becomes a powerful empire and is a threat to both Judah and Israel. Assyria helps Judah win against Israel and wipe out most of the north. Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria installed Hosea as the new king of Israel. Later the capital of Israel, Samaria falls in 721 BCE. This causes many people to move to the Judah and Jerusalem. During this time there is a building up of Jerusalem. Although there was a building up of Jerusalem, Jerusalem falls in 586 BCE.
Before Jerusalem fell, there was a major growth. This growth occurred when Assyria came in and took over Samaria. People begin to move into cities and urbanization occurs. There was a new royal administrative site developed. This probably included the royal seal impressions, LMLK. LMLK means for the king. King Hezekiah prepared to rebel against Assyria. He built a broad wall around Jerusalem, increases the water supply, royal storage jars, and 4 administrative centers.
1/20/11 David's/ Solomon's Jerusalem
David’s Jerusalem
The most important passage, especially to Christians, is 2nd Samuel 7. This passage talks about the Messiah. This is a promise to David. Prophets were used to hold the king in check. One of David’s prophets was Nathan. When David wanted to build the temple he talked to Nathan. Nathan told David that it was good idea and that David should build it. Later God tells Nathan to tell David not to build the temple. God says that he will appoint a temple and plant it from above. The promise god is giving David is that god will bring the temple down, and that god will build a house. This can mean that God is promising David that one of his heir’s will build a house and temple of God. This promise means that the Dividic monarchy will never pass away. The problem with this promise, in 586 BCE, the Davidic line stops, the Babylonians take over, and exile the kings. When the Davidic line ends, it makes people doubt god and the promise that was made.
The promise to David is reinterpreted that god must have meant something else. Someone from the Davidic line is going to come back, which might be the Messiah. One figure that is considered the son of David and the Messiah is Jesus. Jesus is called the son of David. Many other people claimed to be the Messiah, the son of David. The new testament connects Jesus to the Messiah.
Solomon’s Jerusalem is a sacred space due to the temple. Solomon is known to be wise. Book of proverbs, and the Song of Songs are said to be written by King Solomon. There is no archaeological evidence for king Solomon.
The most important passage, especially to Christians, is 2nd Samuel 7. This passage talks about the Messiah. This is a promise to David. Prophets were used to hold the king in check. One of David’s prophets was Nathan. When David wanted to build the temple he talked to Nathan. Nathan told David that it was good idea and that David should build it. Later God tells Nathan to tell David not to build the temple. God says that he will appoint a temple and plant it from above. The promise god is giving David is that god will bring the temple down, and that god will build a house. This can mean that God is promising David that one of his heir’s will build a house and temple of God. This promise means that the Dividic monarchy will never pass away. The problem with this promise, in 586 BCE, the Davidic line stops, the Babylonians take over, and exile the kings. When the Davidic line ends, it makes people doubt god and the promise that was made.
The promise to David is reinterpreted that god must have meant something else. Someone from the Davidic line is going to come back, which might be the Messiah. One figure that is considered the son of David and the Messiah is Jesus. Jesus is called the son of David. Many other people claimed to be the Messiah, the son of David. The new testament connects Jesus to the Messiah.
Solomon’s Jerusalem is a sacred space due to the temple. Solomon is known to be wise. Book of proverbs, and the Song of Songs are said to be written by King Solomon. There is no archaeological evidence for king Solomon.
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